THE PACMAN-HATTON BOUT

THE SECOND QUARTER 2009

The period continues the troublous times generated by the internal dysfunctions, and affected by the economic turmoil gripping the world. The question arises: why the almost simultaneous resurgence of cold cases, not only the prevailing government scandals, but also the Ninoy Aquino assassination, the Dacer-Corbito murders, etc. As well, we have the Legacy syndicated estafa case that victimized thousands of small depositors.

Astrology offers explanations for these dire phenomena. The main actor in the mostly economic disaster involving governance is Pluto, the sinister rapine god of Hades. (Rather than engage in concocting the rationale for the current problems, I shall resort to quoting some astrologers who are devoted to the profession.)

Jeffrey Kishner, for one, wrote that “Pluto is no longer a planet, but astrologers continue to treat it like one. In fact, Pluto is one of the most powerful planets in the solar system. It may be small, far away and scientifically demoted, but this little guy packs a big wallop.”

On the other hand, Neil Giles, maintains that “Pluto is remorseless in his search to know where the limits lie and what the inner forces will do. He will persist in this until he knows what can be overcome and what cannot. Such a drive is at the heart of sex, life and death from their highest expressions to their lowest violations. Pluto is a driving force using any means necessary to gain his ends or reveal the truth. Pluto's power will test any resistance, pulverizing or breaking down whatever it encounters into component parts to discover what they are and to release their inner force. With this ruthless investigator at work, there will always be a death of the old, a transformation and a rebirth for Pluto is the god of elimination and regeneration, teaching us that all things that live must die and all things that die will live again…
“Capricorn the Goat rules structures, systems, status, authoritative bodies and those achievements made through career or in the public domain. Capricorn is the authority, as autocrat, bureaucrat, leader or administrator. He offers reward for effort and determines punishment for infringement, laziness, non-participation or rebellion.
“Pluto in Capricorn will test the durability and regenerative resources of leaders and governments across the globe, as well as business and the corporate world. Old or staid structures will collapse or come apart at the seams if they cannot redefine their nature and cope with changing conditions and needs. The renewal or discarding of traditional practices or beliefs will play a part in this for Capricorn draws from inherited wisdom and practice. Those traditions that find new life will serve to guide modern leadership while those that are uprooted or outmoded will pass into oblivion. On the one hand, we will see the renewal of traditional power or thinking that can endure while on the other, we will see its displacement by the forces of the new, as leaders and systems find themselves under the pump. No doubt, Pluto in Capricorn will bring us a new breed of leaders and administrators, noted for determination, practicality and organizational ability. Some of these will offer useful service where others will be ruthlessly ambitious and materialistic.
“So, what can we expect of this new era as it unfolds? When one of the outer planets changes sign, there is a marked generational influence and a shift in the nature of our social experience. In time, we will all be touched by a destiny we cannot escape. As the destiny of Pluto in Capricorn takes hold, we will run the gamut of our control systems, from the humble administrator through to the megalomaniac as governments, organizations and key individuals encounter the testing pressures of Pluto and make their response.”

Again, Jeffrey Kishner, says “This tiny planet can be violently destructive, and its process of tearing down is not always a pretty sight. But keep in mind that Plutonian transformation is always for the better, because that which no longer works is removed, like a toxin from the human body… Pluto in Capricorn signifies the time for real policy change! We won't necessarily see the walls of business as we know it come crumbling down, but there will definitely be a shift in how these companies function. If we think we know a lot about the dark side of corporations, it's possible we've only touched the tip of the iceberg. Pluto will enable investigators to expose the real truth about the corners companies cut to earn money for the people at the top.”

In turn, Molly Hall, writes “Pluto's drama is playing out in the realm of finances, government and the environment. We're seeing desperate, compulsive and obsessive behavior come into the light, as more suffer from a system that's been revealed as unsound. Pluto's probing uncovers distorted thinking, and power being wielded destructively. The truth comes out, and in the financial world, we see a value-system that is poisoned by greed. It's based on a sick psychological foundation, one not in harmony with the cycles of life. Pluto has a way of using extremes to bring a point home. With the bailout, we see the truth made clear -- we have a hopelessly corrupt government, in cahoots with the banking interests.”

We shall continue to experience unmitigated economic difficulties during the period. And for that, the second Quarter will have increased crimes (especially against women and children) and gambling, interparliamentary conflicts, various challenges against authorities, etc. I do not have to write about these cultural dysfunctions; we do not need seers to see these happenings as they are the grists the media feed on to survive. We truly deserve such “punishments” for our sins of forgiving the greed of most of our financial managers and political leaders.

