Now the hard work begins. Again. For the rest of the year. The dragons have danced under exploding firecrackers. The lion has had its eyes, nose, and tail dotted in red paint.

Loud, heartfelt greetings of “Kong Hei Fat Choi” have been exchanged. The Flaming Fire Horse has made its colorful, loud, exhilarating presence known through a fiery drama of tradition, spectacle, and fine dining, a show known as the Chinese New Year’s Eve celebration.

It was a party, all right, joyful as a coming-of-age party. With noodles, prawn, broccoli, pork, and fish, and fruits of a golden hue — mango, pineapple, peach — every dish said to be auspicious (by association) plus tikoy, the sticky rice cake whose role is to keep family, friends, and prosperity together, like an alliance — Auntie Baby Fernandez and her son Patrick, feng shui scholar according to his right brain and banker according to his left brain when he’s working in the US, presided over the festivities last Monday the 16th. Starting with an elaborate dinner at 10 p.m. at New World Hotel in Makati, the event ended at 3 a.m., by which time it was Tuesday, first day of the Flaming Fire Horse.

Whoa! What’s in store in the New Year? Whatever your imagination can achieve, is what dreamers like Picasso and Shakespeare might have said. But as Horse demands a special mention, Patrick advises daring under caution, as a horse may want to gallop but needs to be reined in by a masterful rider.

Speaking from a stage decorated with symbols of success – flowers in full bloom, the Horse coated in gold, a tableau where vessels containing water “sang” as it created miniature waves — Patrick dispensed advice to each of the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac without notes, without hesitation. I was so fascinated, I forgot to ask, “What’s your sign, Patrick?”

As in previous years, Patrick the showman — shaman? — was robed in red, as were his parents, Auntie Baby and Rey, and brother Richie.

I envy friends who wear their reds so well, because once upon a time I was told by Paul Lau (who started the feng shui consciousness hereabouts) that what I want is a cool shade like blue or green.