2013: Predictions on Cebu politics, economy

Suspended Governor Gwen Garcia will get a temporary restraining order on her six-month suspension, her brother will become the next governor, and a Cebu City official will face more hardships because of a health condition.

These are among the predictions made by fortuneteller Luzviminda Noel, popularly known as “Madame Luz,” for Cebu for this year. Madam Luz, who has a small space near the Basilica del Sto. Niño, uses tarot cards and palm reading to tell the fortunes of her clients. Those who frequent her place to have their fortunes read claim that some of her predictions in the past years came true.

“Mananalo si (Michael) Rama kahit may daya o dadayain siya. One-hundred percent sure ako dyan,” said Madame Luz after reading a card for Rama’s political career. And while Rama will enjoy his victory, his former ally and now political rival, incumbent South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña will “suffer,” she said after opening another card.

“Kung hindi siya mgpapagamot sa ibang bansa, posibleng may masamang mangyari sa kanya. Dahil sa politika, matatapos siya,” she said. Asked what she meant by it, Madame Luz did not give a direct answer and instead showed the card she picked to this writer, a fallen man stabbed by swords. The fortuneteller said the picture in the card could also mean that Osmena’s own allies would betray him, which would result to major health concerns.

Late last year, rumors circulated that Osmena’s cancer has recurred but he shrugged of these talks saying he was already free from such illness. It was in 2008 when the former Cebu City mayor was diagnosed of having cancer of the bladder. He sought treatment in the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDA) in Houston, Texas. Osmeña is running against Rama this May for the city’s mayorship under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Although she predicts that Rama will be reelected as city mayor, Madame Luz said it will not be a landslide victory for Team Rama. She said one of the group’s councilors will not make it, and while talent manager Annabelle Rama will win the congressional race in the north district, Team Rama’s bet in the south, Aristotle “Totol” Batuhan, will be defeated by BOPK’s Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa. She, however, warned Annabelle Rama to always be on guard with the people around her during the entire campaign period as the cards showed betrayal, especially on money matters.

In the provincial scene, Madame Luz, picking two cards from her deck, said that suspended Governor Gwen Garcia will regain her post by getting a temporary restraining order against her suspension, adding that Garcia’s supporters will stand up and fight for the suspended governor.

“Mananalo si Gwen. Pero may konting gulo ang mangyayari sa January o February dahil magagalit na ang mga tao sa nangyayari kay Gwen,” said Madame Luz. Garcia will also have a chance at winning as representative of the third congressional district, she said, but the suspended governor should work hard for it, adding that her cards do not show a 100 percent victory in the May elections.

For acting Governor Agnes Magpale’s fate in the vice gubernatorial race, the fortuneteller predicts that she will not make it. “Matatalo siya sa election,” Madame Luz said after seeing Magpale’s future through her cards.

Madame Luz also predicts a defeat for candidate for governor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III. She said Davide will “lose in the elections by a mere one vote against Pablo John Garcia.”

Cebu’s economy will have “zero problems” this year, according to Madame Luz. She, however, said that snatchers and street criminals may threaten the province’s peace and order situation. Madame Luz added that Cebuanos should pray harder for Cebu to recover from last year’s major issues and political upheavals. She also predicts that although the country will face different weather disturbances, including a possible apocalypse-like event and eight typhoons in January alone which will result to the sinking of a small island in the Visayas, the province will be saved from any of these. “Kailangan ang mga tao alert palagi. Maraming bagyo o trahedya ang dadating sa Pilipinas pero malayong malayo ang Cebu,” she said.

As to President Aquino, Madame Luz, after reading three cards for him, said 2013, being the year of the Water Snake, holds one big problem for him and the country. She said one of the President’s closest allies would betray him, which will subsequently result to a major problem for Aquino. But despite that, Madame Luz said the President will continue to rule the country until his term ends in 2016, the cards showed no sign of impeachment or something to that effect.

“Kung hindi mag-iingat ang Presidente sa pagpili ng mga tao nya, isa sa mga ito, fourth from the left or right sa kanya, ang tatraydor sa kanya. Isang beses lang siya magkakaron ng mali, pero pinakamalaking problema to ni PNoy,” she said.

And while Aquino’s future is bright according to Madame Luz, his predecessor’s is not. She said former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be convicted this year and will be jailed for two to three years. After that, she will be freed, the fortuneteller said. But Madame Luz added that the former president will suffer a heart problem, which may further cause her weakness.

If 2012 was not a good year for Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, 2013 will be one. Madame Luz said if Pacquiao will fight again this year, he will win it. She said her cards did not show Pacquiao retiring this year.

The year of the Water Snake, according to Madame Luz, is a lucky year for those who were born on January. “Sa kanya ang lahat ng success this year. What he wants this year, he gets,” she said.  To those born on a Water Snake year, the months of April, May and July are their luckiest but they should not marry this year, she said. If they really want to tie the knot, Madame Luz said it can be done, but on the later part of the year.

And like what she always tells to her customers, Madame Luz said that hers are only predictions, the people should still “pray harder” for things they want, and for tragedies, which are doomed to happen, to be avoided.

Lani, a Cebu City Hall employee who frequently visits Madame Luz, said the fortuneteller has made several predictions to her life and career that came true. One instance was when she almost got dismissed in 2010, but Madame Luz told her not to worry as her cards showed the problem would only come to pass, which did. Lani said since then, she visits the fortuneteller for her other concerns, including her relationships.

But while some people are banking on their future from what fortunetellers are telling them, Monsignor Achilles Dakay, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said the public should not take this business seriously.

“Makalingaw lang na, but they should not believe in it. Because the men and women in faith only believe in what God says,” he said. Dakay said one good example of a failed fortunetelling was the Mayan’s prediction that the world would end in Dec. 21, 2012. “Dili na tinuod kay dili matapos ang kalibutan.” he said.

Dakay, however, added there is nothing wrong if people would patronize fortunetelling of whatever kind, as long as they would only treat it as entertainment. —/QSB (FREEMAN)