ON FEB. 2, fill your dining table with fruits, particularly pineapple, pomelo, orange, apple, banana, grapes and dragon fruit, to attract money, harmony and prosperity. And, who doesn’t want that?
Renowned Hong Kong-based geomancer Joseph Chau, feng shui consultant of Mandarin Oriental, Manila for the past 10 years now, says at least five kinds of these fruits should be placed on a basket on the table. Five means harvest and luck in Chinese.
Never put pear because it means separation in Mandarin. “You can’t have separation during the Chinese New Year (on Feb. 3). In a more traditional manner, pear is an offering to the ghost. We want the ghost to keep away from us,” says the 61-year-old geomancer.
Don’t forget to put two pieces of ang pao on the table so you can have better luck in the Year of the Metal Rabbit. Add more candies like macapuno on table because they mean “home sweet home.”
It would be auspicious also to have watermelon and lotus seeds on the table which signify money and luck, respectively, in Chinese.
Have your rice bin filled up during the Chinese New Year and place on top more lucky stuff like Chinese lettuce, Chinese celery, spring onions, carrots with leaves and lotus root. The lotus root implies harmonious relationship between husband and wife.
Add kiat kiat or mini ponkans on top of the rice bin overnight with P168 inside the rice bin. Don’t use coins. Use paper notes. Then, place one piece of ang pao on top of them all.
“Then you go to a mall and buy new underwear and a new pair of slippers. Then you take a bath to remove all the bad luck of 2010,” Chau instructs. “Even if you’re lucky in 2010 you still need to do it for the Year of the Rabbit.”
Chau encourages the families to go to Makati because money is concentrated in Makati business district. Mandarin Hotel is facing the northwest direction which is an auspicious location this year.
The Year of the Metal Rabbit, says Chau, is generally a better year than the Tiger (last year). It promises a romantic year for everybody. Business will bloom, specifically in trading, mining (gold), real estate, hotel business.
Economic situation in the Philippines will be better. However, many major disasters will come our way this year. “Serious car accidents, flooding, earthquakes, airplane accidents are just some of them,” Chau predicts.
Lucky colors of the Metal Rabbit, white, sky blue, gold, red, peach, silver, green, orange, pink and violet. Unlucky color: pure black or pure white. “It’s like going to the funeral if you wear all white or all black,” adds Chau.
Love life in general is good for everyone except those under the rat sign. “Illegal relationships,” as Chau calls it, is quite possible. By “illegal” he means the man can possibly have two or more ladies.
Economic situation and stock market are still good. “Tourism will survive. It can bring in a lot of money to the country,” he adds. “To invite more luck for the tourism there should be more water fountain around the country. Water adds harmony. It’s time to explore again the Philippine culture like Mindanao dance to attract more tourists.”
Lucky signs this year: Rabbit, Horse, Goat, Dragon, Rat and Ox.
If Chau is to be believed, the entertainment industry will also show good profit. “This year is lucky for movies and television because of the metal sign. They use their lips/mouth to entertain. Mouth is metal.”
Music, publishing, concerts will exceedingly do well. Even lecturers and public speakers will thrive.
Chau still uses the old zodiac sign. “In Chinese culture we don’t have new zodiac sign. We recognize only the 12 animals.”
Zodiac luck
Chau offers highlights in his forecast for the 12 signs. Those born in the Year of the Rabbit, Chau says, will be under a lot of stress and they will face challenges and persecutions. However, they have better luck in money affairs.
This is a successful year for Dragons. They will have satisfactory income from their investments and hard work. Dragons should not expect too much in romance this year. However, single lady will have better luck than male in love affair. They will have the chance to meet their dream lovers. Married couples will enjoy their peaceful family life.
This is a busy and tough year for Snakes because there are many unlucky stars surrounded under the sign. They have to be flexible in coping with the change. They will have the possibility to overspend. On love affairs, the romantic star is dull.
This is an improving year for Horses. Businessmen will have better luck in their investments and working employees will have the chance to get promotion. Since the Moon Star shines bright this year, they will have a better luck in expanding their personal communication network that will help them to have better prospect both at work and business.
It’s a very busy year for Goats. They have to double their efforts at work so that they are able to achieve the path of success at the end of the year. Married Goats will enjoy their stable and peaceful family life within the year because of the lucky star shines bright even though they suffered many problems in the previous year.
It is important for Monkeys to have a good strategy plan in the beginning of the year if they wish to have a productive and successful year. The youth will be popular in the social gatherings and they will be easy to fall into love triangle.
Clashing signs
Roosters are clashing with the Tai Suey (Grand Duke). More or less, there will be some influences and changes in their life cycle encompassing business, career, family and love affairs within the year. This is not an ideal year for Roosters to change job or business expansion. They have to pay attention to their home safety to avoid robbery or accident that might happen.
Dogs are the most compatible zodiac sign of the Year of the Rabbit. Many opportunities are open for them or partnership with others. Lovers will have a harmonious and affectionate love affairs. Keep away from temptation.
Pig is one of the compatible zodiac signs of the Rabbit. Their luck will be stable and promising. Pigs will not worry too much about their health this year because they are in good condition physically and mentally throughout the year.
This is a fortunate year for Rats. Everything tends to be more stable and smooth, especially because there are two lucky stars shinning bright within the sign. On love affairs, this is a romantic year with good marriage possibilities. Rats will enjoy a harmonious relationship with their lovers within the year.
There is an improvement for Ox as compared to last year. Although there is slight conflict to the Rabbit, they should be careful in handling their work to avoid unnecessary problems that might happen anytime. Due to the influence of the unlucky stars, they should keep low profile and be patient to avoid struggle with people or they will be involved in numerous disputes.
This is a productive year for Tigers. It is the good timing for their business expansion. They will have a profitable return from their investment. They should take care though of their health. Be cautious of food hygiene and diet.
Countdown
Meanwhile, Mandarin Oriental, Manila heralds the Year of the Metal Rabbit with a big celebration starting with a grand Midnight Countdown on the eve of Chinese New Year on Feb. 2, eye-dotting ceremony, a luxurious Chinese New Year set menus at Tin Hau, homemade tikoy and a room and spa package for local residents.
Festivities kick off at 11 p.m. with a traditional paai shan ceremony and a blessing led by Chau. It will be followed by a dragon and lion dance and outdoor fireworks at the hotel mound at the corner of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.
Ticket holders are invited to pre-event al fresco cocktails at the hotel’s Makati Avenue entrance, beginning at 10 p.m. and later enjoy an eight-course lauriat dinner in the Mandarin Ballroom, where dishes symbolic of good fortune and prosperity will be offered at midnight for the revelers’ first lucky meal of the year.
At the dinner, theatrical entertainment numbers will be presented, and diners get a chance to win prizes, including a trip for two persons to Sanya, China with a three day-two night stay in an Ocean Pavilion at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental, Sanya resort hotel.
Homemade tikoy or nian gao, a sticky delicacy made from glutinous rice, is available at Mandarin Oriental, Manila’s Chinese New Year booth until Feb. 2. Different shapes are available, including lotus flowers, pineapples, fish and rabbits.
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