Most people believe in life after death. I, on the other hand, believe in life after birth. If heaven exists, it’s right here on earth. It isn’t hidden in some faraway galaxy, confined to our imagination, or waiting beyond the grave. And on my grueling Mt Tapulao traverse, I found it in the most unlikely places. At first, the journey felt nothing like heaven. With its raging rivers, scorching sun, slippery hills, and seemingly endless forests, our Mt Tapulao traverse felt closer to hell, with a long detour through purgatory.  My legs ached, my shoulders burned, and sweat soaked through my clothes. More than once, I wondered why I had…