Regalo sa Bayan

About time!
Sana managot din ang iba pang mga magnanakaw sa Bayan
sa iba-ibang paraan. Soon.





Here's CDQ, one more time!

Crowning glory
PDI 12-14-2011, Wednesday

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Finally, Congress has voted overwhelmingly to act on the presidential complaint and impeached Renato Corona. That’s the second best Christmas gift the House of Representatives has given the nation. The first of course was impeaching Erap (Joseph Estrada) 11 years ago.

The articles of impeachment against Corona are legion and richly deserved. The crux of them being, as one of the eight articles puts it, a monumental failure to live up to “the stringent (constitutional) standards that (demand that) a member of the judiciary be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.” Corona has proven himself only, as specified by the other items on the laundry list, to be incompetent, dishonest, fraudulent and a lackey to his sponsor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Not surprisingly, Edcel Lagman is howling his head off. Which only shows how if you’ve gotten used to seeing an upside-down world, you’re going to complain that it’s upside down when it’s been turned back on its feet. “The derogation of our democratic institutions,” he rails from his imagined heights, “is almost complete with the emasculation of the House of Representatives, the violation of civil liberties, the impairment of the rule of law and now the destruction of the Supreme Court and the judiciary.”

But of course it is a brilliant description—of the Arroyo regime. Well, maybe not that brilliant since it understates the pits to which his own sponsor plunged this country. “Derogation of our democratic institutions” does not quite come close to capturing the enormity of “Hello, Garci.” Just as well, the “complete emasculation of the House” does not quite encompass what Arroyo’s representatives did to the impeachment complaint against her. That one, for all the lofty rhetoric that accompanied it, was just a pathetic version of MC Hammer’s classic rap, “Can’t Touch This.”

I leave the readers to supply his own examples of “the violation of civil liberties, the impairment of the rule of law, and the destruction of the judiciary” during Arroyo’s time. They will suffer from an embarrassment of riches.

Not surprisingly as well, Corona himself is howling at the moon. That is at least how the public sees it. He himself sees it differently. He sees it as rallying the troops to fight those that threaten to destroy the courts and democracy. “I am here. I am not going anywhere. I am your defender and most of all I am your chief justice. Together we will face these challenges and fight all who dare to destroy the Court and our system of justice under the Constitution.”

That’s all very fine, except for one thing. You are not the one defending democracy, you are the one destroying it. You are not the one preserving the courts, you are the one scuttling them. You are not the one upholding the Constitution, you are the one trashing it.

And, oh, yes, you are going somewhere: straight to the dustbin of history after a short and completely forgettable tenure as chief shyster.

Corona may imagine he is John Paul Jones announcing to the world that he has just begun to fight, but to the people of this country he merely cuts the figure of an Arroyo clone. Arroyo was a fake president, Corona is a fake chief justice.

Arroyo became president by calling up Garci in the midnight hour, Corona became chief justice by being appointed by Arroyo in the midnight hour. Arroyo was proclaimed president to the chirp of cicadas with no audience in attendance to protest or boo, Corona was proclaimed chief justice to the baying of dogs with no audience in attendance to rant or decry. Arroyo refused to step down after being found out to have screwed the vote, brazening it out, fighting and clawing to keep her post. Corona has refused to step down after being found out to have screwed law, brazening it out, bristling and clawing like a cornered rat.

Arroyo was sent packing by an Edsa masquerading as an election. Corona will be sent packing by justice masquerading as an impeachment.

Corona’s impeachment is the best thing to have happened to democracy in a long time. Corona’s impeachment is the best thing to have happened to the courts in a long time. At the very least, it begins the process of cleansing the Supreme Court of its dregs, not unlike the way Jesus Christ rid his father’s temple of seedy merchants. Corona is not the Supreme Court, he is merely a squatter in it. Corona is not the institution of law, he is merely the despoiler of it.

At the very most, rather than befouling the Constitution and the separation of powers, it deodorizes them. Corona’s impeachment reminds us of what the Constitution and the separation of powers really are.

