by Myrna R. Co, SERDEF Media Bureau
“Dragon year or not, the entrepreneur’s response to the environment is what will make the difference.”
Enter the dragon, mightiest of the Oriental zodiac signs, symbol of good fortune, great energy, and intense power.
People born in the year of the dragon are looked upon as lucky and exceptional – wise and formidable, having a strong aura, and able to command attention and respect. Thus, watch out for a boom in infant births this year, especially in Chinese households.
Will 2012 then be an auspicious year for business, too?
Lucky year for business start-ups
For those wanting to start a business, 2012 may be the year to do so, say geomancy practitioners, as the year of dragon is usually considered to be auspicious for business. This may be especially true for “dragons,” who are believed to be particularly lucky with new beginnings.
For established businesses, 2012 is believed to be a good year for trying new approaches , introducing new products or services, and recharging the operations with creative ideas. Because dragon years can be tumultuous, business owners and managers are warned to be prepared for the unexpected.
Indeed, it will be a generally prosperous year, Feng shui masters seem to agree. But at the same time it will tend to be volatile. The Philippines must be able to harness the energy of this divine beast to direct it towards higher growth.
Dragons are known for their grand-scale ideas and ambitions which may drain, overwhelm and leave them unfulfilled. Flamboyant, they are known to overspend and indulge. But the good news is that water in the 2012 dragon can exercise a tempering, calming effect. And thus energies can be more benign and perceptive.
Good fundamentals will inspire investor optimism
Addressing a recent business forum, SM Investments Corporation vice president and chief investor relation officer Cora Guidote takes this Feng-shui projection to bear on the hard realities of the Philippine business scenario.
That 2012 should be a good year is confirmed by the good fundamentals the country is enjoying which can draw long-term confidence from global investors. Already, annual remittances have reached $ 18 billion and foreign direct investments $ 2 billion. Moreover, the government has pledged to spend more in infrastructure which should encourage more investments from abroad.
On the other hand, she cautions against government issues that if unresolved would turn off investors as it did during the previous regime. These should be among the agitations geomancers warn against.
Guidote projects a possible a 6-7 per cent overall economic growth next year, picking up from the 5.5-6.5 per cent growth range targeted by the government this year – provided government pursues growth enhancers.
By “growth enhancers,”she refers to the roll-out of a well crafted medium-term development plan to help business planning, the formulation of a more accommodating fiscal policy where the drive against corruption is balanced with fiscal support through infrastructure and job creation, a greater support for the agriculture sector to make it less vulnerable to climate change, and an improvement of the national disaster management program.
Great year for real estate, wood businesses
In this new year, what businesses are best to engage in?
A unanimous answer is: real estate development and investment.
“While the economic climate may be tough for other countries, this year will not be a bad year for the Philippines,” says Feng shui guru Charlie Chao. “It will be a lucky one, especially for those who want to invest in land and property.”
The year of the dragon is expected to bring good fortune to property developers as the dragon is a symbol of strength and power.
To be sure, the Philippine real estate and property sector performed briskly last year, owing to the huge backlog on housing requirements and a surging demand for office space. In industry circles, it is widely believed the growth surge will continue and spill over to 2012.
Chao considers real estate investments as a “safe bet.”
Aside from real estate, there are other businesses expected to do well in 2012, according to another Fengshui master, Maritess Allen
Businesses with wood element will do great, she says. These include agriculture, publishing, woodcraft and other wood-based craft, paper-making, and businesses involving flowers and plants.
Photo: from layoutsparks.com