Wedding bells for P-Noy, more flooding and other forecasts in the Year of the Snake

Wedding bells will finally ring for President Benigno “P-Noy” Aquino III this year, “so long as he is willing to marry.”

“The Wedding Star hovers above the bachelor president, so now is the best time for him to get married,” says feng shui master Joseph Chau, who gave us a snake peek into our fortune (or misfortune) in the Year of the Water Snake at the preview of Mandarin Oriental’s Chinese New Year celebrations.

People born in the Year of the Snake are said to be offending the Grand Duke (or Tai Suey Tsui Shun) and will usher in inauspicious and difficult periods from time to time throughout the year. On the love front, “all Snakes shouldn’t expect love,” notes Chau. “Love affairs are in the flat line. They should not expect too much or they will be disappointed.”

Generally, 2013 is a good year for the Philippines. And the feng shui in P-Noy’s office in Malacañang is way luckier than the previous year because it’s under the Promotion Star.

“There will be more foreign travels for P-Noy because he is sitting in the northwest direction. Luck is definitely in the air since he’s facing the auspicious southwest direction ... just like his mother, former President Cory Aquino, during her term in Malacañang,” says Chau.

Let’s get down to business

The Year of the Water Snake is a good year for business — any kind of business related to transportation, hotel, casinos, logistics (water business, fishing, wet market), tourism and construction. So yes, it will definitely be a good year for Ayala Land, SMDC and Megaworld Corporation.

“Those engaged in the buying and selling of cars and banking will have tough luck. The food business belongs to the wood element so there’ll be more competition,” warns Chau.

Tourism is more fun in the Philippines this year as more and more foreign tourists are attracted to our shores. “More tourists prefer going to the Philippines than Japan because of the radiation scare. So Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez should take advantage of this,” notes master Chau.

To improve luck in this department, Chau says the government should make it easier for tourists to secure a visa and give them a longer stay. “Before, Hong Kong nationals like me were given a 14-day stay. Now it’s down to seven days. So some of us just go to Vancouver where there’s no visa requirement and we’re even allowed to stay there for six months,” says Chau.

He adds that there should also be more uniformed and well-groomed taxi drivers in the metro. “That way, tourists feel more secure. To taxi drivers, keep your car clean and smelling good to attract positive chi. And please, don’t cheat or rob your passengers.”

This year will also be a good year for Filipino artists and performers. Talented Filipinos will be discovered and eventually get famous — not just here but overseas.

So what colors will attract good fortune (okay, romance) this year?

“Try gold, silver, white, beige, yellow and brown. Avoid wearing green, black, gray and royal blue. In Chinese culture, royal blue signifies death. We pin royal blue flowers on our hair when a close relative dies,” explains Chau.

Flooding and other natural calamities

Master Chau’s prediction last year that the East would be the worst direction came true. The eastern part of the country suffered from floods, landslides and continuous rains. In fact, Davao is being rocked by natural calamities up to this day. “You should expect the worst this year,” warns Chau. “There’ll be more flooding and earthquakes, not only here but all over the world.”

According to Chau, the government should start improving the drainage and sewage systems in the country. “In the event that the dams reach the critical level, release water gradually. Avoid the sudden discharge of water to prevent flash floods,” he advises.

Prosperity Dishes

While master Chau gives us a serving of our good fortune, we also got our fill of good food at Tin Hau as Mandarin Oriental chef Hann Furn Chen prepared prosperity dishes said to bring luck and harmony.

For the hotel’s celebratory Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner in the Mandarin Ballroom, the menu starts with The New Year’s Five Happiness Combination Platter, a combination of barbecue suckling pig, Peking duck rolls, jellyfish and crab meat spring rolls.

“These dishes symbolize a bountiful harvest for the coming year,” explains chef Chen. “The arrangement of different ingredients also symbolizes unity and the gathering of friends and relatives.”

Seafood plays a large role in Chinese festive celebrations. And so the starter is followed by braised assorted seafood with crab roe and tofu soup, stewed abalone, sea cucumber and Bailing mushrooms with vegetables Beijing-style, steamed live garoupa with superior homemade sauce, and wok-fried prawns with XO sauce.

“Abalone represents good fortune, and shrimps represent liveliness, happiness and well being,” notes chef Chen.

Other dishes in this lucky menu, some of which we were lucky enough to have tasted, are the braised chicken with dried oyster and black moss, fragrant rice with dried seafood treasure in lotus leaf, and tikoy, glutinous rice dumplings with sesame paste, and warm sweetened pumpkin for dessert.

Tin Hau’s homemade tikoy is available at the hotel’s Chinese New Year booth until Feb. 1. The exquisite set menus are offered also at Tin Hau. From Feb. 9 to 17, festive Chinese New Year specialties will be offered in set and a la carte menus.

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For reservations and tickets to the Chinese New Year’s Eve festivities, call 750-8888.