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You may have felt me touching your skin, hear me whisper inaudibly, smell me and be refreshed but you’ll never see me – not once did you ever look or even glance at me.

Maybe I was something that’s always there, taking space but carry no weight. Always there filling the emptiness but never, not even once, was noticed.

Maybe I was just the wind before I became who I am today. I’m always here, there, and everywhere but no one has ever saw that I’m actually there. A wind that is comforting but can also be a tornado that destroys. I was something you need but you’ve never even thought of. I was something surrounding you even in your darkest times but you’d never see. You feel my hug, you’d hear my soft voice but not once, not ever, did you see.

A wind. That was all I am in the past.

Just a breeze you’ll breathe in and breathe out.

-Euri Camus
3ELS2

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I don’t really know how to answer these questions--they’re quite loaded questions that slightly make me question me, as a human being, and my existence and purpose. That is a difficult hole to fall into.

However, if I were to speculate or choose who I was in a past life, I think I would have been happy being a librarian in an old beautiful library, like the Clementium in Prague or the Marciana Library in Venice. If the Library of Alexandria had survived, I would have loved to be there.

Books and libraries hold the world’s story--how it came to be, how it survived, how it is moving along. How we began, how we have changed. How human creativity and thoughts turn into stories of their own making, worlds of their own building. How intellectual pursuits develop into world-altering discoveries. They hold the secrets of the universe and how we have found them.

I think it would have been worthwhile to take care of these stories, to watch over the knowledge we have gathered and the stories we have told.

Rhafaela Bacal 3ELS2

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What was I in my past life? Starting with this activity is quite hard for me. Because the topic asks something that I really do not know as of now, which is, myself. In my eighteen years of existence, I am still searching for my personal identity. People say a lot of positive and negative things about me but I don’t know if I will depend on what they say.

They say, I am a type of person who is bright in the outside but dark on the inside (lol). I think others see me as the girl who laughs and talks a lot and seems very happy when it all takes a beautiful fake smile to hide how sad I am. I need to hide my emotions so I won’t be asked what’s wrong because everything is supposed to be perfect when nothing is. I don’t want people to have pity on me; that’s why I don’t want them to know what I really feel. I just want their presence and that makes me happy. With their presence, I can forget whatever problems that I am experiencing for a meantime.

I think, I am an animal that is lost but later on, I was found. All the challenges and struggles in life that I’ve experienced, I was gone, without a destination. But there are people who were there for me, introduced me to God, made me whole again, and made continue to live a better life.

by Mary Jolina J.Francisco

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I was thrown into this world because I was a sinner. I don't have any choice but to roam around and look for my purpose, face the consequences of my sins and live with the humankind. I was a fallen angel.

I was used to a life of comfort. I did not have to make so much effort on things that I want because I was someone who is favored by God. But then, I have committed a grave sin. A sin worthy of being thrown in a place of uncertainty. That is how my life feels like right now. A dizzying puzzle. Everyday is a constant reminder that I have to live looking for my sole purpose in this world. I am repeatedly brought back to this space to suffer or maybe to enjoy a life that I have no other choice but to live. I don't know if I will ever be forgiven for my sins but I do believe someone is counting the good things that I did in my life. I hope that it will compensate for my sins.

According to the Korean drama series called Goblin, people are given four lives: a life of planting seeds, a life of watering the seeds, a life of harvesting and a life of cherishing the harvests. Because I was a fallen angel in my first life, I guess I am only living my second life where everything is not so bad and not so good. Just in a constant state of confusion like a fallen angel thrown in this world to live with its sins.

-Jesselle Pampo
3ELS2

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by Luisse Gabrielle Rutao

There are different ways on how we see ourselves and different perspectives on how other people foresee us. We’ve undergone changes through time; changes not only physically, but also in an emotional, mental and social aspect. Looking back through time and reflecting on how I’ve become to the person I am today, I can say that I’ve undergone a phase of transition.  A phase that helped me develop my thinking and face challenges and trials along the way. It also guided me to take risks and make life-long decisions that I needed to make.

If I will compare myself at the past to an object I would probably associate myself to a bottle of soda now turned into a bottle of water. Like a bottle of soda, at the past I am someone who tries to keep everything that I feel inside of me, I won’t tell anyone. I don’t allow anyone to know anything about my problems, sufferings and complaints about life.

I am the bottle, what’s inside of me are my emotions, feelings and reactions.  The one who consumes me are the people who attacks, rattles, and shakes my being from time to time like on how a person shakes a bottle of soda before consuming it. When you open a soda, it eventually explodes everything that’s inside of it when too much shaking and rattling was done.

At the past, keeping all life’s sorrows is a big burden for me; I don’t know how to approach problems and trials along the way that’s why I tend to keep them. That’s why when the time comes to open, release and solve these matters I have this tendency of exploding because I don’t have this capability to resolve and handle these kinds of things. I believe this is because I easily get too overwhelmed and timid about everything that’s happening in my life.

Unlike now, I can say that I’ve truly changed and improved myself from being a bottle of soda to becoming a bottle of water. At present, no matter how hard one tries to shake and rattle me, I won’t panic and get puzzled about everything, I make it to the point to approach everything peacefully, and remaining calm like the water it was before opened.

With this, I realized that we shouldn’t let other people and this world disrupt the peace within you. We should approach everything positively to gain a wonderful life.