Even so, we can still enjoy the times. During Imperial Rome, the leaders placated their restive subjects with circuses -- the gladiatorial combats in the Coliseum. For this Quarter, we have our own version of the gladiatorial contest: the Pacquiao-Hatton boxing bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 2.

For aficionados, the statistics about the fighters are studied, such as their weights, their reach, and the number of wins, etc. On the other hand, astrologers need to know their birth times (not only their birth days) which are never published. In the case of the present fighters, I utilized a “rectification” procedure to determine their times of birth by using their boxing history since 2001. For Pacquiao, he was born at 2:07 p.m. on December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao, while Hatton at 7:50 a.m. on June 10, 1978 in Stockport, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.

Computing the planetary effects on the fighters, from 7 to 10 p.m., Las Vegas time, on May 2, at 5 minute intervals, I came up with a graph showing the levels of their activities and moods. Pacquiao seems to be very confident during the time period and very active. On the other hand, Hatton appears to have fluctuating sense of confidence and finds it difficult to maintain his actions during the later part of the period. The crucial period appears to be between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. (See the graph above.)

The astrological conclusion: Pacquiao wins.

(Based on Hatton's subsequent planetary transits, he seems to consider retiring from boxing.)

A measure of caution to those who think I am an astrological guru. I do not have any credentials for accuracy. It does not bother me if my prediction is wrong. I am used to that.

2009 New Year in Manila

I entertain the idea that those who know that I dabble in astrology expect me to come up with periodic forecasts of things to come in our lives. Under this self-imposed premise, I try to figure out how to generate data as bases of any forecast I have to make. Thus, I study beginnings.

In astrology, beginnings are supposed to foreshadow things to come. The destiny of a person or entity is supposed to be uncovered from the location and distribution of specific heavenly bodies during a very definite date, time and place.

In the case of the incoming year, when is the Beginning that will present to me the data I need to interpret with the help of notes, books and the internet? Astrologers use the Spring Equinox – when the Sun crosses a specific spot in the heavens – to determine what is to happen to the world, or to a country. But Spring will still be some time in March or April, depending on what method of astrology is practiced. Western astrologers use the Tropical Zodiac, which starts when the sun crosses the ecliptic in its apparent travel from south to north latitude. Eastern astrologers, on the other hand, use the Sidereal Zodiac when the sun conjoins a particular reference point in the skies. I initially wanted to follow the Eastern method and use the sidereal zodiac, but discovered that there are several points preferred by some astrologers, claiming certain advantages in their choices. To name a few, there’s the Fagan-Allen, the Lahiri, the Krishnamurti, the de Luce, and the Synetic Vernal Point of Aries (or SVP). Each of these systems has different methods of computing, resulting in differing patterns of planetary distributions with corresponding plethora of interpretations.

Add to this welter of systems the matter of determining when the beginning of the Year should be taken. In my previous foray into forecasting, I used the Tropical Zodiac and timed the onset of the year 2008 when the Sun conjoined in December 2007 the celestial coordinates of the Galactic Center. As a doomsayer, I wrote about a martial law regime to arise but which did not materialize. I rationalized, however, that even without the declaration of martial law, we now find ourselves in a regime concentrated on supposedly suppressing terrorism or the threat of it. In the process of saturating the horizon with uniformed personnel, both police and military, the embattled government maintains a pressure to suppress any sign of mass action against it. As well, we now have a government almost saturated with retired military and police generals running the executive department.

For this once, I use the horoscope of the midnight of New Year since this is the accepted beginning of the year in our country. (Some think this is also the start of the Chinese Year of the Ox, but this Lunar New Year is still to begin during the annular eclipse on January 26.) Come to think of it, does the day really begin at midnight? The Jews and the Muslims begin the day at sunset, because in Genesis it says “evening and morning, the first day.” Again, there is the matter of determining the time of sunset… but which I will not go into my discussion. I just accept that 2009 started at zero hour of January 1.

What does the New Year horoscope reveal to me? Most of the planets, except Saturn, are below the horizon, indicating a national preoccupation with internal affairs. However, without looking at the horoscope, anybody aware of current events cannot escape concluding that the international financial condition will truly force any country to concentrate on what to do to mitigate or prevent any unhappy development in the economy. So what’s the point of depending on astrology to show us what is to happen? The positioning of the planets, nonetheless, is supposed to show what specifics to expect. (Excuse my extensive use of astrological jargon if only to present to other astrologers the bases of my “forecast”.)

