As the Chinese New Year draws near, believers and non-believers of lucky charms flock to Binondo, in Manila on Saturday to look for something to manifest and attract good luck this coming Year of the Wood Snake. 

Days before the start of the Lunar New Year on January 29, owners of charm stores begin to get lucky as their business booms. 

Prices of popular lucky charms remain steady including ampao sold at P10 per pack, Chinese lanterns at P160, fortune cats at P600, buddha figurines at P800, kyat kyat trees at P2,500 and lucky charm bracelets and necklaces at P500 each.

A first time buyer this year, Pauline Lumibao, 28, from Manila, says she will wish for good health using lucky charms.

Lumibao says, "Ang bibilhin ko yung pampaswerte sa kaulusugan kasi above everything it's very important to take care of our health kasi lahat mawawala if di ka healthy."

(I will buy lucky charms for good health as, above everything, it's important to take care of our health because all things disappear if you are not healthy.)

She adds, "I believe merong something with lucky charms na nakakapag-attract ng energy or things that you want to achieve. I think this year, it's time na to try if  it's really effective or to try kung ano yung maattract ko na energy if I have that lucky charm."

(I believe there is something with lucky charms that attracts energy or things that you want to achieve. I think this year, it's time for me to try if  it's really effective or to try what energy will I attract if I have that lucky charm.)

"Naniniwala ako na pareho siya, dapat magtiwala ka para gumana siya. Kasi kung di ka maniniwala hindi rin siya gagana. So like it's putting your faith siyempre along with your hard work na gagana yung lucky charm. Kasi it's useless if you're gonna buy it tapos hindi ka rin naman maniniwala sa magic or sa power ng lucky charm," she continues.

(I believe that it goes both ways, you should believe in it if for it to work. Because if you will not believe , it will not work. It's like putting your faith in it along with working hard.  Its useless to buy it then you will not believe in its magic or power of the lucky charm.)

MANIFESTING IS KEY

Tricia Sandoval and Karen Franchesca Alquiros, both 22 and from Laguna, say they still believe in manifesting and in striving hard to achieve one's dream.

Sandoval explains, "Sa lucky charm, hindi rin ako naniniwala na nagbibigay siya talaga ng luck, parang it's just parang pagbibili ako para may memory lang or parang meron lang akong panghahawakan pero I will strive on my own para maachieve ang wish ko."

(I really don't believe in lucky charms and that it will bring luck. If ever I will buy one, it is just for as a keepsake or just to have something to hold on to but I will strive on my own in order for my wih to be fulfilled.)

"Sabi nga nila, stronger yung mind mo than anything else. So if you believe on something, with or without lucky charm makukuha mo yon or maaachieve mo yung something na yon," she continues.

(As they say, your mind is stronger than anything else. So if you believe in something, with or without a lucky charm, you will get it or you will achieve what youre wishing for.)

For Alquiros, achieving in life still depends on an individual's will rather than relying on lucky charms.

"Wala akong lucky charm. More on pagmamanifest po talaga yung ginagawa ko. For example may sasabihin po ako na parang wish and ile-let-go ko po siya kasi ang sabi daw po kapag may minanifest ka dapat i-let go mo siya agad, something like that, tapos out of the blue bigla ka na lang magugulat na yung wish mo is matutupad."

(I don't a have lucky charm. More on, I am really manifesting. For example, if I have a wish then I will let go of it because when you manifest something, you shoud immediately let it go, something like that, and then out of the blue, you'll be surprised that your wish has come true.)

"Kapag may gusto kang isang bagay, do your best talaga para makuha siya. Even meron or walang lucky charm if naniniwala ka sa sarili mo kayang-kayang machieve or makuha," she adds.

(When you want something, you do your best in order to achieve it. Even with or without a lucky charm, if you believe in yourself, it will be easier for you to achieve it.)