Jake Cuenca, Maja Salvador & Solenn on ghosts, Halloween & pork barrel

If a man harbors any sort of fear, it makes him landlord to a ghost. — Lloyd C. Douglas

Do you believe in ghosts and spirits? How do we overcome fears? Recently, late at night in the lounge of Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City hotel, this writer saw three good-looking celebrities Maja Salvador, Jake Cuenca and Solenn Heussaff who just came from an event promoting their new romantic comedy movie Status: It’s Complicated by Regal Entertainment, Inc. Since it’s almost Halloween, I decided to ask them their views on ghosts and the paranormal.

The 25-year-old actress Maja Salvador frankly told me that she doesn’t know exactly if ghosts do exist or not, but she said: “To overcome fear of ghosts, it is best to turn to prayers… and also to talk to them, even if we do not see them.”

What type of ghosts or spirits does she fear the most? Maja replied: “That which I cannot see, those I fear the most. ‘Di ba there are moments na ganyan, nagpaparamdam lang (Isn’t it there are moments like that, they just make their presence felt)?”

In the 1990s, Maja starred in horror films Villa Estrella and Shake Rattle and Roll XI, in the episode Ang Diablo. Later she starred in the horror film, Cinco, in the episode titled Mata. In 2006, Maja was part of the Kris Aquino and Claudine Barretto horror flick Sukob which then became the Philippines’ all-time box office hit. When I asked Maja what horror film she found the most horrifying, she said: Insidious 2.

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The 25-year-old half-Spanish and half-Filipino actor Jake Cuenca candidly discussed with me his investing most of his income in real estate in Valencia City, Spain, his having both Spanish and Filipino citizenships, and also his recently-ended last romantic relationship with actress Lovi Poe as “very complicated.”

When I changed the topic to ask if he believed in ghosts, Jake replied: “Yes, I do, but I have never personally encountered in my life… On Halloween, it’s a nice holiday when people can dress up in costumes.”

Does he fear ghosts? Jake responded: “Not really. My greatest fear in life is more regrets… What if? Sana? I try to avoid anything that I will regret.”

Jake stressed that his failed romantic relationship are not part of these “regrets,” adding “never ko pinagsisihan ang mga past relationships ko (I never regretted any of my past relationships). My regrets include not going for a college education, that I didn’t play football professionally especially now that this sport is becoming popular here with the Azkals team.”

One thing that Jake Cuenca really dreads and fears is the pork barrel scam, saying: “The pork barrel controversy, malaking hassle, malaking gastos ng pera na hindi naman sa kanila (big headache, huge expenditures of money which are not even theirs).”

Jake also shared that for him, the scariest movie ever was The Exorcist.

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The 28-year-old half-French and half-Filipina actress, painter and part-owner of the new Hatch 22 restaurant in Power Plant Mall at Rockwell, Makati, Solenn Heussaff said on fear of ghosts: “Hindi naman (Not really), but if I watch a horror film, I’d be afraid for about two days… The most horrific movie for me is Paranormal 1, kasi mukhang totoo (because it looked so real).”

How to overcome fear of ghosts? Solenn smiled and replied: “Watch Care Bears the cartoon film!” She also said her greatest fear is not ghosts, but if anything happens to her beloved parents.

What about the raging political controversy on the pork barrel? Solenn answered: No comment, galit lang (just angry).”

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What about my own views and experiences with ghosts, spirits and Halloween? I think like many people, my belief in ghosts and Santa Claus was part of my past childhood innocence, now gone.

As a rational human being who doesn’t believe in superstition and also as a Christian who believes that God is the ultimate boss of the universe, I’ve become a skeptic at the notion of “ghosts” as disembodied spirits of dead people who still restlessly roam the earth.

For those like me who used to go to Sunday school, I couldn’t forget Israel’s King Saul going to a medium, the witch of Endor, in order to request her to bring back of the prophet Samuel, and she was able to do so didn’t she? I believe it was actually the devil or his minions masquerading only as Samuel.

Sorry to be a killjoy, I really cannot make myself believe that paranormal disturbances are due to “ghosts” as disembodied spirits of deceased humans because Christianity says that all dead people either go straight to heaven or hell.

How to explain weird occurrences? I believe they are caused by two  reasons — either the handiworks of Satan and his fallen angels called demons, or due to certain explainable but yet to be discovered natural phemonena and forces.

How can we human beings overcome fears of the paranormal, the haunted, ghosts, ghouls and the sinister forces of darkness which might haunt our peace of mind? Silver bullets or garlic won’t work, except in the movies or fictional books!

Like Maja, I recommend prayers as antidote to fear of ghosts or other evil beings. Strengthen our faith and personal relationship with our Creator,  don’t forget there are also angels on earth! 

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