By Anett Rios

HAVANA -- The priests of Cuba's African-based Santeria sect, known as "babalawos," predicted here Friday that 2009 will be better than last year.

While suggesting that it's a good time to ask for loans, despite the economic crisis, they warn married couples to be on guard against ill-chosen words and the temptation to stray.

According to predictions announced in Havana by members of the committee responsible for the annual forecast, or "Letter of the Year," 2009 will be reigned over by Oggun, the war god, and by Oya, in charge of storms and gentle breezes, whose presence signifies "relief."

The year will be governed by the sign of Ofun Nabe, whose legend speaks of the clash between two brothers after money appeared in the world, but its outcome could be "favorable" depending on the "good or evil use" that men put it to, the babalawo Victor Betancourt said.

"There is a favorable time for loans, an increase in certain powers from the financial point of view, but one has to be careful about using that increase," he said.

The prediction also warns of the perils of drinking water being contaminated, family quarrels, wars and the threat of natural disasters, and calls for men to respect women in the home.

He also recommends being careful when speaking to avoid interpersonal conflicts, not revealing secrets people trust us with, and guarding against marital infidelity.

In the opinion of the babalawo Lazaro Cuesta, it will be a "magnificent year because the opportunity of knowing beforehand the things that might harm us and being able to take sound advice and avoid them" can represent a "year of triumph."

"Ofun Nobe is a call to improve the present in order to guarantee a much better future. It gives us the chance to achieve all we yearn for, a present full of possibilities and a future full of hope," he said.

Cuesta stressed the importance of the prophetic prayer "An asset of immunity against danger" that accompanies the 2009 "Letter," and called on people to "pay a little more attention" to the babalawos' warnings.

He recalled that in 2008 the committee issued "serious warnings" about the threat of natural phenomena that eventually came to pass, but "humanity to its own misfortune did not heed them."

"In Havana, where many babalawos were gathered, we made the Ebbo (sacrifice) recommended by Orula, and the hurricanes were everywhere, there were disasters everywhere, but we were the least affected," he said, referring to the three hurricanes that ripped through Cuba in 2008 and left losses of $10 billion in their wake.