I am particularly intrigued by the clustering of aggressive Mars, unfathomable Pluto and irrational Lilith. My notes say that “Mars governs the military, soldiers and noted military and naval men, as well as signifies, terrorist attacks, industrial disputes, strikes and conflicts.” Pluto, in turn, is “the principle of metamorphosis and regeneration” and all “aspects of life that are carried on in the dark or hidden from public view.” On the other hand, Lilith or the Dark Moon “brings up deep and primal issues like repressed feelings of rejection and rage, refusal to submit.” These symbols are all in the Third House which concerns “all means of disseminating news and information, such as communication networks, internet, telephones, faxes, newspapers, magazines, ephemeral publications and periodicals.” The electronic age we are in makes the dissemination of information (or disinformation) and decisions very rapid.

Also an interesting cluster is the Moon or “the common people, women generally, crowds, and all matters of a common or public nature” flanked on both sides by Venus, symbol of women’s issues and family, as well as music and the arts, and by Neptune “linked with mobs, secret plots, sedition, fraud and swindling, all illicit undertakings, bogus companies, loss and vice.” All are in the Fifth House of “theatres, public houses, all places of amusement, entertainment and pleasure, of children, sexual concerns, and of sports, speculation, gambling”. The Moon’s presence here is indicative of a serious focus of public attention.

There is, as well, the positioning of Uranus, which “rules separation, scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, explosions, and anarchy” and “has a general influence over rioting and outbreaks of political tension” in the Sixth House of, among others, “public health or sickness; the national services: army, navy and Civil Service as servants of the country; workers and employees generally.” This is opposite (or balanced) to Saturn (the minor state executives and law enforcement authorities; civil service employees; land owners and mine operators; and elderly persons) in the Twelfth House (prisons, reformatories, criminals, spies, secret enemies of the country at home or abroad, and possibly secret societies and occult religions).

The placements of the planets in the Third, Sixth and Twelfth Houses bring to my mind the Guinea situation in Africa which columnist Amando Doronila recently discussed in the January 2 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

As a doomsayer, I am omitting any discussion about the Fourth House where Jupiter (religion and the judicial world) conjunct Mercury (communication, telecommunications, trade and commerce) are placed in the horoscope. Their presence gives a bright tone to the national situation, and may give us hope that the grim international economic situation will not touch us severely. On the other hand, also located in this House is the Sun, symbolizing the head of state and all persons of authority and distinction. It is in hostile relation to the Moon and Venus (see their meanings above).

Bringing all the above factors is the crux of the general situation for the country in 2009. Before daring to come up with a dire scenario, I shall indulge in a parable that is based on a recent event that happened in a golf course.

A powerful mayor, son of a cabinet member recently designated as a peace negotiator, was affronted when a 56-year-old commoner brought up his violation of a simple provision in the golf constitution. Insulted by not being recognized as a prominent politician, the mayor mauled the whistle-blower in broad daylight in a golf course where his father also was playing. When the old man’s son and daughter tried to break up the mauling, the mayor’s armed bodyguards joined the melee and the son also got beaten even as he knelt and pleaded mercy. The peace-negotiator-father did not lift a finger to stop his son, the mayor. (Later, he apologized, but not to the aggrieved party, and laid the blame for starting the incident on the victim.) The daughter tried to get witnesses to the mauling – the security guards of the golf course, and the receptionist – but all seemed to see the wisdom of the three-wise-monkey maxim. They feared repercussions from the powerful political family from Muslim Mindanao if they, in turn, become whistle-blowers. They saw nothing, heard nothing and will not speak about anything. We do not yet know how this incident will end. Perhaps, the mayor will merely receive a slight reprimand for his abuse of power. On the other hand, the old man will be thrown out of the golf club for bringing that elite social group into uneasy prominence, especially among bloggers in the world-wide internet.

By the way, the three wise monkeys in Japanese are Mizaru, eyes covered who sees no evil; Kikazaru, ears covered who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, mouth covered who speaks no evil. Today the three monkeys perversely "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" by not wanting to be involved in a situation, or being blind to the immorality of an act in which they are involved. I venture to comment that this must be the maxim of the Supreme Court in its precedent-setting decision on the executive privilege of the president in any investigation conducted by the Senate. As well, whistle-blowers most often get punished instead because they violate the maxim by bringing out in public any evil they see or hear or speak of.

And the dela Paz (of the Peace) parable is a fit background for what is about to come.

