MANILA, Philippines?While several people have been making a beeline in search of lucky charms in Manila?s Binondo area, others have been trooping to Quiapo Church not only to pray but also to consult fortune tellers to know what 2010 holds for them.

?I?m venturing into a business this year so I?m looking for some kind of a good luck charm,? said Mary Anne Chua, 45, a housewife from Pandacan, Manila.

In the different shops dotting colorful Chinatown, luck comes in different shapes and sizes.

Clients can choose from figurines in the shape of a coin, a fish or a frog. But the most in-demand are figurines in the shape of tigers, the year 2010 being the Year of the Metal Tiger according to Chinese calendar.

There are also statues of Buddha made of porcelain, metal, wood, crystal, jade or other precious stones.

Wilben Sy, a businessman from Makati City who claimed that his junk shop business did not do well last year, said he was looking for a good luck charm that would ensure financial prosperity for his family.

Apart from buying round fruits believed to bring good luck, people also queued outside bakeries specializing in "tikoy" (glutinous rice cake) to purchase the traditional sweet treat that is believed to bring not only good luck but also foster closeness among family and friends.

In Quiapo, a number of people seeking clues about their future were seen consulting fortune tellers outside the church.

?Many of them would like to know if their lives would get better this year,? one fortune teller said, adding that her clients? common questions were about relationships, jobs and the possibility of going abroad.

Some customers asked for advice on what businesses would be good for them to venture into, added another fortune teller, who does tarot card reading.

But still some people search for charms, amulets and trinkets they believe have the power to bring them good fortune. These include the round ?sinag araw? (sun ray) wood chips from the native sinukuan tree which is about an inch in diameter and supposedly placed inside one?s pocket, wallet or purse to attract money.