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Harry Potter, Peter Parker, Percy Jackson, Mia in “The Princess Diaries”, Rapunzel in “Tangled”. What do they all have in common?

Growing up, I loved to watch different genres of movies—Disney, Sci-fi, animation, musical, adventure, superhero films, family films, etc. As I go out of the cinema, I feel like I’m returning in a dull, boring world where we do things in routine, eat-sleep-study-and-repeat. The characters I mentioned above, they were all living mundane, normal lives until something happened that made them special. They respectively became ‘The Boy Who Lived’, ‘Spiderman’, a son of Poseidon, princess of Genovia, and princess of the kingdom of Corona. In other words, their lives were turned completely upside down yet they still remained true to who they are. They were characters destined for greatness in a fictional world.

When I’m left to wander in my head, I always wondered about the possibility of something like that happening to me. I imagine myself at school. Then suddenly, something extraordinary would happen and I realize all along that the world is bigger than I thought that I’m not just a high-school student or a typical teenager having trouble socializing. If I was really free to choose who or what I will be in this life, I would like to be someone who overcomes any challenge that comes my way, someone who is happy in the end, someone who is not afraid to live her life, someone who always chooses to focus on the bright side despite the darkness around her. Having those qualities is basically the ideal for me. But in the end, I’m satisfied with who I am and what God has already given me.

Lorraine Jeanne A. Tiu
3ELS2

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Francis Olavidez
3ELS2

It’s one of the vaguest questions to ask oneself yet also one of the most important to consider. They say that no matter how close a person is to you, they can never still fully know you, even if they’ve spent countless years with you. They say that it is only you who can identify who you really are. But what if you yourself are not entirely sure as well?

In my 20 years of existence, I can proudly claim that I’ve done a lot of things that are both fulfilling and disappointing as to my outlook in the path I’ve set in life. With regards to answering the question “who am I?” I believe it to be something paradoxical. I know who I am and who I want to be and at the same time, I don’t. We are given freedom to make decisions and choices that matter greatly in our lives yet a lot of us believe in the notional concept of predetermined destiny. I think in that concept lies the uncertainty we have in determining who we really are.

To answer in the simplest manner, I am Francis Delano Olavidez. Currently 20 years old and studying in UST. I love music, theatre, performing, singing, writing poems, watching anime, playing video games, and travelling around the world. What tops my list of ambitions is creating my own band in which I’m the lead singer and we’ll eventually be famous and recognized globally. The next that comes closely is to be both a Hollywood and Broadway actor/performer. I am an active member of Mediartrix which is a university wide multimedia and theatre organization of UST since the year 2015. My stay in UST became extremely more fun and memorable because of Mediartrix and since I love music and theatre, my membership in the organization developed my passion and appreciation for musical theatre arts.

There are a lot of other things I like that I can mention here but is that only what encompasses who I really am? I believe not. These things matter to me and yet I myself believe that these do not comprise my identity’s entirety. I know who I was before, I know who I am now, and I know who I want to be. But I also believe there will forever be an unknown definition of who I am that will come from destiny and fate. To reiterate for reasons of emphasis, I know who I am yet I believe that what I know is only a portion of my entire identity.

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Due to the philosophy classes I had about the human soul, and the multiple articles, books and essays I have read about people being born with the memory of their past lives. I have come to believe that our souls only get to be reincarnated. I think some of us have been present in some of the most important and crucial points in our history. As with the story Aeneas in the Aeneid, he was able to see the forefathers of Rome in the underworld on the process of erasing their memories so that they can get to live again. As we live another life, we start with a fresh memory, a blank slate that is to be filled with new memories.

I believe that I myself have lived multiple lives prior to my current one. On a personal belief, I think our attitude in our current life is greatly shaped by who we were during our previous life. Based on this assumption, I have come to deduced who I think I was in my past life.

I think the last life I have lived was not a grand one. I think I was just a middle class citizen in a feudalist community. In my last life, I was a part of a kingdom where leaders are regarded as kings and queens. I have always thought that I was a normal person enjoying the life I was blessed with. In a time where you get to wear dress all day, doing chores such as cleaning the house and doing the laundry. In a time where you travel with horses and food was picked in the backyard.

Like my life before, I believe that I retained the attitude of being contented with the simple life. Where as long as I got something to eat, clothes to wear, and a family that I can call my own, I am good to go.

Michelle Marasigan, 3ELS2

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I know that it takes time for a person to know who they really are, and it is okay if takes for an individual for a long time to figure out who she and/or he really is. Life has a way of making us the person who we need to be – always.

I think I was someone who had a free spirit. I wanted to experience life, and not just exist. I always think of travelling, with or without anyone as long as I am experiencing that life is offering. I always yearn for places I have never been to, I want to see different cultures, meet new people, create memories, and leave a piece of me on the places that I will go to, and try new things. Someone who believes that it is not a waste of money as long as it is good for myself and spiritual growth, and a life that is not just full of material things, but happenings as well.

I am still this person who has a free spirit, and perhaps someone who always want to be in the unknown will always be part of me. After all, curiosity is one of the things that made me, me.

