Year of new beginnings

A store owner in Metro Manila prepares a statue of a rat as a lucky charm (above) for the year of the rat 2020, according to Chinese zodiac. This is a Year of Metal Rat, starting from the 2020 Chinese New Year on Jan. 25 and lasting to 2021 Lunar New Year’s Eve on Feb. 11. A fruit stall owner arranges her fruits (below) for sale in Divisoria in time for the New Year on Wednesday.