What are your zodiac readings for the Year of the Pig?

It is now 2019 in the Western Gregorian calendar, but on Feb. 5, it will be the 4,716th year of the ancient Chinese lunar calendar — the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. How do people celebrate this biggest Asian festival?

One annual Chinese New Year project supported by Philippine STAR readers, industrialist Ricardo Leong and his wife, Dr. Rosita Leong — the parents-in-law of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. CEO Lance Gokongwei — is the Spring Film Festival featuring free Chinese-language movies from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5 at Shangri-La Plaza mall in Mandaluyong City. The public is invited. Free entrance to all, thanks to Ateneo de Manila University’s Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies, the multi-awarded Ateneo Celadon organization and Zurich-based Credit Suisse.

Apart from reunion feasts, angpao cash gifts and tikoy desserts, one of the many ways to enjoy the lunar new year is to consult Chinese zodiac readings. Though I believe good luck comes from faith in God, hard work, a positive attitude and perseverance, it’s fun and also encouraging to know one’s Chinese zodiac readings.

New World Makati Hotel-based feng shui expert Princess Lim Fernandez recently gave The STAR an interview. Here are excerpts:

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: What will be the fates of these leaders: President Rody Duterte is a wood rooster, US President Donald Trump is a fire dog, China President Xi Jinping is a water snake, Russia President Vladimir Putin is a water dragon, Vice President Leni Robredo is a wood snake, Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is a fire pig and Senator Manny Pacquiao is a horse.

PRINCESS LIM FERNANDEZ: I need other details, like the time of birth of these persons, but I will just share some Chinese zodiac readings for Year of the Pig here.

Pig: The Pig should tackle everything at their own pace and should not let stress and pressure get to them, otherwise in their hurry, they may injure themselves.

Rat: Rats have a good year, as one of the most favorable stars is in their charts.  Many lucrative opportunities will come by way of the network Rats will attain this year.  As long as they maintain their hardworking positive attitude, they will be looking forward to good achievements at yearend.

Ox: The Ox had a lot to deal with last year as things may have been shaken up. They should take notice and learn whatever lessons they need to learn from those experiences.  That way, history will not repeat itself.

Tiger: The Tiger can expect a fairly good year ahead.  There will be an equal share of auspicious and inauspicious stars this year. 

Rabbit: Rabbits also have a pleasant year ahead of them.  A lot of things are going their way and they have a lot of lucky stars in their charts.

Dragon: Dragons also have a much better year in store for them after the tumultuous year that passed.  It will be their chance to make up for the delays and losses experienced last year.

Snake: You can depend on your Travel Star this year for those born under the Year of the Snake to help ease the pressure from being in conflict with the Pig. 

Horse: The Horse will have an auspicious Earth Pig year because of having two Prosperity Fortune Stars in your chart.  So be very vigilant to recognize the opportunities when they present themselves.

Goat: Goats, there’s so much more to deal with this 2019.  It will kind of tough.  Make sure you’re prepared to handle it. 

Monkey: Monkeys have a Prosperity Star as well as an Aspiring Star.

Rooster: Rooster should weigh all the options before making plans.  And make sure to stay well within the limits of the law to avoid getting into trouble.

Dog: Dogs are in for a happy new year! You’re exceeding what you have planned.  There will be some surprises that will await you this year.

What do you think is the role of feng shui in people’s future or success? Isn’t it wrong for some to oversimplify and think that feng shui is the key to prosperity?

There is an ancient Chinese belief that states that there are five contributory factors to success in life: first is destiny, second is luck, third is feng shui, fourth is charity and fifth is education.

This means that each one of us is born with a certain destiny and path. Understanding this can help a person aim towards realizing their maximum potential. Since the first two factors are based on a person’s birth chart and cannot be changed, there are still three other factors, though, that are well within our control.

Feng shui is managing the energies around us — maximizing the benefits of the auspicious energies and minimizing the ill effects of the inauspicious energies. Then having a kind heart and doing charity is also another way of alleviating one’s state in life. Lastly, acquiring knowledge and trying to better oneself will also contribute towards being in a good and happy state in life.

How will the world be economically and politically in this Year of the Pig?

Yin Earth is often referred to as “Mother Earth” or “Mother Nature That said, the Yin Earth Pig is polite, nurturing, gentle, charming, relaxed, peace-loving, kind, charitable, classy, graceful, intellectual and emotional. Yin Earth energy puts a lot of emphasis on culture and humanity, so artists, scientists, philosophers, and people concerned about social issues and the environment are connected to that energy.

However, the Yin Earth Pig can also be defiant, suspicious, jealous and stubborn. Yin Earth, unlike the Yang Earth of 2018, is a smaller kind of earth. It is like garden soil or farmland instead of a mountain. Compared to the mountains, from which you can see far into the horizon, the flatlands of Yin Earth give a more limited view and vision of the world. Thus people should be more discerning, do the necessary background checks and have the right research.

Balance should be the name of the game this year as earth needs water to grow the crops, but too much water will flood the land.

When you say “balance,” does that mean the world economy might have a slowdown?

This Year of the Pig marks the start of the cooler cycle of the zodiac system. It is the turning point of change where the tides start to turn.

Like the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, the yearly Chinese zodiac cycle also has the warmer period that is akin to spring and summer: these were the years 2013 to 2018. During this period, it was like things were “on fire.”

This 2019 is the start of the cooler period, which is akin to autumn and winter and these will be the years 2019 to 2024. Bear in mind that when the general cycle is “cooler,” then optimism is weaker. That may reflect as a slowdown and setbacks. Thus, again, remember to balance investments and do long-term planning.

The Philippines was declared a short-lived independent republic on June 12, 1898 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. What is the republic’s zodiac sign and our collective fate?

Given the birthdate of our country, the Philippines was born in the year of the Earth Dog, month of the Earth Horse, day of the Fire Horse and time of the Fire Monkey. Given the overall chart of our country, which has a lot of the fire element present, the next few years are part of the “cooler” cycle of the zodiac system. We should do quite okay since the cold can help balance the heat.

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Thanks for your feedback at willsoonflourish@gmail.com! Follow @wilsonleeflores on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Buy Philstar’s Tagalog tabloid Pilipino STAR Ngayon every Friday and read my column “Kuwentong Panadero.” Read also https://investment.fwd.com.ph/experts/real-life-lessons-from-forbes-top-10-richest-filipino-billionaires.