MANILA, Philippines—The tireless and gentle ox or water buffalo is likely to bring good luck through the new year for sugarcane farmers in Negros Occidental province and a couple of aspiring presidential candidates—Joseph Estrada and Manny Villar.

But the Year of the Earth Ox portends “headaches and heartaches” for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was born in the Year of the Pig, according to Dr. Andy Tan, a feng shui consultant.

The sign of opulence through hard work and diligence, the Year of the Ox will be marked by a slow but certain progress in the economy and in the lives of the average hard-working Filipino, here and abroad, Tan said in a phone interview.

The Earth Ox, which officially holds sway from Jan. 26 to Feb. 13, 2010, also offers fertile opportunities for banking, real estate, construction and particularly, agriculture.

Good for agriculture

“This is a good year for agriculture. Sugar prices will go up, which means a good year for the Negros farmers,” said Tan, a physician who has been practicing feng shui—the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the laws of heaven and earth to help improve one’s life by receiving positive energy (qi)—for more than 20 years.

Filipino professionals like engineers and architects, especially those employed in the Middle East, as well as information-technology workers in Japan’s film industry face a rosy 2009, said Tan.

Business-process outsourcing and call centers will boom as industries in the United States hit by a major financial meltdown are eyeing the Philippines for its relatively cheap labor.

Saving grace

“Remittances will still be the Philippines’ saving grace,” he said.

“Generally, the new year will be a little bit better for Filipinos compared to 2008. But the recovery will be very slow,” according to another feng shui consultant, Ramona Montero.

The quiet ox, however, will stir things up for Ms Arroyo whose luck will be waning towards the end of the year, Tan has forecast. The pig, Ms Arroyo’s animal sign, is in conflict with the ox.

“A pig [person] is dominant, swims against the tide and is known for making unwanted decisions. With a waning luck, there will be more enemies that will attack this [year]. Everything will be blamed on her, but there will be gains and unexpected graces.”

Tan also predicted that in the last quarter of the reign of the Earth Ox, from December to February 2010, Ms Arroyo will encounter betrayal and heartaches.

“There will be double-crossing friends and relatives,” he said.

Countering the negatives

But like boxing icon Manny Pacquiao—who seemed to have hurdled a supposedly ominous Year of the Rat, which was in conflict with his sign, the Horse—the President may be able to counter the negative vibes through prayer and hard work, said Tan.

Those born under the sign of the sheep or goat and the rabbit will not be so lucky also.

Those born under the sign of the Ox, “silent workers” Estrada and Villar, will likely enjoy an auspicious year politically, he said.

Rooster presidential aspirants like Senators Francis Escudero, Manuel Roxas II and Richard Gordon are also expected to do well.

The Rat politicians, Sen. Loren Legarda and ousted House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., will not allow themselves to be left behind, Tan said.

“There will be elections and there will be no charter change due to lack of time,” he said.

Tips for good luck

As for the conflict in Mindanao, he said the peace talks “will still be left hanging,” he said. Just like the quiet Ox, the country will also be silent—less natural and man-made disasters, he added.

For enterprising Filipinos, trading, buy-and-sell and repair businesses will reap good fortune, Tan said.

Montero offered some tips for ordinary Filipinos wanting to draw good luck this year.

“Release money with your right hand and accept money with your left so that it would stay with you longer,” she said.

On New Year’s Day, chicken must not be served “because good fortune might fly away,” she added.