I forecast something that will not come to pass: the people become tired of the sorry governance they apparently deserve, but are apathetic to act against due to the predominant influence exercised by the executive over the self-seeking lawmakers and the timid judiciary. The clamor for justice is deadened by the sound of clinking money, especially since the 2010 election fever starts to build up and extensive vote-buying occurs. Nonetheless, the discontent in the armed services boils over and a Guinea-like situation comes up triggered by the insistent effort of the people’s “representatives” to stretch and remove limits to their tenures.

My scenario does not happen. The top military hierarchy is too engrossed in preserving their pecuniary gains and does not dare change the status quo. If ever, an Army officer, holding a rank lower than that held by Senator Trillanes, will surface to “save” the nation. But as Doronila sadly ends his January 2 column, military regimes do not turn out less corrupt than those they replace.

Let us be happy in our ill-fated destiny. We deserve it.

OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2008

Before discussing the prospects for the Philippines during the last three months of 2008, we have to delve into the effects of a significant planetary formation that has formed during the last several months.

This particular formation – the opposition between Saturn and Uranus -- is unsettling the entire world, not only our country. Unavoidably, we have to use astrological jargon in order to understand the implications of such formations in our collective lives. In the following paragraphs, I shall paraphrase several observations of astrologers in presenting the effects of the Saturn-Uranus opposition.

Saturn and Uranus have begun a series of five oppositions, concluding in the summer of 2010. The opposition will be exact on November 4. Saturn is the planet that rules over the status quo, governmental and societal structures that hold chaos at bay, the limitations that we place on our world. Uranus is the planet that invites the chaos in to create radical changes in our world. It seeks new ways of thinking and innovative discoveries. When these two planets oppose each other a tension is created between the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus).

There is much conflict during these times, with a lot of social unrest all around the world. The more rigid the ego [Saturn], the sharper the break must be in the end. If a crucial phase of the Saturn-Uranus cycle coincides with some overwhelming emotional crisis, the cause will always be the rigid inertia of social customs, privileges, personal habits, or assumed behavior patterns which resist the call of the creative spirit within.
We can all feel the rumblings of inevitable change and yet we have no real clue as to what this really means or how it will actually manifest both individually and societal. We may all feel restless for a revolution in our lives but not at the expense of losing a foundation. We need structure but not at the expense of our individuality.

Saturn is the builder and the voice of time and authority. Saturn says we need to move slowly and to make changes in increments so as not to cause damage to pre-existing structures. Uranus is the complete opposite in that it is without sentimentality and a loyalty to tradition because its only goal is to express and fulfill the individuated needs of the soul. It is inevitable with this configuration that there will be moments of extremism. If there is too much chaos and revolution, Saturn will enter to bring back a semblance of order and normalcy. If there is a clamping down on the rights and freedom of any group of individuals, the more there will be a need for social and political activism. With an opposition, you can’t have one without the other.

Saturn passing Virgo requires responsibility, patience and maturity in responding to the demands of the situation. On the other hand, Uranus-in-Pisces generates a deep need and desire to radically change and alter the preexisting patterns life. Saturn represents a sense of order and cohesion while Uranus symbolizes the watery depths of the unconscious that is demanding the severance and overthrow of whatever is limiting spiritual and creative yearnings. Whether it is actually flooding the various parts of the country eventually finds its way into consciousness no matter what the cost. Accidents, shocking news, sudden reversals, the unpredictable forces of nature and/or a conscious decision to alter the course of one’s life; Uranus is the great messenger of divine discontent compelling us to free ourselves of outmoded karma. Thus we are witnesses to the various upheavals in other countries, such as resignations or ousters of rulers, as well as immense climatic disasters that afflicted humanity.

All of this talk of change can be frightening to many people in a time of crisis such as the one we find ourselves in at this moment. When we are frightened we may tend to cling to that which is familiar (Saturn) rather than embrace something the unknown (Uranus).

Noticeably, the exact opposition of the two planets will occur on November 4; Election Day in the United States. Astrologers attribute Saturn to the Republicans while Uranus to the Democrats. Since Uranus is retrograde or moving backwards, astrologers consider it as having more power and thus predict that Obama, the Democrat, will prevail. On the other hand, Saturn transiting McCain’s Saturn in his natal horoscope gives an interpretation that he is scheduled to receive his due reward for past actions. Now, we have to input what kind of past actions he has done in order to merit winning the presidency.

And now, for the Philippines, based on the Ingress chart for Libra.

There will be significant show of discontent among the people against the Administration, somehow due to certain economic policies related to foreign affairs and trade. The discontent will be marked among the labor force due to their reduced buying power and a decline in economic activity.

The clash between conservatism and liberalism is being manifested in the conflict between the Church and Congress over reproductive health matters. The trend may become heatedly strong that would involve even policies related to both basic and higher education and between domestic and international media.