The Constitution is not just a piece of paper, like the one you find in toilets, to be used the way Arroyo’s justices have used it, and flushed afterward along with what they put on it. The Constitution is what constitutes the people. The Constitution is the flesh and blood of the people, the heart and soul of the people, the will and voice of the people. It does not exist to be bent by crooked judges, it exists to flail at crooked judges.

Just as well the separation of powers is not there to assure a division of spoils, each branch having its own preserve to rule like a fiefdom. The separation of powers is there to assure that each branch serves the people, each branch checking the other to make sure it is acting in the interest of the people and not merely its own. That is what Corona’s impeachment is all about. It makes sure the Supreme Court acts on behalf of Juan de la Cruz and not of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Corona and Gloria: They are the crowning glory of tyranny. Impeaching one and jailing the other:

That will be the crowning glory of P-Noy.

*********************************************************************************************

Pasko na nga!

Daming regalo sa Bayan ng mga Congressmen.

Sana magtrabaho rin ang Senadores para malinis ang daan

at maging matuwid ito.

ConradoDeQ* is really, really great!

Wanting

Not to be outdone, Edcel Lagman has come up with his two-cents’ worth too. There’s history, he says, to argue for putting his favorite non-president under house arrest. The list of famous and infamous people who met with that fate includes Augusto Pinochet, Paris Hilton, Nikita Khrushchev, Aung San Suu Kyi and Galileo Galilei.

Now, how weird is that?

At the very least, that’s so because as our Inquirer story pointed out, for every person you can name that got meted house arrest, you can name just as many or more who met with much harsher fates than being kept in a detention center. South Korean presidents Roh Tae-woo and Chun Doo-huan were summarily thrown in jail after being arrested for a variety of crimes, the former kept in solitary confinement for a time. The same was true of Taiwan’s president Chen Shui-bian.

That does not include the fate of hated leaders like Nicolae Ceausescu, Benito Mussolini and Mohammad Najibullah who were torn limb from limb by an irate mob. Najibullah in particular was castrated, dragged to death by a truck, and hung from a traffic light with his balls stuffed to his mouth. A pity Ferdinand Marcos did not stay around to see if Filipinos and their Christian charity were less given to these passions than Afghans and their Islamic sense of retribution.

At the very most, while Arroyo is in perfectly good company with Nikita Khrushchev, Augusto Pinochet and Paris Hilton, she is not with Galileo and Suu Kyi. I can imagine that for someone like the peripatetic and party-loving Hilton, being confined to one’s domicile must be torture of hideous proportions. And so richly deserves it. But Hilton was arrested for reckless driving, not for reckless robbing.

While at this, I don’t know where Lagman got the idea that Khrushchev was placed under house arrest. In fact, after Khruschev was ousted, he was given a dacha and 500 rubles a month. He went into a depression afterward and spent his last years writing his memoirs, but writing at home however that may seem like punishment to many people is not known to be a form of house arrest. Or else I would have been under it for the last 25 years.

What takes the cake, however, and reflects on the quality of mind of Arroyo’s defenders, is that Lagman should put her on the same footing as Galileo and Suu Kyi. How different is Arroyo from both?

Let me count the ways:

Galileo was arrested for saying that the earth revolved around the sun, going against the powerful Church which preached otherwise. Arroyo was arrested for believing that the world revolved around her, conscripting the powerful Church to aid her in preaching the notion. Galileo was a man of science who extolled truth and detested ignorance. Arroyo was a woman of ambition who extolled ignorance and detested truth. Galileo did publicly recant at some point, saying “I am sorry” for having stolen from people their comforting belief that they were the pinnacle of creation. Arroyo did publicly recant at some point, or gave a verisimilitude of it, saying “I… am…sorry,” but clung on anyway and strove even more to attain the pinnacle of power.

Galileo never wavered in his beliefs anyway, which were later proven to be true. Arroyo never wavered in her claims, which were forthwith proven to be false. Galileo told the truth and suffered the consequences of it. Arroyo told the lie, and enjoyed the benefactions of it. Galileo was persecuted wrongfully, Arroyo is being prosecuted rightfully. Galileo’s fate spoke of the terrors of the Inquisition. Arroyo’s fate speaks of the wonders of the Enlightenment. History shows that Galileo should never have been put under arrest, house or not. History will show Arroyo should have been arrested long ago, sick or not.

