In one of those half-serious moments when talk strays into his love life, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said he was not sure if he would be able to attend the January 22 wedding of his former girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, and Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo.
“I don’t look at my schedule earlier than a day or two days before, so I don’t know what January 22 has in store for me,” the President said, breaking into a smile when asked if he could make it to the Romulo-Soledad nuptials to be held at St. Benedict Church in Silang, Cavite province.
‘Not my decision’
Citing the many roles he plays as President “that put demands on my time,” Mr. Aquino also explained that he actually had to provide his appointments office the reason why he would accept invitations to social events like weddings.
“What I’m trying to say is it’s not my decision. There are so many factors that they have to weigh,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new office of Exl Service Phils., a business process outsourcing company, at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City.
The President said he wished the couple well and hoped that they soon have children who would be “responsible and productive when they join our society.” He said the bride and groom had “found the right person in each other.”
At one point, the President chuckled when he thought one reporter was about to ask him if he would personally “monitor” Soledad’s wedding.
It turned out that the reporter intended to ask him if he was planning to monitor the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Mr. Aquino and Soledad had a two-year relationship before splitting up months after he assumed the presidency in June 2010.
Right after the January 22 wedding, it appears that the rest of the year augurs well for the President, according to a feng shui expert.
Water Dragon
Based on the charts, there is a very good chance that a lot of money will flow into the Philippines in the coming Year of the Water Dragon—and its bachelor leader may even find that elusive woman who could become his first lady.
That’s according to Hong Kong-based Joseph Chau Kam Shing, resident geomancer of Mandarin Oriental Manila, who is leading the hotel’s Chinese New Year celebrations for the 12th year.
The Chinese lunar calendar marks the Water Dragon’s reign from Jan. 23, 2012, to Feb. 9, 2013.
Chau noted that the 51-year-old President—who was born in the year of the Golden Rat, month of the Earth Tiger and day of the Fire Rabbit (Feb. 8, 1960)—possessed a lot of the fire elements that would give him the energy to move the country forward this year.
And since the Year of the Water Dragon would be dominated by the water element, it would balance nicely with his fire, thus bringing harmony into his system and perhaps that of the country, too, Chau said.
Proper money, right lady
“[This] is the year the Philippines will have a lot of money luck,” Chau told reporters yesterday. “And this will be proper money, not black money or money coming from under the table.”
To help unleash the country’s economic potential, Chau urged the President to put considerable resources behind the tourism sector, which he said would be a major money-maker in 2012.
“The government should encourage the Department of Tourism to do more promotions and allow visitors to stay in the country longer,” he added.
Chau said the mining and trading sectors would likely do well this year since these industries would be in harmony with Water Dragon elements.
The President might as well come up with policies that could take full advantage of these sectors, he said.
As to Mr. Aquino’s search for Ms. Right, Chau said he would fare better this year compared to 2011—and that he might even get married.
Chau said the President’s “luck will boom” should he manage to find the right first lady.
But beware: The country’s most powerful man should stay away from women born in the Years of the Rat, Rabbit, Rooster and Goat, especially those born in August, September and October, the geomancer warned.
Intriguing predictions
Curiously, Chau’s forecast also sees a “fortunate” year for another VIP born in the Year of the Rat—besieged Chief Justice Corona, whose Senate impeachment trial starts on Monday.
Chau said Mr. Aquino, Corona, and other individuals born under the Rat sign should consider “doing some good for society” to retain their popularity and success in their careers.
Chau also urged the President to be on the alert and maintain a good relationship with the military as this sector might become restive this year, just like what happened during the last Year of the Water Dragon (2000) when then President Joseph Estrada was ousted from Malacañang.
Horses, like Vice President Jejomar Binay, will have a stable year, while Pigs like former President and now detained Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (after all her political and legal debacles) may still expect a prosperous year where “things will be smooth-sailing beyond expectation,” he added.
Earth Dog
The Philippines will also get more than its fair share of natural disasters as it was “born”—or proclaimed an independent republic—in the Year of the Earth Dog (1898).
The Earth Dog possesses too many fire elements that clash with the Water Dragon. “If you mix big fire with big water you get an explosion,” Chau explained.
The year 2012 may also not be very lucky for those born in the Years of the Dragon, Dog, Ox, Goat and Rabbit, he said.