Maximize the full potential of the Year of the Snake
“When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.” —Plato
The Year of the Wood Snake starts on Jan. 29 and will be auspicious for those born in the year of the Ox, Dragon, Snake, Rat, and Rooster. These lucky Chinese zodiac signs can expect job advancements, financial gains, and personal growth.
The centuries-old Chinese zodiac system assigns one animal sign to each year based on a 12-year cycle. The Snake scared the Horse before entering the Palace, beating it in the race and becoming the sixth animal in the cycle. Among all living creatures, the Snake is the best equipped due to its magnetic resonance to hear the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
The Wood Snake is a charming, intelligent, and creative sign, but also secretive, cunning, and sometimes ruthless. It is the year to be flexible and adaptable, pivot when needed. Deep, long-term thinking is key to maximize the full potential of the Year of the Snake.
Forecast
At the annual Chinese New Year Forecast hosted by the SM Group led by Steven Tan, feng shui master Patrick Lim Fernandez shared the outlook for 2025 for each of the animal signs. He gave the general forecast in terms of business, wealth, and health. The overall key is networking and collaboration as well as patience. Industries that will do well this year are hospitality, travel, supermarkets, trading, aquatics, and other water industries. Aviation, energy, and entertainment will also be profitable as well as food and politics.
Since the energy sector will do well, I am sure young entrepreneur Mandy Romero will be so busy with her solar energy projects, as she shared with me at the dinner in their home after the Wilcon Depot Celebration Dinner.
Home improvement retailer Wilcon Depot celebrated its 100th store legacy milestone on Jan. 21. Gathering longtime industry partners, suppliers, and media partners, Wilcon presented a memorable event that showed the company’s resilient and enduring journey in the home retail industry.
Shangri-La The Fort buzzed with excitement with more than 500 guests, a mix of local and international attendees united for this achievement. Ms. Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP and COO of Wilcon Depot, extended a heartfelt welcome, reflecting on the company’s journey.
Filipino core values
“What has helped us move forward was staying true to our simple yet powerful Filipino core values. With a good amount of courage, wisdom and heart, Wilcon Depot was able to defy the odds, or shall I say, gravity, and fly high to 100!”
She continued with pride, “Tonight is not only a testament to how far we’ve come, but a reminder that our journey is far from over–it is only just beginning. Tara, join us for many more years, stores and milestones! Isang daan na Wilcon, isang daan pang Wilcon, isa lang ang daan: Wilcon.”
The program included various performances and a heartfelt tribute video showing Wilcon’s journey. A key moment of the event was the presentation of “The Beacon” plaque to Dr. William T. Belo, founder and chair emeritus of Wilcon Depot. Crafted by renowned Filipino artist Marge Organo, this exquisite glass sculpture symbolizes clarity, resilience, and brilliance—qualities that define Dr. Belo’s profound influence on Wilcon. His visionary leadership has transformed the company into a powerhouse in home improvement. Lorraine Belo-Cincochan officially closed the event, thanking long-standing partners, Wilcon’s executives, and lastly, its hard working employees.
Greatest blessings
“As my father always says–our workforce, our people, our human resources are Wilcon Depot’s greatest blessings,” Belo-Cincochan said.
Wilcon’s journey began in 1977 with a humble 60-square meter hardware store. Built on hard work and a vision to provide quality home improvement products, Wilcon steadily grew, expanding its offerings and store network. Wilcon has been a trusted household name for 48 years.
The #FlyingHighTo100 campaign embodies Wilcon’s pursuit of progress and commitment to serving communities with quality products and services. This expansion represents a step forward in providing homeowners and builders access to premium choices and reliable customer service. Since the home improvement and building products retailer went public in March 2017, Belo-Cincochan has led the family business on its most aggressive expansion yet. Wilcon—which includes Wilcon Depot big-box stores, Wilcon Home Essentials, Do It Wilcon shops—reached the 100 stores milestone a year earlier than planned.
Continuing its legacy, Wilcon remains committed to its promise of helping Filipinos build better homes. As the company looks beyond its 100th store, its focus stays on empowering communities with accessible top-tier home solutions. The company is now setting its sights on accelerating the growth of its smaller store formats, making its offerings even more accessible to underserved areas in the country.
In this Year of the wondrous Wood Snake, I plan to focus my energy on personal growth, positivity and creativity. With my new show coming up on Bilyonaryo Channel that features inspiring couples, I look forward to sharing stories of love, happiness, and success. May the Year of the Snake be as auspicious to all! Kung Hei Fat Choi!
For more information about Wilcon, visit wilcon.com.ph or call the Wilcon Depot Hotline at 88-WILCON (88-945266). Follow @seaprincess888 on Instagram.
