Bongbong Marcos, Sara Duterte: Clashing signs in Year of the Fire Horse

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January 16, 2026 | 10:15am

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte have “kontra,” or opposing, signs, which a feng shui master said point to the conflict now unfolding between the country’s top two leaders.

Feng shui expert Marites Allen made the observation during her yearly forecast briefing on Wednesday, January 14, when she addressed questions about the two top leaders of the country.

Allen looked into the Destiny Chart, which requires the date, hour, day, month and year of birth of a person. Allen relied on the published dates of the two: Marcos Jr.’s is on September 13, 1957, while Duterte was born on May 31, 1978. 

In the day pillars of the respective destiny charts, Marcos Jr. is a Yang Rat, while Duterte is a Yin Snake. 

“The president was born in the day of the Rat, the month of the Rooster, and the year of the Rooster, and this is the year of the Horse. So the Horse is clashing with its day. That's point number one. Day pillar means your emotions, about your decisions,” Allen said. 

“The day pillar for the vice president is a Snake. The month is May, and it's the year of the Horse, so no wonder. The Horse, the year of the vice president, is in kontra with the day of the president.  So yes, now we can confirm that, you know, issues between them have been present,” she said. 

Allen said that the “chart never lies,” likening it to a doctor's X-ray.

Fire Horse year seen as turning point

Allen also noted that 2026 is the Year of the Yang Fire Horse, a cycle that occurs only once every 60 years. The last Fire Horse year was in 1966, during the presidency of Marcos’ father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

“In classical metaphysics, Fire represents speed, visibility, urgency, innovation, and transformation. When Fire energy is strong, everything becomes amplified — ambition, creativity, and opportunity, but also conflict if not handled with awareness. This is why Fire Horse years are often remembered as turning-point years. Things move faster, decisions carry quicker consequences, and preparation matters more than ever.

"Simply put, 2026 rewards people who are calm, disciplined, strategic, and emotionally regulated. It challenges those who are impulsive, reactive, reckless, or emotionally driven.

Allen suggested that the tension between Marcos and Duterte would be better addressed through direct dialogue rather than prolonged public conflict.

“If you ask me, it's better for them to like sit down, you know. And then maybe they can have an open talk rather than having to drag this on for a long time,” Allen said. 

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