Feng shui expert found dead

A popular Chinese geomancer was found dead the other night in a five-star hotel in Makati.

Senior Police Officer 3 Reynaldo Arcibal said the body of 49-year-old Paul Lau Tak Tun, who was more popularly known as feng shui expert Paul Lau, was discovered at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday by security personnel in Room 1730 of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City .

Although Lau's personal physician said he probably died of natural causes, police are not discounting the possibility of foul play.

Lau, who was clad in a pajama top and loose short pants when found on his bed, had small puncture wounds below the nape.

"We have yet to determine if the victim died a natural death or was a victim of foul play," Arcibal said.

But Dr. Pilipino Bunag, a close friend and dermatologist of Lau, told police that the wound noticed by investigators was the result of a burst boil.

Bunag said Lau has been suffering from chronic hypertension and was being treated at the Makati Medical Center. He also reportedly had an enlarged heart.

Pacita Hao, 38, another close friend of the victim, also said Lau probably died a natural death.

Sources said Lau had just arrived from Cebu the day before his body was discovered Wednesday by hotel personnel. On the day he arrived, he had instructed his staff not to disturb him, as he was very tired. So they did not suspect anything was wrong when he was incommunicado for most of Wednesday.

But friends of the victim were alarmed that he was not taking any of their calls, and they alerted the staff of the Mandarin Oriental about Lau's unusual silence.

Lau's body was brought to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame for autopsy.

Lau, whose predictions and advice for health, wealth and prosperity are much sought after on the days leading to the Chinese New Year, had predicted that this Year of the Dragon will be a better one for the country.

He is survived by his sister Regina Ip, who is the justice secretary in Hong Kong.

Lau had been practising feng shui for over 25 years. He is credited with having made Chinese New Year celebrations an important date in the Filipino social calendar.

"He was a valued guest of the hotel who will be fondly remembered and missed," a statement from the Mandarin Oriental said.