There will be illness and death among prominent people connected with publishing or literary affairs; as well as danger of accidents, and losses in the restricted publishing industry.

Agricultural activity may not be seriously affected by the several typhoons that hit the country; however, the farmers do not benefit much from their labors due to the importation of agricultural products that seriously compete with their prices.

There will be fires in public buildings, mining disasters and earthquakes. Building operations and the property market may suffer in the process. There are indications showing explosions, and accidents on aircraft. Strikes and disputes are developing among shipping circles and their crews.
The armed forces continue to be in a state of unrest although still within control. The “peace process” in Mindanao is a disappointment to the soldiers as they seem to die for nothing. The unrest among the working classes, on the other hand, may result in strikes and eventual closure of factories.

Foreign relations will be in a condition of developing confusion or of sluggishness due to the conflicting interests among the Powers, especially in connection with financial and trade questions. The recent panic created by the milk scare will seriously affect relations with China, as well as international investments that become victims by association of collateral decline in trade involving other products made in that country.

Scandals will be markedly high in the home life, divorces, and many unpleasant episodes in public life. There will also be much increase of insanity, and deaths by suicide due to the perceived harsh economic conditions in the countryside.

Much crime is indicated in the country, as well as trouble in connection with prisons. Scandals will surface involving hospitals and charitable institutions. Crime against women and children will be frequent.

JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2008

During the Second Quarter, most of the news – both domestic and international – featured a number of calamities, both natural and manmade. In the United States, parades of tornados, unusual floods and wildfires (triggered by a record-setting number of lightning strikes) bedeviled the people. China, as well as Japan, was hit by devastating earthquakes as well as floods. Lately, the Philippines was hit by a powerful typhoon, sinking a large ferry, inundating several cities and municipalities with water and mud, and destroying large tracts of agricultural land with ripening grain that bode difficult times ahead.

Without going into the astrological aspects of the periodic horoscopes we use to forecast things to come, let us indulge in some astrophysical realities.

An article “The Day the Earth Fell Over” in the Geological Society of America Bulletin discussed the impending possibility of a dramatic imbalance of the planet. It says that “[S]cientists already know that the North Pole wanders over time. But a theory known as the true polar wander suggests that if a very heavy object, like an oversized volcano forms far from the equator, the force of the planet’s rotation would pull the object away from the axis the Earth spins around. Should a mass such as the very heavy volcano become unbalanced, Earth would tilt and rotate itself with the extra weight moves somewhere near the equator.”

The ancients must have instinctively sensed this dire possibility, or experienced the unfortunate conditions. Thus they must have been prodded to erect the number of large pyramids we now see in Egypt and in Mesoamerica near the Equator.

The shift in the Earth’s rotation definitely affects the several material layers of the planets composition – the lithosphere, the crust, the upper mantle, the asthenosphere, the lower mantle, and the outer and inner cores. There are also the volatile layers – the oceans and seas, and the atmosphere that glide over the solid surface of the earth.

Which brings us to the possibility that the stresses caused by the Sun-Moon syzygies (the new and full moons) are the reasons for the unusual weather patterns obtaining in the world today.
The annular eclipse of February hit at the southernmost edge of the Earth (see figure below). The stress generated by the gravitational pressure of the Earth-Moon-Sun alignment must have tipped the poles of the planet somehow and moved them out of kilter.

And the Earth must undergo several adjustments in order to compensate for the imbalance resulting from the tilt. Thus, the tectonic plates had to undergo shifting, and the vulnerable spots that had to give caused the earthquakes.

In the same manner, the weather became intense in the effort of the atmosphere to also balance the rotational wobble of the planet. Notice that the direction of Typhoon Frank failed to be predicted by Pagasa because it did not follow the usual direction but went on an almost directly northward direction. In the recent past, the other typhoons did not hit landfall in the Philippines but went directly north towards Taiwan and Japan.

In the interim between the eclipses, we have the powerful effects of the Moon’s perigees, considered by astrologers as SuperMoons since they trigger, as well, stresses on the Earth. As Astrologer Richard Nolle wrote in 2007 “a supermoon is planetary in scale being a special alignment of Earth, Sun and Moon… there’s no place on Earth not subject to the tidal force of the perigee-syzygy.” Continuing, “of course, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions don’t go wandering all over the planet. They happen in predictable locations, like the infamous ‘Ring of Fire’ around the Pacific plate.” He also warned the “people on the coast should be prepared for extreme tidal surges. Severe storms on the other hand can strike just about anywhere, so it behooves us all to be ready for rough weather when a SuperMoon alignment forms.” The Supermoons computed for being close to the Earth (by less than 360 thousand kilometers) are on May 6, June 3, July 1 (close to New Moon), November 14 and December 12. The effects of these phenomena are expected to be felt within three days before and after their occurrences.

