I PEER into my crystal ball and what do I see? A stronger peso yet to hover 38 to a dollar. Whatever measures taken will not work simply because we are in uncharted territories. The peso has never appreciated historically and at these dramatic levels. The dollar will taper off if the United States pulls out of Iraq with the US$300-billion annual price tag and the Fed successfully navigates out of the subprime crisis. Hillary of course wins the presidential election in Nov. 2008.

No more coups. Trust me on this one will you please. 2010 is too near and the past attempts have worsened from a stunted failure to a full-blown farce.

More of people you know will migrate to the business processing outsourcing (BPO) industry, not as call center agents but as managers and administrators. The rise of the call center subculture takes center stage and truly makes the metropolis pulsate 24/7. Some of them die prematurely because of crime and bad eating habits compounded by the work schedule.

More quirky weather. Brace yourself for another drought and a round of vicious superstorms. More quirky Cabinet resignations and top-ranked personnel leaving. Jumping ship is the kinder word. A “presidentiable” finally ties the knot. Geez, I better stop before this becomes a showbiz column.

More road accidents because of the multitude of motorbikes on major highways. Talk about higher disposable income to afford a two-wheeler and graver recklessness riding with a plastic helmet if at all with two toddlers tucked in between the husband and the wife. Calling Chairman Bayani Fernando, the action man.

I digress and point to the ‘helmet dilemma.’ If strictly enforced, many theft and robbery could happen because the culprits cannot be identified. If not imposed, then see the previous paragraph. Any solution in sight, dear reader?

More police abuses with more patrol cars cruising with heavy tints. I know this was banned some years ago. Paging PNP Chief Avelino Razon. And then there are the vehicles sporting license plates that are blurred and scratched and can hardly be read. They go around scot-free even after hit-and-run accidents.

RPN 9 to resurrect from the dead and make a go for the airwaves war now dominated by the Big Two and their self-promotion, never mind the evident conflict of interest. A new leadership TV program is born that makes people sit up and watch, really watch. We watch the Olympics and keep looking for the Philippines to show up in the medal tally board. China places an aircraft carrier on the Spratlys.

Am sorry but another airplane crashes. The drive for profit amidst competition and soaring fuel costs is the culprit. God forbid if there are casualties without the consequences.

A taipan finally calls it quits. Don’t ask me which one. Another one says goodbye. Two others step in to claim the throne. Again, don’t ask me who. Business intelligence is valuable these days. Ask my friend, Vic Agustin.

On a personal note, I plan to inflict a sea of change in critical mission work and to finally get around to writing that long paper overdue by more than a year, to eventually see the hanging coffins in Sagada (treading softly), to be generous beyond time and effort, and to not mind the small stuff as much.

The value of predictions lies in its becoming a reality. The result of certain hope is knowledge. The future is not whimsical but based on the present. Gaze into your own crystal balls and imagine tomorrow. Take charge and behold. Be joyful. Look into mine and clip this article for 2008 to roll around and tick off the events one by one as they come true. Happy New Year, everyone!