From the other end, Suu Kyi gained world renown for battling a repressive regime. Arroyo gained world renown for mounting a repressive regime. Suu Kyi has shown enormous courage in the face of the junta’s threats for her to stand down or be put down. Arroyo has shown enormous temerity in the face of the people’s demands for her to step down or be swept away. Suu Kyi’s resistance to tyranny has been a source of inspiration to her people. Arroyo’s resistance to jail has been a source of merriment to her people. Suu Kyi continues to fight heroically to gain freedom for her country. Arroyo continues to fight desperately to retain freedom for herself. Suu Kyi risks life and limb to champion the law. Arroyo risks laughter and derision to dodge the law.

Suu Kyi is the Cory of Burma. Arroyo is the junta of the Philippines. Suu Kyi is being persecuted viciously. Arroyo is being prosecuted fittingly. Suu Kyi’s fate reminds us of the terrors of repression. Arroyo’s fate teaches us a lesson in liberation. By all rights, Suu Kyi should be at the head of her government right now. By all rights Arroyo should be at the pit of a cell right now.

But in the end, it’s not a matter of precedent or what others have done, it is a matter of justice and what we ought to do. Giving Arroyo to enjoy the comforts of home while awaiting trial for a multitude of monstrosities merely gives her more of the “executive privilege” she has always claimed for herself. It is an insult to the Morong 43 who were arrested without warrant and languished in jail without being charged. It is an injury to Francisco Gudani and Alexander Balutan who were seized and jailed for telling the truth. It is an insult and injury to the hundreds of political activists who were made to argue their innocence only in the afterlife.

It’s not just Arroyo who’s on trial here, we are too. How we deal with her is the test of our mettle. What we do with her is the test of our character. Heaven forbid that we are judged and found:

Wanting.

=========

And here's one of the numerous replies/comments posted:

IronMan8888

Former Pres. Arroyo govt scandals, corruption and many more..

1. NBN ZTE Scandal

2. Millions of bribe money to Congressmen and Governors (October 2007)

3. Cheating in 2004 Elections (HELLO GARCI)

4. Joc Joc Bolante Case (Fertilizer Scam, P728 Million)

5. JOSE PIDAL Bank Account (Unexplained Wealth, P200 Million)

6. NANI PEREZ Power Plant Deal ($2 Million)

7. Use of Road User's Tax for Campaigning

8. Billion Peso Macapagal Boulevard (Overprice of P532 Million)

9. Juetengate? (Illegal Numbers game kickbacks)

10. Extra Judicial Killings

11. Arroyo Moneys in Germany (Exposed by Senator Cayetano)

12. General GARCIA and Other Military Men

13. Billion Peso Poll Automation contract to(Mega Pacific) (P1.3 Billion)

14. Northrail Project($503 Million)

15. Maguindanao Results of 2007 Elections (ZUBIRI, BEDOL)

16. NAIA-3

17. Venable Contract (Norberto Gonzales)

18. Swine Scam (Exposed by? Atty. Harry Roque

19. GLORIA Arroyo son hidden assets in united states

20. EURO GENERAL'S

21. CALAMITY FUND SCANDAL.

22. C-5 road controversy — Senator Manuel Villar

23.P550-million worth of funds from the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA).

24. P780-million LWUA funds-PROSPERO PICHAY

25. BISHOPS's SUV-Gloria Birthday gift

26. Arroyo linked in P325M lotto intelligence fund

27. Arroyo got P200M in kickbacks from govt projects-Zaldy Ampatuan

28. P200.41 billion or $4.6 billion in Malampaya royalties from 2002 to May this year.

29.LACSON ACCUSED FG MIKE ARROYO OF SELLING 3 REFURBISHED HELICOPTERS TO PNP AT P105 MILLION EACH

30. 600,000 metric tons of Rotten rice imported from India.Kishore Hemlani, an Indian trader allegedly close to Arroyo, reportedly bagged the P9.5 billion contract for the rice importation.

31. DATO ARROYO wife bought the condo unit for $570,000,

70-square-meter one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit (Unit No. 533) at the luxury high-rise, full-service Gramercy Towers located at 1177 California St. in upscale downtown San
Francisco.