By August, the stress of the solar eclipse will shift to the north, close to the Arctic Circle at 80 degrees North latitude. The Earth must have tilted severely and thus the syzygy will try to correct the direction of the tilt. We can thus expect corrective planetary action of the several terrestrial layers, which are once more agitated to adjust to the new situation. By 2009, the January solar eclipse would have focused the stress somewhere in the Indian Ocean at 30 degrees South latitude. The Earth’s tilt must have been corrected somewhat.

And now the astrological forecast for the Third Quarter of 2008:

The people must have reached the peak of their repressed feelings of rage due to the high prices of commodities and shortages of rice. They may act by overt refusal to listen to authority, bordering on the very irrational.

The period, compounded by the severe weather conditions, could also bring about much sickness among the population.

The AFP and other uniformed services are not above the travails of the people, but they are tapped to undertake a number of tasks to alleviate their sufferings. The mutiny expected during the Second Quarter was quashed before it rose through tons of NFA rice made available to the soldiers’ families.

This Quarter, expect heavy expenditure in military affairs due to the various missions given to the Defense Department.

Not all is gloomy for the Quarter. In spite of the weakening of the dollar, there remains a steadying tone to the money market. The film industry and arts will develop, although there will be more sex appeal and romance exploited to give sop to a distressed people. However, outside of the industry there are still much sex crimes against women and children.

The Quarter is also an active and busy time in Congress, with legislation affecting trade, commerce and education, mostly affecting Presidential interests. Legislation will also be favorable for women and their affairs.

APRIL TO JUNE 2008

There could be great fluctuation in the revenue and on the money market, in stocks and shares, coupled with an increase of receipts in the Treasury. The weakening of the US dollar tends to give a steadying tone to the money market and the impression of an apparent improvement in the financial conditions of the country.
Programs are implemented to benefit the public health, and to improve the condition of the working classes so as to temper the unrest among them and avert strikes and closure of production. Even as efforts are also undertaken to benefit the AFP, causing heavy expenditures in military affairs, there may be no holding back in late March or early April the overt expression of unrest and the staging of mutiny in the armed forces. The EDSA “march of unity” by the generals in late February does not seem to truly reflect the sentiments of the rest of the AFP.
There could be diplomatic problems with either the United States or China or both. The Administration needs to be on guard against plots, and schemes undertaken involving foreign elements. In the society at large, there will be scandals, separations, crime and immorality in married life, and many unpleasant and disgusting episodes in the law courts.
There will be quite a number of changes in the Cabinet. As well, there will be many sudden deaths, by accident, explosion, electricity, heat, suicide, and in many strange and unaccountable ways. The deaths will be among prominent artistic and musical people.
In May, with the perigee occurring near the New Moon, the terrestrial stresses caused by the gravitational forces acting between the Earth and the Moon could trigger earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
The police will be busy not only in coping with the increase of crime and violence and maintaining order in the number of public rallies and demonstrations, but also in handling matters related to disasters.
The period may also witness fires in factories and public institutions, as well as prison riots.

I need to deal here with the fortunes of GMA. As president of the country, it is of interest what is in store for GMA this year since our Fates as a people are tied in with her. She is our Karma.
In astrology, one method of forecasting the year is to “return” her Sun on the degree it occupied at birth. I will paraphrase the language of Raphael in delineating the SR horoscope as if she is an ordinary individual. However, the influences of the factors indicated by her chart have their ramifications on her policies and actions that affect her governance and official relations even at the international level.
Although she stresses staying on as president, there will be changes in her career, whether in terms of new possibilities and opportunities. The change in social position will be accompanied by a change in associations through dissolution of a partnership or even by trial. Difficulties and conflicts are due to carelessness, or to schemes of too great a scope, and plans which are too vast. Trouble and complications are indicated, bringing unexpected strife and quarrels caused by enemies, rivals in business, intrigues, and conspiracies. Dangers of enmities are difficult to assuage.
Danger of bad news or carelessness in speech or writing will cause discord in her circle. (Her recent attempts to rationalize her participation in the signing of the NBN deal seem to worsen the issue.)
The period is generally unfavorable for journeys, as well as for beginning business enterprises or projects relying on good publicity. A desire for long travels seems to be the way to escape an existence that is not very satisfactory. A serious medical problem will be revealed forcing her to seek treatment abroad. But difficulties attend the trips, and care is required in making them.
Family matters or those involving the home dominate the year; these are mostly concerns about personal or family secrets. The influence of her family, particularly relating to her sons, is unfavorably accentuated by the positions of the planets. During the period some friends cannot be counted on; there is deception from relationships. Hopes and plans will not be realized. There is increased fatalism, and a philosophic attitude in suffering. There will be infractions, often involuntary, against laws, hence involvements with the police or disputes with the tax people.