Sarmiento, Jonalyn
3ELS2

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by: Hana Ganzon
Reincarnation is one of the world’s mysteries that I find interest in. I once read that your birthmark represents the wound or maybe even the reason why your past life died. Growing up, I was always asked as to what happened to my arm. I have this red birthmark that almost covers my right arm and hand. Even nurses and doctors panic to the sight of my birthmark, thinking I contracted dengue. Despite this situation, I never hid it. My parents raised me not caring about my mark.

I’d like to think that my past life died from a fire or an infected third-degree burn. I’m hoping that the reason of my death is meaningful, like saving someone’s life. I’ve imagined myself saving someone from the fire but unfortunately, I was the one that actually needed saving in the end. I have always feared dying without achieving anything. Life is shorter than what we expect. In a few more years, we will be wiped off the face of the earth. Our identity will be buried just like our dead bodies six-feet under. Before our lives go to waste, might as well do something remarkable that would benefit a lot of people from different generations.

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Krizia Reyes
3ELS2

You know that planner who you dearly love at the first quarter of the year but as the year ends you get overwhelm and finally lost track of it all? Well that’s me. I’m that planner.

I’m that person who likes to plan things thoroughly, I plan what to do on a specific day, when to do it and how I’m going to do it. I may not always follow this because time management is not innate to some of us but I see to it that I tic most of the things in the list. You can say that I’m more of a Monica Geller rather than a Rachel Green (reference to F.R.I.E.D.S). Planning and consistency are the things that rule my mind most of the time and if I lose control I get overwhelm.

I am a planner in a sense that I plan things out –a lot- and I don’t like not having a plan, may it be in the near future or what do I want to eat tomorrow. I fear uncertainty.

I like spontaneity in a sense that if I’m out with you and you asked me on a trip, I’ll go with you no if’s no but’s. Although my company is not easily achieved when I’m home alone reading a good book, that’s a different story and it won’t end with you dragging me out of the house. I find it necessary for people to understand me ‘doing nothing’ is not an open invitation to go out.

Plans may get overwhelming as the year goes by, I may forget to put important dates to it, and I may lose track of what goals I have, I know that there are these people who will keep me grounded and guide me back to where I should go. There are the true lines in my polka doted gold planner.

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by Kamille Salazar

The belief of reincarnation originated from Indian religions such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. It is a concept of believing that this life is not the only life that you may live and however you live in this life will determine who or what you may become in the next one.

As a person living in this present time, I would describe myself as someone who loves to contemplate about the uniqueness of each individual. In my spare time, I love solving puzzles and riddles. I love having to exercise and cultivate my thoughts.

I like to write and read. Every book I read is an adventure. I like the company of people but there are times when I only like observing them. I like to think about the origin of everything.

I am an adventurous soul who likes to stay in the comfort of my home. I can be defiant being who values my opinion on things and occurrence. I love listening to music and I can easily follow a song’s tune. If I listen to a song once, I can already follow the rhythm of the music. Although, I don’t exactly excel in singing, nor in dancing. I like living in moderation, too much of anything is too much and too little is never enough. Balance and harmony is what I aim for. When I try to paint a picture in my head, there is a vivid image that forms in my mind. Unfortunately, I could never paint them in actual paper.

I am afraid of the dark and being alone in the dark. I prefer dawn over dusk. I don’t like taking one side over the other. I accept whatever good points each has. Most of time, I just like taking my own, though.

As I combine these things that describe who I am, I like to think that I was an artist in my past life. The kind of artist who can organize the thoughts whirling up in her head; and materializing these thoughts to form something real. Sadly, I have lost the ability to create something real and only now rely on how to describe everything in words and phrases. I like paying attention to every little detail of how an object – may it be an art work, a story, a song, or anything ordinary – is created. In my opinion, what makes up a person is the little things that may exhibit who they may be as a person.

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Most of us have different personalities that have been developed now. Some has been matured and thinks about the things carefully.

I was once a cheerleader back then when I was still a simple high school student.  I’m not literally a cheerleader who is tossed in the air and catch by the catcher. I just related myself as a cheerleader because as we all know cheerleaders is somewhat a happy-go-lucky person. A cheerleader gives whole heartedly on what they’re doing despite of the injuries and endless practices, they still love doing it. The routines they make are arduous, but still they continue what they are doing.

I’m happy-go-lucky person because I don’t plan that much and accepts what happens without becoming worried. I choose to do things easily and never let myself feel any pressure while doing it. As time flies by, I became matured and thinks all the things more carefully.

by: Mabilangan Czarina Fraulien M.

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By: Bianca Cortes

I believe that I was a princess in my past life—but a rebellious one at that.

Well-provided for but filled with an untamed spirit and a love for adventure. In my spare time, I must have loved exploring the nearby forests and practicing fencing with the knights. I was strong and didn't care what others thought. Most of all, I must have hated being forced into doing things I didn't want to do.

This is still me today. I do not let myself get ordered around as I am very much used to getting my own way. I can also describe myself as someone who doesn’t try too hard because I don’t feel the need to impress anyone. There are only a few things in this world that I give a damn about. As I am naturally self-centered, I lack empathy.

Moving on to the good side, I like going out—wherever it may be—malls, restaurants, or shopping stores. Just say the word and you can take me anywhere with you. This can be explained by my hidden talent: the ability to get along with anyone… from three-year-old boys to giggly, hormonal teenagers to old widows—I can keep up a conversation with them.