32.- P50-million bribe to FG for the president's veto of two franchise bills

33. The additional funding led to a 41-percent spike in advertising expenses, from P76.129 million in 2008 to P107.420 million in 2009, which went mostly to ads for Arroyo's achievements.

34. The report said the PIA received from the Department of Budget and Management a notice of cash allocations amounting to P344.789 million, even though only P222.488
million was appropriated for it under the national budget.

35.- Denial of pork barrel funds to Malacanang's political enemies

36.- Praises for Jovito Palparan, alleged mastermind of extra judicial killings of militants

37.- Removal of govt bodyguards for former pres and Arroyo critic, Cory Aquino

38.- Appointment of manicurist as a member of the board of Pag-Ibig

39. Appointment of gardener as deputy of the Luneta Park Administration.

40. MIDNIGHT APPOINTMENT of an Arroyo,RENATO CORONA, as SC Chief Justice

200+ other illegal midnight appointments

41.- MIKEY ARROYO's undeclared properties in California

42.- Pardon of controversial convicted criminals like Ninoy's murderers

43.- EO 464; requiring Cabinet members to seek presidential clearance before testifying in Congress hearings

44.- Promise (on Rizal Day) to not run for the presidency in 2004

45.- "Vote Buying" by giving away Philhealth cards

46.- Taxpayers' money for her giant billboards and and PCSO tv campaign ads[/b]

47- Appointment of Ben Abalos, a staunch GMA ally, as COMELEC chair

48.- Mikey Arroyo's importation of 32 thoroughbred horses from Australia worth P384 million.

49.Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo used 2 choppers 16

times, son Mikey 69

50.PNoy: PAGCOR spent P1 BILLION on coffee

51.Jose Miguel Arroyo owned helicopters’
all Robinson R44 Raven Is with Series Nos. 1370 to 1374
A total of $1,423,025 was paid to Lionair for the five helicopters.

52.Pagcor ‘pabaon’ to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: P345M

53.The godmother’s ties to the Pinedas(Jueteng lord)

54. Glorietta 2 and Batasan bombings

The Glorietta 2 bombing happened during the height of the bribery case which took place in Malacañang.

55. Misuse of Balikatan funds Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian revealed an alleged malversation of funds in 2007

56. Solon: Charge Gloria Arroyo for taking P98-M from PNoy's social fund

57. 50 MILLION PABAON GENERALS

Former Armed Forces chiefs of staff Narciso Abaya, Dionisio Santiago, Generoso Senga, Hermogenes Esperon, and Alexander Yano,chiefs of staff – Angelo Reyes, Diomedio Villanueva, and Roy Cimatu and MANY MORE..

58.Colmenares: GMA had P488 billion in 'pork.

59. P1 BILLION down the drain in Arroyo-era jatropha project—DOST chief

60. President Arroyo and her group had an outlandish dinner in Le Cirque, a French restaurant in Manhattan, New York for the cost of $20,000 or P1,000,000 as reported in the New York Post.

61. GMA lying to SC saying we have extradiction treaty with Spain.

***************************

*I only follow INQ just to read CDQ`s column along with Randy David's and sometimes

Mareng Winnie's.....

Pak! Pak!-yawa

On manny's latest track...Neal H. Cruz is right...again!


While we`re at it, I believe, even before his latest fight, that Pacquiao must concentrate on where he is good, and that is boxing. This reminds me of that parable about the story told many times by my Father:

There was a family of duck who lived near a pond.