THE YEAR 2008

The Year 2008 is expected to be influenced by the passage of the Sun across the Galactic Center (GC) located in Sagittarius, traditionally acknowledged as the House of God. The clustering of the planets in the Eighth opposed by Mars in the Second is significant for the year. Mars is closest to the Earth, exerting powerful influence on humanity, particularly in the national life in the Philippines.

(Every year, the Sun conjoins this sensitive point in the Galaxy. This point, just a few degrees from the solstice point of Capricorn, precesses by a few minutes. This year, the GC falls on 26 Sagittarius 58’. As discussed in my previous article, the outermost dwarf-planet Pluto oscillates this GC point for sometime this year, absorbing the transcendent instructions for dissemination to the successive levels of human understanding symbolized by the other planets. Lately, Jupiter, the planet of religious beliefs and justice, must have received the relayed GC instructions from Pluto regarding the need for reformation of such systems.)

The following interpretations of the critical positions in the horoscope shown above were taken from Raphael’s Mundane Astrology: Mars “shows losses on the Stock Exchange, panics, bank failures, and though not denoting a diminution of the national revenue, denotes an enormous expenditure and waste of public money. Military affairs will require large amounts of money, and the revenue will be seriously affected in this way.” Venus “shows many public scandals, divorces, crime against women, and unpleasant and offensive episodes.” The Sun “denotes deaths among important people, and the upper ten.” Pluto in the same sector “is in his own house of death, elimination, regeneration and underworld. It will be a period of transition for the nation. The ruling party will go and the new party will come up. The deep rooted traditions or cultures will undergo a radical change for good as well as for evil… In Government, it can refer to dictatorship. It denotes [as well] death of military and medical men including the head of the state.” Uranus “will produce extraordinary difficulties and complications in parliamentary circles, sudden and unexpected developments which will require very careful consideration on the part of ministers. It shows a good deal of unruliness in debates, and danger of accidents to members.”

How these significations apply to our national life may be as follows:

Scandals of the state may reach an even dozen (columnist Arcilla of Malaya listed eleven cases in his article of December 19). The investigation of any such scandal will, as usual, remain squelched. The continued exploitation of the poor and the masses in the name of economic progress, as well as continuing corruption in high places conduce to high crime rate and failure of law and order.

For 2008, expect serious problems of governance in April and May. Pluto is located in the Sixth House of the lunation chart, indicative of another mutiny. Having learned from previous failed tries, the mutineers will no longer include the participation of any People Power; instead they may “go for broke” this time. The turbulent situation may pressure the Government to declare a state of emergency or martial law. Under Article VII, section 18 of the Constitution, such a declaration will have to pass muster through the joint session of Congress to authorize such action. The joint session will overwhelm whatever objection the Senate may present and the decision of the winning side will prevail. The Supreme Court may come into the picture, but the martial law situation will still continue for some time. Whichever side wins, a dictatorship is expected to govern, albeit with a veneer of constitutional democracy if only to mollify international concern, particularly from the US.

N.B. Using the conjunction of the Sun and the Galactic Center deviates from the accepted practice of utilizing the Ingresses of the Sun to forecast events for a particular period. Among Western astrologers, the Ingress of the Sun in Aries is accepted as the indicator for the year. However, there are still rules to observe: only if the Ascendant or Rising Sign (or horizon) of the horoscope is a Fixed Sign – namely, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius – is the entire year covered by the forecast. The other Signs of the Zodiac cover limited periods of time in their indicators.

Then there is the concept that Aries signals the onset of Spring. However, Autumn and not Spring begins in countries below the Equator such as Australia. As well, Hindu astrologers have a different measure as far as the coordinates of Aries is concerned. While most Western astrologers using the Fixed Zodiac locate Aries as the point on the Earth’s equator where the Sun passes on its ascent to the northern latitudes, the Hindu and Sidereal astrologers using the Movable or Constellation Zodiac time the passage of the Sun from a point in space that precesses or slides back. Even this point has differing coordinates according to various systems in mundane astrological computations. To mention a few – there is the Lahiri, the Fagan-Allen, and Raman systems. However, all these systems using Aries as the reference point – whether in the Fixed or Movable zodiacs – start the annual forecast not near the New Year date in the Western calendar but in late March or mid-April.