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Ibarra, Alyssa Joy L.
3ELS2

“You must have saved a country in your previous life”, this is the sentence that I regularly see in books or articles (and even dialogues in movies) whenever someone experiences luck. Since then, I have always wondered and often asked myself as to whom I might have been in my past life.

Since books and movies associate character’s past life according to their current state, I guess I can say that maybe, just maybe, I have been a really obedient girl in my past life (lol), someone like Cinderella. I’m not saying that I am as obedient right now, the reason why said that is because I almost always get what I want today (with prayers of course). Even though sometimes I believe that I don’t deserve it, I am always showered with blessings.

As a Catholic, I have been taught that human beings are only born and will die once. Therefore, there is no reincarnation. The Church does not believe in anyone's past life. Each and every person born into a physical life is created by God to fulfill a specific purpose in life. There is no pre-existence of souls. Despite my strong belief in God and His gospel, I have always imagined about what I might have been before or what I will be in my next life. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that this life is just once and that when I die I will be renewed in the light of Christ. It’s just that I am really curious. Well, I guess that all the luck I am experiencing right now is not because I have been such a sweetheart in my past life or because I have saved people back then but because I am loved and taken care of my family, friends and of the Lord.

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I am the clouds.

I may look soft and fragile, or pale for some time. When it feels extremely heavy or if everything is already too much too handle, I would let myself rain, thunder if I get too hysterical. Sometimes when I turn gray, I still hesitate whether to let it out or just keep the heaviness to myself for one more day. And when my rain had been finally released, the sky would reveal a beautiful, colorful outcome that everybody would appreciate.

I am a foreign language.

I am elusive and difficult to learn at first but it is so much easier if you love me. You would eventually understand me if you are just patient and determined enough to get to know me more. And when you finally learned everything about me and got to know me, you would be glad, you would be thankful, you would be happy. Plus, you get to stay with me forever if you remain your memory with me.

by Dianne Grace Canilao

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Dancelle Medina

I believe I am an introvert and an extremely family-oriented person, with this I can say that I was probably a meerkat in my past life. A meerkat is one of the animals which are introverted and are loyal to their friends and family.

I suppose I am an introvert just like a meerkat because I usually want to spend most of my time alone. I just wanted to stay inside the house and to curl up in bed, watching Youtube videos or reading books. I feel drained and suffocated whenever I am surrounded with too many people.

I do not really talk that much as well. Whenever someone ring me, I usually do not answer their calls, not because I am disrespectful, but because I am afraid that I would not be able to talk to them properly since I always do not know what to say. The conversation will always turn awkward and it seems like I bore any person that I am talking to.

With these characteristics, I have limited the number of friends that I have to just three to four, not until I met my college friends that I got to maintain a relationship with twelve to thirteen people in one group.

Also, similar to a meerkat, I think that I am an extremely family-oriented person because although I do not usually like the idea of going out of the house, I enjoy it if it is with them. They are the ones who give me comfort and I like spending my time with them, doing activities which may be petty for some, but is surely a big deal for me, such as grocery shopping or eating at our favourite carinderia. Sometimes, my siblings and I would even tag one another and would go out even in the middle of the night just to eat ice cream or buy burgers.

However, I may have the personality of a meerkat, but I think I have the stomach of a panda. You would not believe how much I can eat in one seating. But, that is another story to tell.

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Pamela Recio

They say, the hardest question to answer is probably the question, “Who am I?” However, today, as I stick my eyes on this computer screen, I realize that the hardest question is probably, “What are you in your past life?” How come I never thought of the “me” in my past life? It is because people nowadays tend to emphasize more the future aspects of life than the past, that even history is somehow taken for granted? Maybe or maybe not. In my case, as I allowed the question being raised to consume me, I therefore conclude that I may have had a past life. To be honest, I often have dreams that appeared so fresh and clear in my memory to the point that it bothers me for some of them are quite scary. Don’t get me wrong, I never indulged myself into any toxic chemical substance that makes a person hallucinate.

According to the popular Korean drama “Goblin,” human beings are reincarnated thrice. Once reincarnated, they may have the exact same appearance to that of their previous lives, or they may have an entirely different appearance. However, their attitudes or outlooks in life are in accordance to that of their previous lives. I want to apologize to the scriptwriter of the Korean drama or whoever thought of such idea for I would like to believe that in my past life, I looked like someone else, still in the same gender, but I may be an opposite of who I currently am for I strongly believe that who or what we fear to be, we already experienced becoming.

My previous life might have been pretty bad which is why my life at its current state is somehow in smooth sailing despite some of the problems that I encounter. I never thought of myself as an animal or an object for I would like to believe that humans are reincarnated as humans. I was possibly a nonchalant, rebellious, out-of-school youth human being who thinks about herself and nothing else. I probably sold drugs or whatnot that can cause a person to become intensely ‘high’, and since drug selling was not much of an issue back then, police officers who randomly shoot people was not a concern of mine. Perhaps, I failed all of my subjects which made me so bothered about my grades at present. Perhaps, it was so easy for me to skip class. Perhaps, back then, I left my parents’ house and became a nomad without anyone to rely on but myself. Perhaps, I roamed the streets whose names I could no longer recall, begging for food from people who merely passed by me. Perhaps, I underwent a change of heart (or a metanoia to be more specific) during the twilight years of my existence and told myself, “Since I can longer undo the things that I have done wrong, I will undo them in my next life.”