Everyday, little ducklings followed mother duck to the pond to
practice swimming, after all, that is what they do best.
Anyway, some days saw one little duckling aim
his eyes on the numerous birds soaring into the sky as they pass by.
This little duckling decided he wanted to fly.
After all, swimming bores him.
So he asked mother duck if he could learn how to.
Mother duck, of course was hesitant.
So she asked Father duck for his approval.
As expected, father duck was angry!
"Why would you want to fly when you are a duck?!", he thundered.
Baby duck said he had always wanted to fly up above the vast sky.
Baby duckling went into his daily routine with sad countenance.
Soon Father duck relented and warned Baby duck that he must
not forget how to swim if he want to learn another skill.
Baby duck promised and soon enough, he was happy learning
with the birds how to fly. Learn he did until he became an expert.
He was so happy flying that he soon forgot all about swimming.
Then one day, there was a storm and a great wind destroyed their
barnyard home. A great flood came and soon all the ducks were
out in the water swimming for safety. With all the haste all
Mother duck could do was survey the area and bring her baby ducklings
out of danger. She started counting her ducklings and
soon realized that one was missing!
She went back and saw this Baby duck struggling in the water.
He couldn't fly because of the strong winds;　　
all he could do to save himself is to swim...but he forgot how to go about it.
Mother duck carried her baby at her back and started to swim to join the others.
Lesson: IF you are a duck, be a duck!
God gave us gifts to harness and hone.
If God made you a teacher, be a teacher. Be good at it.
Do not aim for something you are not!

I always remember this and has posted the same parable a number of times in the past. I have shared the same one with students and friends who cared to listen. It has always made me think twice, thrice, and so many times before invading a "new territory" and endeavour. I'd like to think that becoming something is good...but oftentimes, I must think my good points first before I enter a "new horizon" in my life. That way, I lessen the unsavory outcome I may have to encounter if I didn't think better. Of course, there are struggles along the way, but if I see that a path isn`t that good for me, I retrace my steps and rectify steps for the best.


Pacquiao may be a good fighter, but just like an old tire, or an old car...there is what we call 'wear-and-tear' thing. He may be good but if people look at his face and body while he fought his latest encounter with JMM, I think he should retire and retire while he's on top {not so in his latest in Vegas!}.

He should also be happy and spend his life at ease with his billions[?] earned. He should also quit as Representative of Sarangani: there are better lawmakers than he can ever be. He is just wasting the country's coffer, just like his contemporaries in the "silent bench" like LL and his cohorts.

He should also stop singing. And voice experts know why. Someone in his circle who can boldly say the truth [at hindi takot na mawalan ng ambon] who has Manny's best interest should...., nah, must advice him to act appropriately as a mature individual to refrain from holding the mike in front of the public. A house party may be okay, especially kung sila-sila lang, baka ayos.........but as a pro? Naaaahhh!

So goodbye,pakyaw-----a!

Lapis O Pambura?

Kung hindi mo kayang maging lapis

para isulat ang kaligayahan ng iba,


subukan mong maging pambura

upang burahin ang kalungkutan nila.

Praise Thee, O Mighty King!

Gold and red and earth meet my eyes

As I travel through North on an Eastern sky;
Can`t help but think...and praise,.... and sing.
: "Praise and Joy to You, O Lord!
Thy Creation, So Supreme!"

Ahhh...Autumn!

It's the time of year....when earth colors change;
When green turns red and orange and gold...
Then feel the breeze change from cool to cold
And deep inside your heart you know....
Christmas is near, sweetheart....
.....and I`ll add another year!

Roke's Aftermath

Whewww!
For the first time in years I've spent here
I can't remember anything like it!
Imagine...a TEDEN?
I mean, here?
..... in Japan?!



That's unthinkable in so many ways.
But apparently, Typhoon # 15 packs strong winds that
electricity was interrupted most of yesterday.
It was such a long wait that I was able to finish
`Dear John' by Nicholas Sparks and wanting for more.
I survived on that----would-you -believe?----
ever-reliable LED solar flashlight!
The power didn't last long, though
[what with that full-packed 335-pages]....
I had to exercise my hands rotating the lever
to generate more power...hah-hah!


Anyways,
I woke up with the sun streaming through the
small opening of that window shield I left open
when I went to bed past midnight.


The sky is blue once more....
all traces of Typhoon #15=Roke erased.
Soft winds blowing.
A huge contrast to the howling winds of yesterday....
It was frightening.
Even that small green froggie
had to seek refuge behind
the door grills.
I felt for it as I paced the house,
muttering prayers that Typhoon #15
just vanish into thin air.


It's time clean the mess,
pick up the scattered laundry polls,
gather those tumbled planters
and put them back in place...

and scrub those windows!
Just to remove the sticky leaves that
splattered here and there
And the cars!
Goodness gracious!


