Rational Insanity
By Bryan Mari J. Argos

A 'seer-ing' apology and some 'so-so' predictions

I am not really a diligent text reader which would account for the fact that I often reply to my text messages incoherently.   I brush through each new text message and click on the “reply” panel without a second look.   This is the reason for my, ‘sometimes' weird responses to topic requests by my readers such as the one I had last week.   When a friend read my phone messages, he said that Mr. Bobot was not requesting that I write about Stephen King, rather he was requesting that I write about “predictions” in particular.   Mr. Bobot, I'm sure you found the topic response weird, but then again, I do hope you enjoyed the research I did for last week's topic.   On the outset, my apology does not actually involve writing that column, instead, it is more focused on the fact that I am not a seer, and I can only give you my personal impressions about predictions for the coming year, so I do hope that this week's topic is packed enough for your pleasure and the pleasure of all the readers of this column, but before that, let me tell you something about Dinagyang.

I was in Iloilo for Dinagyang, and there was one feature that I could not help but notice.   In the previous years, all those who went to the food fests were frisked by cops on duty.   This year, it is quite disappointing to note that despite what happened in Kalibo, the usual frisking routine was not implemented.   It's not really that I enjoy being frisked (well, of course, sometimes I do, especially when it's done by yummy hands and faces, hehehehehehehe) that I had a hang-up regarding this security measure, it's just that I noticed that the cops in this year's festival were all in the wrong places.   Could it be that the merry-makers have dispersed to other party places instead of concentrating at the food fest area?   Of course, it is not for me to say where they should be, but just the same, I still have my commendations for a peaceful and quite tame Dinagyang this year.   To sum it all up, I did enjoy my Dinagyang in Iloilo, although I would be happier had San Miguel standardized the prices of their products – to avoid wet pockets, if you know what I mean (especially that the food fest participants do not accept Visa).

Now, to predictions; from my meager store of knowledge on the occult, I am familiar with certain ways of seeing into the future.   Clairvoyance (kler-fo-yawns) is the ability to see into the future with the mind, with no medium at all.   Medium-based methods include crystal gazing, Tarot (tah-roh) card reading, palmistry, psychomancy or the ability to see visions by holding objects, and the like.    In general, “cy” is a suffix that refers to the ability to see the future, hence, cartomancy – prediction with cards, geomancy – prediction using items derived from the earth such as crystals, and prophecy – prediction that flows from encrypted words.   Animals are also known to be able to anticipate or know what the future will bring, this is called animal-psi.   The Orientals are the pioneers in the occult art of prediction, what with reading tea leaves, feng shui, kidney blocks, i-ching, and Buddha sticks, all designed to predict the future and serve as channels through which divine messages are received.   Even the Tarot cards originated in Asia ;   the designs on the cards are designs painted on the walls of ancient Egyptian pyramids.   No one knows whether these things work or not, but one thing is for sure, these are all part of a culture that has flourished to become the oldest and most advanced civilization in the world.   I am proud to be an Asian if only for these things.   So, moving on, let us try to unlock what the year of the Rooster has in store for us.

February 9 is Chinese New Year for this year, leaving behind the year of the Monkey and entering into the year of the Rooster.   From my readings and researches, the Chinese based anticipated year situations on the qualities of the animal for a particular year.   Hence, next year will not be a good year to start a new business, especially something that involves travel because the rooster cannot fly, and since it cannot fly, businesses cannot take off, and those businesses that involve flight started this year will, based on this supposition, “fall to the ground”.   The rooster is also noisy, so, next year will be a year of empty promises – all talk, no action.   However, the rooster is also an industrious animal because it scours the ground all day for something to eat.   If we base this on the Filipino concept of “isang-kahig, isang tuka” then this will be a really bad year for all of us, but since we are basing this on the Chinese interpretation of the industry of the rooster, then, the year will be good for those of us who work hard; the returns would not be that much though, we will only reap equal to the efforts that we put out.   The year of the rooster is not a year for indolence or indolent people.   Those who are indolent will most likely fall back in leaps and bounds.   Politics will contain un-fulfilled promises, boisterous controversies, and heated verbal exchanges.   The weather will be very unpredictable this year, but most calamities will have forewarnings (as the rooster heralds the break of dawn very accurately).   It will be a bad year for the entertainment industry because they will focus on profit rather than on the quality of the films they make, just as the rooster does not care about what it eats as long as it eats.   Now, to the relationship of the rooster to the other animals of the Chinese zodiac – the rooster, like the pig, the ram, the horse, and the sheep is al farm animal, so those born under these signs are most likely to work together this year, making it a lucky year for them.   The rooster is most usually food for the serpent and the tiger, so, serpents and tigers will most likely dominate the year, as they are the ones who will refute the workings of the rooster.   The monkey and the rabbit on the other hand, are passive creatures – they will be lucky for part of the year and unlucky for some part of it.   The rat and the dog will be unlucky this year, if we are to base our assumptions on their qualities, because the rat and the dog scare away the chickens in the farms, so the rooster will most likely be hostile towards these creatures.   Finally, the dragon, being a spiritual creature, will be lucky, as they are for most of the 12-year cycle of the Chinese calendar.   Of course, it will be an unlucky year for the rooster because it is believed that the year's animal always insults the Grand Duke.   Whew!   There you go – the forecast of a rationally insane columnist!   Disclaimer:   I am no seer or feng shui expert, believe this at your own risk!

Anyway, it's not really predictions that make your life.   I was at the DTI about a week ago to register a new business, and I told the clerk that I wanted my papers out before February 9 to make sure that I start the business before the year of the monkey ends.   All she said was “If we were to believe everything that the occult teaches us, the economy of our country would inevitably crumble, trust God.”   Hmmm, perhaps this is the reason why Philippine economy is such a disgrace, because too many people are superstitious.   Well, whatever the future holds, one thing has to be confirmed – are you living your present in such manner that when you die tomorrow you can say that you lived your life to the fullest?   Think about it.

Be rational; be insane…every once in a while!TTFN!

La na ko space for greetings!   Next week na lang!   Byers, I love you all!   Mmmmmwah!   Text me or email me at the number indicated above!