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Speculating on my past self begs the question: how much do I know myself or how do I see myself as for that matter. I cannot say specifically who or what I was, I can only describe what kind of personality the past me had. This shall be based on the qualities I possess now that puzzle me. For one, I have so-called ‘boyfriend-material’ traits according to my friends. Thus, I can speculate that I was maybe male in my past life. As a male, I would’ve been chivalrous and polite to ladies such that I know how to treat them the way they want to be treated. I cringe while I type all this. I am not too fond of seeing or describing myself as anything positive, maybe my past self absorbed most of my self-esteem.

I like to think I have exhausted all my motivations to do schoolwork in my past life and I am now left with little to no motivation at all regarding my studies. My past self could have been the opposite of shy me. He (as I identify my past self as male) probably become tired of interacting with a lot of people which is why now I turned into an introvert who still knows how to socialize, apparently.

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Czarina Ann M. Castro
3 ELS2

Although I do not entirely believe in the concept of reincarnation because I have so much to learn about it, I have been contemplating about the possibilities of myself having a life before this one. My sister would usually tell me that she thinks I used to wear fancy gowns and go to fancy events in my past life because of how I am today. When I think about it deeply, I actually think I was an aristocrat or perhaps a queen in my past life; those in the likes of Marie Antoinette.

I believe this because I think that the way of life of an aristocrat woman in the 1800’s France is the same as mine. I like to be indulged, I want things my way and I tend to just worry about myself. Despite these traits that make me alike with the women of 1800’s France, the good of the people around me is still one of my top concerns. I am very sensitive to every one’s feelings and I love giving stuff to people. Aristocracies back then were seldom sympathetic to the people of the lower class. Only a very few of them actually cared for the needy. I’d like to believe I was part of that small portion; those that were fond of doing charity events and sending hopeful children to school. Although I tend to be selfish when I think of the things that I want, I still consider giving back and helping others.

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I’ve always think about the possibilities of a past life, I want to know if there are reasons on why am I like this right now. But if past life does exist, I think, in my past life, I was a panda.

A panda looks cute and soft on the outside; it can protect itself when it is threatened. It also has a high sensitivity to its surroundings and can easily be stressed when there is too much noise or movement around it. It lives in solidarity during most of the time of its existence. It migrates – not hibernate - whenever it is needed in order for them to survive.

I think panda is my spirit animal that is why I think I was one during my past life. Yes I am nice and friendly when you meet me, but I know when is the time to protect myself and the people I love, though most of the time I just keep quiet. I also have a high sensitivity when it comes to my surroundings, I am sensitive when it comes to the people around me, I easily feel whenever someone is mad at me, or if someone is hurt because of me, and this easily affects me. It bothers me whenever I know that someone is mad at me or when I’m mad at someone, I just don’t feel at ease. Whenever I know there is a conflict, and I am aware of it, I will usually be the one to adjust, just like how pandas migrate in order for them to survive; I adjust so that conflict won’t get worse. When it comes to solidarity, I am a sociable person but there are times when I prefer to distance myself from everything. Sometimes I just sit on my bed and think.

All these I associate on being a panda, which is already endangered today.

Sy, Zephania Chantal
3ELS2

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Glenn krishnan
3ELS2

In my past life, I think I was mermaid. I really believe that I was alive before and swimming under the sea. I think mermaids are really united or connected with the nature, they are sensitive to the feelings of other creatures, and they can easily connect with others.  Every time I am stressed or sad, I always go to the seaside and contemplate about life. It’s really relaxing and I am really amazed how wonderful it is.

Every time I am near the sea, I always have this feeling that I belong to the sea which I find really weird. I am really curious what is up in the deepest part of it.  I am extremely happy when I am near the sea and just appreciate what is in front of me. I love the sea so much but at the same time it scares the life out of me. I am afraid of the sea creatures especially the whales and sharks. In my opinion, I died because a shark attacked me. Maybe that is the reason why I’m terrified with sharks. I think I am a mermaid for the reason that I have the same traits or characteristics with them. I am really connected with our nature and other creatures. I am really compassionate and concerned with every creature here on earth and I am sensitive enough to know if I am causing something bad to others (not all the time but at least…) Again, I just love the sea so much! I am fascinated how big and mysterious it is.

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- Hillary Atondo
Thinking about my identity prior to this life, can be considered ludicrous. As much as there are various whimsical probabilities I will be capable of thinking because of the Googled biographies of the deceased public figures. It will still not be capable of providing answer to the probabilities I’ve drawn.

In one episode of Opra’s “Super Soul Sunday,” a Psychiatrist talked about reincarnation. Dr. Weiss explained, “We never die, because we’re never really born. We existed before. You existed before this birth… If you are the soul, you never die. When the body dies, you go on.”

From this, it can be drawn that I have always been me prior to the “me” today. I was me in a different historical epoch, different culture, different language, and different clothes. But my personality has always been like this. I have always been into finding the good in every situation and sometimes impulsive too. I have always been vocal with my thoughts and my feelings and I have always been musically-inclined. I have always been a leader in my own way.

These characteristics might have caused the death of my body however, as I have mentioned, the soul just goes on, and get passed on—though I don’t know if my body today is also going to die with the same reason it died before.