*****
Just added:
Lolo says he hasn't seen such strong winds
{that literally howl, mind you!}
batter these parts in fifty years!
Drove some parts of the GUN these last few days and
saw the damage ravaged by Roke.
It's immense, with litters of blown whatever scattered...
roofs' tiles blown away...
greenhouses destroyed,
windows broken,
and Jiji's 2 big delivery trucks tumbled!
one was a total wreck and the other needed major repairs!
Another minus in the ever-growing economic deficits!
Tsk!

To top it all: that yasashii Ojii-san's
nearby BATAKE GOYA was blown by the winds!
What a pity! He said he kept looking for the blown roof
but he couldn't find it. He bowed his head and asked
for some apologies for the inconvenience that blown roof might
have caused us. Geez...in the midst of disaster, the old man had to say that?
I am really amzed at the ways and concerns of these old folks!
He has been a good Ojiisan who always hand me some of his precious
SATSUMAIMO [kamote to you, Pinoy!] during harvest season....
I gave all those wooden planks stacked up near the garage
so he can reconstruct his beloved GOYA
as he tends to his HATAKE.


AHHH...life!
But Japan will recover....
~and that's for sure.

*
Sana tama na po, Lord.
Over na sa quota ang sufferings ng bansang ito.
Ganundin naman ang Pinas....
Please...
Amen.

____________
TEDEN=brown-out; black-out; electric power-failure;

Dumating na ang araw n’yo

Ewan ko ba kung bakit type kita....
`Di ka naman guwapo {joke!};
Kung bakit ang talino mo....
Sapul, bulls-eye, na-target mo....
buwaya, ganid: mga aso!


Here`s one that really made my day,
a great piece I wanna keep reading.....


Dumating na ang araw n’yo
ｂｙ　Ｃｏｎｒａｄｏ　Ｄｅ　Ｑ．

Ang galing mo, `pre!

The Bully

The arrival of the newly-acquired vessel Gregorio Del Pilar [actually a decommissioned, refurbished, 46-year-old coast guard patrol boat] from the US made headlines.

I believe it is about time [the previous ones never did anything, anyway, except to think of so many ways to rob, not love the Philippines!...] since the Chinese have also been making a lot of trouble even in the southwestern coast of Japan since I can remember. These intrusions have been numerous in the past and here's the latest...

Japan protests Chinese boats' entry in disputed area ‹ Japan Today: Japan News

Obviously, China wants to make its presence felt practically everywhere in this planet.

I have nothing against China, having Chinese blood in my veins and
having a lot of Chinoy friends from all over....

BUT something has to be done to stop this way of thinking.

Some quarters are adamant to have these issues resolved via peaceful negotiations. This may be good if both the participants are willing to talk and I mean...really talk! I have confidence in the PH team headed by our President...but would it be the same with their Chinese counterparts?
I'm afraid this is just like asking for a harvest of gold on Jupiter. They talk one thing today and they seem to have forgotten about the whole thing tomorrow. Honor is not the name of the game here, folks....


What do you think Japan has been doing these past decades? Because of its basic constitution that was forced into their stomach after the last WW...Japan has to remain armless in the face of external threats.

The fact remains: China has been a silent bully since after the last war.... and slowly but surely making its presence felt all over the world...whether by land, air ..or sea.


Wake up, people!

****

The TRUTH and nothing but.....

It seems that whistleblowers are out and
each wanting to say his piece.
Perhaps this is so
because of the climate of freedom
we now seem to enjoy....


Unlike in the last nine years of duplicity
in all aspects of governance,
we now have a legitimate government
doing its best to serve the people.

I sincerely hope and pray that
we learn the truth behind all these
brouhaha from the bruha who grabbed power
from a legitimate leader....
and grabbed it once again from a populist candidate.


The truth about the money of the people

dispensed as their own...


Balato na lang kapag na-prosecute sila!
We all know that the crooks can afford
whatever money can buy and this
include the purchase of liar-lawyers
who'll do nothing for a good price.


But miracles do happen!
Perhaps in PNoy's time, we can see some light....

