DO you believe in feng shui and the Chinese horoscope? Tuo na lang ta aron madali.

According to the Chinese horoscope, 2009 is the Year of the Earth Ox. Some say an ox is actually a castrated bull. Pero baka ra gud gihapon na.

Since we’re in the beginning of the year, the focus is on people who supposedly possess special powers and claim that they can predict the future.

Using “vibrations” and cards, these people view the political and economic future of our country, and even possible tragedies.

I won't question their acts because they are supposedly gifted people and I am not.

But I advice them to be cautious in announcing their predictions, especially about calamities, because these might create panic among our people.

Now back to the Chinese horoscope. The ox is one of the animals listed in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The Year of the Ox is denoted by an earthly branch character.

In the Vietnamese zodiac calendar, the water buffalo occupies the position of the ox.

People born in the Year of the Ox share certain characteristic.

Those born under the influence of the ox are stable and persevering.

The typical ox is tolerant, but with a strong character.

Not many people can equal the resolve and daring the ox exhibits after deciding to accomplish a task or an objective.

This great creature has long been used to plow the soil, and so do ox people labor through their daily responsibilities, either at work or at home, without complaint or gripe.

Ox people know they can only succeed through hard work and sustained effort and they find no truth or benefit in concocting get-rich-quick schemes.

Pragmatic and down to earth, ox people are motivated to work hard and have no respect for lazy or careless people.

Although, they can be easily trusted and find it easy to put trust in others, they are not dependent on friends and family and would rather find an answer or a solution themselves than ask these people for help or guidance.

One can without doubt rely on ox people, who are always honest and meticulous in their responsibilities.

While they do not feel the need for many distant or acquaintance-oriented friendships, they value the strong bonds they share with their partners and families and make close relations that last a lifetime.

Though ox people are open-minded, once they make a decision about something they rarely change it.

This is a defining characteristic that can be seen as obstinacy but is actually the way an ox learns to be strong, brave and straightforward.

It is the way the ox learns to take on tasks and responsibilities and how he learns to be reliable for others.

Ox people are more comfortable with the well-known as opposed to the unfamiliar.

Yet, beneath their unpretentious and tranquil exterior lies a heart of gold and the motivation to prosper.

By the way, the ox sign is tempered by one of the five Chinese elements, thus we have the metal ox (1901 and 1961), water ox (1913 and 1973), wood ox (1925 and 1985), fire ox (1937 and 1997) and earth ox (1949 and 2009).

(bgnalzaro@gmanetwork.com)

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(January 03, 2009 issue)
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