I am adopting a method that uses a common point in the Zodiac that I consider to apply to all nations in the world – the Galactic Center. After all, the Sun always passes the longitude of the star Sagittarius A* once every year close to the New Year date. Sagittarius A* (pronounced "A-star"), is a bright and very compact source of radio emission at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. The coordinates of this point in J2000: Right Ascension at 17h 45m 40.045s Declination at −29.00775 degrees (About 10 degrees to the west of the center of the constellation Sagittarius, towards Scorpius) Besides, this point is close to the Winter Solstice point when the Sun starts its ascent towards the Equator.

Comparing the Galactic Center ingress with the Capricorn horoscope shows that most of the planets, except the Moon, are in similar places. The Moon in the Galactic Center horoscope is in the Twelfth sector, while in the Capricorn chart it is in the First Sector that represents the Nation. According to Raphael, the Moon in the First will cause illness, unrest, and discontent among the people. On the other hand, if it is in the Twelfth it will produce scandals in connection with hospitals and charitable institutions as well as crimes against women and children. Whichever interpretation we accept, the prospects for the Philippines in 2008 are not entirely positive or upbeat.

THE LAST QUARTER OF 2007

Pluto, the planet that represents anything hidden or underground, is still in Sagittarius. It exposes all that has been kept secret. Pluto has been making important stations conjunct the super-massive Black Hole or Galactic Center which powers our galaxy. According to Alex Miller-Mignone, at these times the seeds of the next great cultural revolutions are planted, and images emerge in current events which provide insights into the upcoming changes. Historically Pluto’s contact with the Galactic Center every 250 years has evoked important developments in humanity’s relationship with art, literature, philosophies, education, the dissemination, codification or collation of scientific or judicial knowledge, and important spiritual movements.

The extradition and upcoming trial of Peru ex-President Fujimori on human rights violations and corruption; the ouster of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; the massive Buddhist monks’ anti-government demonstrations in Myanmar; the spate of various literature and media exposures related to Biblical teachings and traditions; the prevailing Al Qaeda jihad versus the crusade of Bush, and, closer to home, even the recent conviction of ex-President Estrada on plunder charges as well as the continuing probe on wire-tapping are some of the Plutonian metaphors.

For the Philippines, everything are unfortunately “normal” during the Quarter since instability, fraud, swindling, vice and immorality still run riot during the period. There seems to be no respite from incidents of crime against women and children. There will be deaths among famous women in the arts and music, as well as among the prominent elderly.

Even as official pronouncements show improvements in the economy of the country, there is still unease in financial circles and in the stock market.

There is discontent in both Houses of Congress. Party splits are more likely. Expect changes in committee compositions. Expect as well a more serious, if bitter, debate over the relative powers of the three branches of government, with a special emphasis on the judiciary, and the role of religion in government. The current series of Senate inquiries connected with government projects may result in the clipping of executive powers in the issuance of executive agreements, especially those that involve government loans and guarantees.

The communication and transportation problems being faced by the government are offshoots of the questioned projects, namely, the national broadband network, the cyber education project, the Northrail project, and others. There is also the matter of a project allowing the Chinese investors to develop several thousands of hectares of land to vegetable farming.

The complications arising from these suspended projects affect Philippine foreign affairs, particularly with China and the United States. Even so, there are heightened activities related to travels by the chief executive to foreign countries. One may suspect that the travels are undertaken just in case a Thaksin Shinawatra situation develops.

Mining disasters, as well as explosions in public buildings are indicated in November. Organized labor will agitate against government policies related to wages and other labor matters.
Indications in October also involve cases of insubordination and restlessness in AFP circles. Reacting to threats from within the organization, there will be military demonstrations of strength if only to discourage attempts to overthrow the government. The passage of Uranus -- the planet of revolution -- in December, however, shows indications of sudden military action. Whether or not in the nature of a coup, the trine of Uranus to the Midheaven means something done with ease and favorable to rulers.

Insofar as the President is concerned this Quarter is a time of great tension in her relationship with her partner, usually prompted by changes in her partner's attitude or life circumstances. It is highly probable that the partner indicated in her horoscope is her political party. Her partner (or party) may be demanding that she change past behavior or old habits. If the relationship has become merely an outer shell with no substance it may well break down. The trouble is that she has an overwhelming need to push ahead with all her projects now. Patience seems to desert her. ■