*

Hulihin na kasi....

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV


Hanggang ngayon wala pa tayong nakikitang konkretong solusyon sa mga pinaggagawa ng mga korap sa gobyerno. Panahon na para makakita ang taong-bayan ng maliwanag na tiwaling sangkot na makalaboso.

Hulihin na kasi!

Hamaoka in Shizuoka

This one's good news....so far
Source: Japan Times May7 issue

Widely forecast Chubu quake prompts prime minister to take action

Kan requests full closure of Hamaoka power plant

Ap, Kyodo

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Friday he instructed a utility to shut down a nuclear power plant in central Honshu because of concerns it might be compromised by major quake or tsunami that is expected to hit the region.

Kan said the measure was to ensure safety, citing widespread forecasts that there's a 90 percent chance of a major quake striking the Chubu region, a roughly nine-prefecture area just west of Tokyo, in 30 years.

"If an accident occurs at Hamaoka, it could create serious consequences," Kan said in a hastily arranged news conference, referring to the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Chubu Electric Power Co. has two active reactors and a third that's been shut for regular inspections at the plant, which is on the coast of Shizuoka just southwest of Mount Fuji.

Chubu Electric will shut down all of the remaining active reactors at Hamaoka, company sources said.

Kan said the nuclear power station should be halted until the utility takes medium- to long-term measures to protect against natural disasters, including ocean embankments.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said later in the day that the Hamaoka plant is likely to be shut down for around two years.

Japan has been stepping up efforts to improve nuclear safety since the March 11 mega-quake and tsunami caused the world's worst nuclear accident in a quarter century at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant run by Tokyo Electric Power Co. The tsunami left more than 25,000 people dead and missing in the northeast Tohoku region.

Kan said that the closure of the plant might cause power shortages in Chubu Electric's service area in the summer.

But Kan promised that the government will take utmost measures not to cause a major imbalance in power demand and supply in the region. He also called on the public to conserve electricity.

Situated on the Pacific coast in Omaezaki, the Hamaoka complex was built near a major fault line and currently has its No. 4 and 5 reactors online. It was hoping to restart the No. 3 reactor as early as July.

Reactors No. 1 and 2 have been out of operation for some time and are scheduled to be decommissioned.

The Fukushima No.1 nuclear plant lost its power and cooling systems, triggering fires, explosions and radiation leaks that combined to make it the world's second-worst nuclear accident.

Radiation leaks from the Fukushima plant have forced 80,000 people living within a 20-km radius to leave their homes. Many are living in gymnasiums and community centers.

Residents in Shizuoka have long demanded the suspension of the Hamaoka reactors.

The Aftermath

So much have been seen
A lot have been said...
But the best in people comes out
Whenever people see fellowmen....
suffering and in pain.



*

I was out of the country when the disaster struck.
I was taken aback when I saw the screen feature the slow-mo
video clip of the tsunami rolling on the fields:
giant waves unabated....
as it gulped everything in its path.




*




I rushed to the phone and asked for GP.
He`s old, by any standards...
but this one seems to go stronger as the days grow old.
He is a bull incarnate and he growled at me
when he heard my voice.



*


As the days pass by, detailed news began to pour.
Earthquakes are part of life hereabouts.
But the tsunami?
And a nuclear reactor bursting?
Uh-uh....



*



Triple disaster, indeed!
And the weather at that time of the year!
The people up north must be a stronger breed.
I would be shivering at a mere gust of the wind.



*





GP gave me a list as soon as I arrived.
It is the list of people who gave what little they have left.
Times are already hard, even in this place.....
and we didn`t expect much.



*


I heard Ichiro [my beloved!] gave a billion yen to aid the refugees.
Ryo Ishikawa doubled what Ichiro gave.
More people, celebs and otherwise gave.
Our small group still collects....
for more!


*


I do not ask God why these things happen.
There must be reasons why....and I dare not delve into that.
I just pray that God in His goodness shelter the weak;
These people are a hard-working lot.
They have had more than enough of their quota for suffering.


*


I pray, too that Japan rise again from the ashes of ruin....
The same way they did, after the last world war.
Please give the country strength to
be able to withstand everything...