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by: Kaira Sharina Camba
3ELS2

My name is Kaira Sharina. I was born in Lipa City, Batangas in 1998. My birthday is on August 12. For an unexplained reason, I have always been astonished by water, oceans, seas, lakes, wells, rivers, pools, rains, even the dew drops on the petals of flowers. I found harmony in water. I feel like I am on my realest self when I am surrounded by it.

I love the rain, everything about it enchants me; the smell, the sight, the sound, and the inexplicable feeling of comfort.  I love falling asleep under my comforter with the windows thrown open to the hiss of rain. The rain brings me calmness and peacefulness.

Also, I adore the sea, its charming, relieving and relaxing effect on me. I love the fishes. I love the boats. It’s broadness. I love everything about it.

I can’t remember the first time, I went swimming, but I am certain that being a swimmer is a natural skill of mine; maybe it’s something I got from my parents. I was once part of my former’s school’s swimming team before I transferred to UST. I joined the team to fulfill my love for water, not to compete, maybe that’s why I don’t feel any regret on not applying to be a member of UST’s team. Through swimming, I am able to open my mind to countless ideas and rid myself of anything holding me back in my everyday life.

I came from a family of singers. My passion and love for singing keeps me sane and lucid. Singing helps me express myself by saying the words I can’t even tell. It is my escape in this chaotic world,  my breakout in anger and pain.

These are only some reasons why I think I was a mermaid in my past life.

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Hannah Cabardo
3ELS2

If I were to believe at the notion of a past life, I would like to think that I am a star, that big ball of hydrogen and helium gas that decorate our night sky, living at least hundreds of light years away from our humble blue planet.

Ever since childhood I am deeply fascinated by them, that is why my father would often bring me to our balcony just to gaze at them. Until now, I am enamored with Astronomy as a field of science, since studying the stars is under its research interest, and will continue as is.

I have always wanted to see them in person, to be near them, but that proved to be impossible since I cannot even look at the nearest star to us, the sun, with my own bare eyes. In addition to that, I will be cooked alive if I close at least 15 km of proximity to a star.

Maybe, in line with the thought of a past life, this longing to see them, to be with them, is a proof that before this life, I am that ball of fire that looks at humans on earth. That ball of fire is probably jealous of humans, that rather being fixed by inertia set by the gravity of other stars, they could walk freely. Humans have the freedom to do what they want even with the short time that is given to them. While me, as a ball of fire, is restrained by the gravity; and pressure is a necessity.  That ball of fire continues to grow big and big until it uses up all its helium and burst into a violent explosion known as supernova, leaving a black hole that sucks up everything in space, even light cannot escape it.

I am afraid that the star-me has not escaped that fate yet.

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Venice Bautista
3ELS2

If I have a past life I would like to believe that I was a fairy – a garden fairy. Garden fairies are playful creatures that are mostly seen having fun around flowers and animals. Garden fairies are shy yet kind and caring. They are also lovers of art and beauty, thus why they’re in charge with beautifying the world with their exquisite taste in landscapes and flowers. These creatures are said to be completely pacifists but will defend Mother Nature and their own kin if needed with the ability to perform alchemy. At dawn, before the first pair of eyes open, they pour out blessings to the whole world.

I’d like to be a garden fairy because they take care of the planet and the animals who roam around it. I’m an advocate of animal rights and clean and green living and I think that if we humans have a good relationship with Mother Nature, it doesn’t only benefit our physical health but also benefits our mental health. No one likes waking up to a chaotic and untidy place. No one likes living in an environment where there are rotten bodies of animals everywhere. Having a pleasant view helps our brains be at peace, and our souls calm. The best thing about garden fairies is their ability to pour out blessings. Yes, God is in charge of what blessings to give to people and it’s an amazing and fulfilling thing to be the one to deliver those blessings to people, animals, and nature and to see the positive reaction from them. We live in such a cruel world that we only focus on ourselves and we forget to strive to make the world more peaceful, kind, loving, and beautiful for our loved ones as well. To serve the world like that, it would be wonderful. That’s why I believe I’m a garden fairy in my past life.

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By: Sonny Manansala

I think I was some kind of fish in my past life. This is because of my love for them. For some reason, I feel some sort of connection with fish.  I also love being near bodies of water. It makes me feel at home. There were also some incidents when I seem to hear my pet fish talking. Furthermore, the smell of fish food attracts me. I always think of tasting them whenever I feed my fish.  Every time I pass Manila Bay, there is something deep inside me urging me to jump to the water and not surface anymore. Nobody also taught me how to swim.  It is just something natural to me. These things have made me convinced that I was a fish before being a Sonny.

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Reincarnation is a belief that I am very interested in learning more because I like to consider the idea that the life that we are experiencing now is not the only life we will experience or have experienced. It would be so fascinating if our souls are put in different entities every lifetime and you get to experience life in different ways. I guess it’s a way to assure myself that if I don’t make the best out of this life, then I can make it up in my next one. It is safe to say that if I believe that I will be reincarnated in the future, then I must have been also a reincarnation of someone or something in the past.

