PROXY FIGHT: The fight for control of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is in many ways a real proxy fight.

While the Lopez clan fights to retain management control of the giant power firm by adding proxy votes of smaller stockholders to their 33.4 percent, Malacanang uses the Government Service Insurance System as proxy in its campaign to capture the power firm.

It does not help President Gloria Arroyo any to have her Executive Secretary saying that the Palace is on the side of GSIS president and general manager Winston Garcia in his running battle with the Lopezes.

President Arroyo should distance herself from the GSIS’s challenge to the Lopezes leadership. It is bad enough that the Palace and Garcia are identified with a powerful Cebuano bloc reportedly lusting after Meralco.

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MERCENARY: Such maneuvering detracts from the frequent statements of the President (she has to repeat them because nobody seems to listen) that all she wants to do is to lower electricity rates.

The problem with the President’s avowed intention is that it is clouded by her perceived obsession to replace the Lopezes with a Cebuano power bloc with Palace connection.

It has been shown that Meralco, the distributor, is not entirely to blame for the bloated power rates. Malacanang shows partiality by zeroing in on the distribution end while ignoring the other factors in generation, transmission and government (taxes and regulation) that pad rates.

Meralco may not be entirely clean, but to dump on it the entire blame is unfair. It also betrays an ulterior mercenary motive.

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NO PARADE: For the coming Independence Day celebration, there will be no more parade of soldiers toting antiquated weapons, of floats pieced together by complying agencies, of marching delegations of sectors already given space in the Constitution and the Congress.

Members of the diplomatic corps will no longer be subjected to the ordeal of sitting, sometimes standing, at the reviewing stand to watch a pathetic parade crawling in slow-motion so illustrative of how this country moves.

Instead, the revamped program on June 12 will focus on service “tungo sa ganap na kalayaan at kaunlaran” (toward full freedom and progress).

The idea, according to the organizers, is for Filipinos to “set aside our differences and work together to celebrate our freedom from want, freedom from hunger and freedom from anger.”

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SENTRO K3: The Service theme will center on “Sentro K3”(Kagalingan, Kaisahan at Kalayaan ng Bayan) at the Luneta. Replicated all over the archipelago with Cabinet members standing in for the President, the Sentro K3 program includes:

1. Ang Galing Galing Natin — a showcase where government agencies provide relevant and interesting exhibits, lectures and audio-visual shows to visitors who drop by to learn about what government does for the people.

2. Bayan Ko, Lapit sa Puso Ko — participating agencies will provide service to the public involving jobs, housing, health, investments, among other things. Job Fair will be by the DoLE, Housing by HUDCC, Medical & Dental Services by DoH & DND.

3. Wow, Pinoy Ngayon — a presentation of great Filipino talents in various areas: sports, entertainment, sciences, arts and culture.

4. Food Trips — visitors will have a taste of the best Filipino cuisine at the stalls at affordable prices.

5. Lakad-Aral sa Liwasan — free park tours for visitors.

6. One Town-One Product (OTOP) — conducted by the DTI, showcasing the best of Philippine products from the various regions.

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RIGODON BACK: This year’s traditional Vin d’Honneur (cocktail reception hosted by the President for the diplomatic corps) at Malacanang will be highlighted by the Rigodon de Honor.

To Filipinos, at least to the older generation and the elite, the rigodon has long been considered the most formal and most refined of ceremonial dances.

Introduced to the French court during the reign of Louis XIII (between 1601 and 1643) by a dancing master named Rigaud, it was first known as the Rigaudon. In Britain , it was later called the Rigadoon.

The dance arrived in Manila in the late 19th Century and became immensely popular, particularly until the outbreak of World War II. During the American insular and commonwealth periods, the rigodon de honor was usually performed at state functions.

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REPLICATIONS: President Arroyo will lead the flag-raising at the Luneta at 7 a.m . simultaneously with similar flag-raising in the rest of the country. She then proceeds to the Sentro K3.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, chairman of celebration, will introduce the President. After the Luneta rites, he will go to the Mabini House on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus for another program.

Vice President Noli de Castro will lead the flag-raising in Kawit, Cavite, where the first Republic was proclaimed. With housing his main concern, he will proceed to a nearby housing project.

Agricultrure Secretary Arthur Yap will raise the flag and preside over the program at San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, and lead the FIELDS caravan focusing on food self-sufficiency.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza will attend the rites at the Katipunan monument in Balintawak with the Chief Justice Reynato Puno — and segues to transport serbisyo activities. He will invite riders to free rides ( 7-9 am , 5-7 pm ).

After the ceremony at the Mausoleo de los Veteranos de la Revolucion at the Manila North Cemetery, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro will do serbisyo at the Smokey Mountain, including a cleanup with soldiers, teachers and parents.