CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines – Wood-based industries are perceived to be successful in this Year of the Water Dragon, a feng shui expert said.

Marites Allen, chief executive officer of the World of Feng Shui Philippines, said the Year of the Water Dragon will bring in an element of luck to wood-based industries including agriculture, flowers and plantation, fashion accessories, printing, and publishing.

“This year indicates luck in asset growth for wood-related industries,” Allen told business leaders here, where she was one of the speakers during the Views and Prospects 2012 Economic Forum of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cebu Business Club held at the Casino Español.

According to Allen, the “Four Pillars Chart” indicates that the wood element “is in the center of luck this year,” thus engaging in these businesses promises to bring profitability.

Meanwhile, she noted that businesses relating to “earth element” like real estate will continue to give promising performance, while those businesses that have the “water-element” like shipping, banking, transport, beverages and fishing will not see a significant movement. However, the growth is sustained on the average line.

Likewise, the metal element, of which businesses involved are jewelry, mining computers, airlines, automobiles among others, will also experience an average performance.

Those businesses that are related to the “fire-element” such as restaurants, lighting, electricity, entertainment will find the year very competitive, Allen warned.

In general, Allen described this Year of the Water Dragon to be a “transformative year, with the promise of growth and political and economic turnarounds.”

“While the Water Dragon brings improvement and transformation, based on the Paht Chee Chart for the Year of the Water Dragon, 2012 is afflicted. The Chinese New Year commences on the worst day of the month, in the worst month of the year,” she said, raising the possibility of violence and natural disasters.