I would personally want to think that in my previous life, I was a panda. I am quite similar to one in terms of their lifestyle. I love eating the food that I want and I like to laze around whenever possible, qualities that can be associated with these lovable creatures. They are peaceful and relaxed animals that is somewhat similar to my personality. And if I’m completely honest, my body size can be compared to them but I don’t really mind. They are one of the animals that I truly adore and to imagine myself being that animal in my previous life would be such an amazing feeling.

Jemimah V. Bongcayao
3ELS2

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By: Luigi Tolentino

I think I was a mouse in my past life, only because mice are quiet and always show up after everybody had gone away because it’s scared and afraid. This trait of it is similar to mine, and that is me being shy. Mice are always judged as food stealers, which is true, but they’re only doing it to survive. Sometimes, we don’t see the reason as to why some people are doing this and that. We always judge them for their actions. In our society, a lot of people do crazy things and sometimes we never understand why they’re doing it, but always remember that everything happens for a reason.

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by: Diane Iris Candelaria
3ELS2

In my past life, I think I was a rich fortune teller. This is because I’m good at making predictions. When I guess about something, it’s almost always right. I rarely get a wrong guess.  I can also feel it when something bad is going to happen.  In fact, the night before my grandfather died, I felt that something bad would really happen. I was asleep that night, then, I woke up crying without a reason. The next morning, I went to school but I couldn’t focus on anything because I was really feeling anxious and unsettled. When I went home, I found out that my grandfather was dead and I did not even get to say goodbye. There were other moments when I had experienced things like this. This kind of experience makes me believe that I’m a good fortune teller in my past life.

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Based from our knowledge, a waterfall is a place where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of drops in the course of a stream or river.

Back in my developing stage, I would relate myself as a waterfall. I found myself going with the flow of life. I enjoyed and at the same time learned though the ups and downs from the joyful and painful experiences. I choose the things that are worth my time and never let myself pressure so much. I am a happy go lucky person who loves doing my interests and worry less to some things unless my attention is necessary. But when I became mature with certain things, I realized that I should not always go with the flow. I should live my life and have a voice to issues that are timely that would help in making a change in our living.

SORIA, Rianika G.
3ELS2

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I believe that I was a wolf in my past life. I’ve always had this love and fascination about wolves and dogs. I feel happy whenever I see big furry dogs, especially those that resemble a wolf, I just feel very connected to them. I’ve also dreamed about being a werewolf and I enjoyed reading werewolf stories, either on Wattpad or in foreign novels. I own two dogs, which I love very much. I don’t know if anyone can understand the love that I have for wolves and dogs. I frequently go on Facebook or YouTube and watch videos of big furry dogs and even those dogs mixed with wolves and this could take up most of my time. Another reason why I think I was a wolf in my past life is because of my belief that once you make a dog/wolf feel safe around you, there will be an unbreakable connection between you and her/him.

Patricia Bringas
3ELS2

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By Paulyene Adrienne S. Cayco

If there is really such a thing as a past life, then I think I was a Nephilim. According to the book of Genesis, a Nephilim is an offspring of the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men”. They are considered as the “fallen ones” because of the sin committed by their pure angel-blooded parent, which is having an affair with a mortal. For this reason, a Nephilim is someone who is half-angel and half-human. They both have a mortal and angel blood.

Although the Nephilim belong to the fallen ones and were considered cursed, I think I was one of the Nephilim who still do good works in the name of God.

The reason why I thought I had lived as a Nephilim in my past life is not only because I am an avid fan of reading books about angels, but I also think being an angel for others is my utmost mission and calling from God. Further, I am an imperfect being unlike the cherubim, seraphim, and the like; that’s why, I think I belong in the Nephilim category.

According to the angel books that I’ve read, a Nephilim has its own niche. I guess my previous niche was with the broken hearted. It is because a lot of people have been telling me lately that I really have a gift on listening. With this, a lot of people find comfort telling their hurts or pains with me openly.

As a Nephilim for the broken hearted, I have gained wisdom and experience about God's love and mercy over the centuries; consequently, who I am today for the people who are broken proves that my previous life as a Nephilim is real.

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- Marie Carmella DR. Ingalla
It has been an everlasting claim that we all have our own past lives – because we do. We all came from something, or someone, only that we are reincarnating. Thus, it is difficult for us to remember our past histories because all our knowledge our deeply-stored in the subconscious. Personally, I don’t believe that such a thing exists. I think we are all new individuals with distinct legacies to make and a purpose to fulfill. Thus, if I assume that I had a past life, I can say that maybe I was an eggshell sculpture of a DNA figure by an artist who  is dealing with over-sensitivity as her personal issue.  Growing up, I learned that I am becoming overly-sensitive with a lot of things. I get offended with the simplest jokes and childish statements, I hate loud music, I flinch with irritating noise, and curse because of petty situations. Also, I am more susceptible to mood swings because my emotional state changes more rapidly with the environment that I belong. I think the sculpture that I was in my past life perfectly represents the kind of a human being that I am in the present.

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I’m not the type of person who would believe or entertain thoughts such as having a past-life and being a mosquito whatsoever.

But today’s writing prompt made me think that what if I am really a mosquito back then?

What if I have my own wings and can fly around someone’s personal space?

What if I can taste the A’s the B’s the AB’s and the O’s?

What if I get smashed just because I’m starving and wanted to get some food?

Those peculiar what if’s of mine.

I am the adventurous type of person, I like doing things in a dangerous way.

I like going to different places where I can extract different things, good and bad.

