Year of the Fire Horse: Charms and rituals to ensure luck, according to Feng Shui experts

The Year of the Fire Horse is coming in fast as the Chinese New Year takes place on Tuesday, February 17.

GMA Integrated News reporter Yvonne Aquino went to Binondo, the world's oldest Chinatown to ask experts what we can do to ensure our luck in this year of the Fire Horse, predicted to be "very intense," Feng shui expert Jean Yu Chua of Dragon Phoenix said on 24 Oras Weekend.

According to Chua, building a Prosperity Basket is among the luckiest things we can do.

It should consist of uncooked rice, ang pao with P999 in it, and a blue string with pearl in it. After nine days, or no February 25, you should open the basket, cook the rice, and use the charms.

"Itong year 2026 is very intense, and very pressured ang mga tao kaya kailangan natin yung blue string with pearl to harmonize and give us peace of mind," Chua said.

Giving away ang pao with money in it is supposed on Chinese New Year itself is also lucky as it is widely believed that what you give is also what will return to you.

Writing your wishes and hopes on a wishing paper is also considered "very important."

"Kailangan may clear goal or clear wish — kung ano ang gusto mo mangyari this 2026. You write your name, birthday, address and wishes tapos susunugin mo siya," Chua said.

On "Unang Hirit" Monday meanwhile, Feng Shui consultant Johnson Chua said putting an image of a Horse on your front door is also lucky because we are entering the Year of the Horse.

Putting nine ang paos on the door too is also good, to celebrate manifestation. "Write your wish using a red marker and put them inside the ang paos," he added, saying it's very important to be specific with your wishes. Arrange the ang paos in a diamond shape.  

But Jean Chua of Dragon Phoenix also explained Feng Shui is just "one part ng swerte natin."

"We call [Feng Shui] the earth luck. The blessings, the ritual is the heaven's luck. Another one is the actions or the human luck — ito yung kailangan natin magtrabaho," Chua said. — LA, GMA Integrated News