I’m not picky, whenever there’s an opportunity that lures me, I go for it. Not considering the consequences the might happen.

And that made accept the fact, that maybe, just maybe I am a mosquito in my past life. MAYBE.

As I much I don’t want to compare myself to a mosquito there are similarities between me and them, plus isn’t it cool to die while you’re trying to get some nourishment?

Noreen Penullar

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Mia, Lance Reginald N.

What do you think you are or who do you think you are in your past life?

I am not sure of what or who I am today for I have been questioning my life ever since. I never retain the memory I had since childhood since I recover from my “comatose state” back then. My parents said that recovering from my “comatose state” is having a second life and, that makes me question the childhood I never remember. From my perspective, I can either be nice or naughty; kind or unkind; generous or stubborn; industrious or lazy. It is a struggle to cope with personality, attitude, and character. There is a side of me that features the naiveté with other features that shows my shyness and open-mindedness. It is a struggle to go to what side of ambivert nature of the person: introvert or extrovert. I try to do everything to find my true nature but, it leaves me questioning my life if it is what is the real me.

My life is an open question that keeps reminding that one question if someone asks about my life. It would leave it a long discussion or the open question of my existence. It may perceive the possible traits that I have now. I may have some answers but, these answers may lead to a bigger question.

My life is balancing the force of positivity and negativity. I am neutral to my decisions but, I find it hard to balance the forces. This is my life when figuring out what I am. The traits I use, the attitude I show, the overall character I display.

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They say that whoever you were in your past life is the complete opposite to who you are and what life you live now. If I were to base everything on that one sentence alone I think I’d probably be a man he’d probably have a really fancy name like Alistair or something (Mine is just a really common Hannah), I’d probably be very rich (I’m not. Yet) which probably means he’s never ridden on an MRT, LRT, tricycle and jeep twice in one day (I do) I’d probably be good at math (numbers are complicated to me) I’d probably be a lady killer (explains my lack of love life in this current life) I’d also probably be blonde and tall! (I’m brunette, exactly 160 cm) and while living that life might have been good, it’s great actually, I think I like it better where I am now because the past me would probably not have a great family (I know I have), a great set of friends (I know I have), he would also probably have bad taste in music. Worst of all, since he probably lived in the 1940’s or something there’d probably be no cellphone and wifi when he was alive (shocking) While it’s fun to imagine who I’d be in the past life I think it’s safe to say that I like myself better now thank you very much.

Carido, Hannah Lesly S.
3ELS2

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by Chloe Elijah Malicdem
3ELS2

What was I in my past life? Was I an animal? A princess? A warrior? These are the kinds of questions that run through my mind whenever I think of reincarnation or the possibility of having a past life.

I think that I was someone who loves to travel, to explore new places and to not be in one place for a long time – a wanderer. I would have been someone who is a risk-taker and a go-getter, someone who wants to try everything, someone who does anything to live her life to the fullest not wanting to regret something that could have been. I would have been someone who has lived in so many countries and experienced different cultures. But for my later years, I think I would have settled in the city that never sleeps – New York City. I think I am a wanderer because I have this familiar feeling of wanting to explore new things and experience being in a place that no one knows me.

It would have been a fulfilling life. It was a life of trying new things, travelling to new places, meeting new people from time to time. If given the chance, this would also be the kind of life that I would want to live now, in my present life. I want to live my life to the fullest not regretting things I should have done.

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Past lives are crucial, I think. I’m not really a believer that we, people had past lives for I believe that we are yet to be reincarnated or born again. But if I ever had a past life, I think I would be a dog, because dogs are loyal and they care more than they show even in their own dog way.

I don’t think people realize how loyal I am but that’s okay because I never really bragged about it to any of my friends or acquaintances. Like a dog, I always feel that drive to protect those who are important to me and I will do everything that I can just to help them with their problems and to solve those problems. I am loyal like a dog because I know how to stay by the side of those who matter to me. I can be aggressive if the situation needs and I can be soft when I have to be soft. I am also fluffy, and other people consider me as ‘cute’ like a dog. I can be hug anywhere and pinch my cheeks when people started to be ‘gigil’ with the student gfs.

I believe that past lives will think as how we are right now. It will help us realize the true self of ourselves. We may not know who they really are in the world but thinking to ourselves that that’s who we are in our past lives may give a negative feedback but we must always remember that it is for the betterment of myself, yourself and ourselves.

Mercado, Jhelo V.
3ELS2

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Remembering your past life is relevant because through this, you’ll be able to know what characteristics should be left behind and what should remain in you. Past-life mistakes may be rectified in your current life, and the skills you acquired in your past life might be of great help to you in the present. Knowing myself too well, makes me consider myself as someone who’s great at cheering people to shed some light and joy to their day.
Determined, Tough, Spirited, Multi-talented, Grateful, Committed are just some of the characteristics of a cheerleader that makes them a person that's easy to be with. I think I’m a cheerleader because I know how to cheer someone up if they’re going through tough times, just like me in the present time. I was never the type of person who would hesitate to talk to someone crying in the corner of the room, I was never that type of girl. What I want to leave behind is the fact that a cheerleader must be as focused as possible because with what’s happening now, I tend to cheer someone even if they have never appreciated my presence.

Santos, Thea Trishia L.
3ELS2