There?s a saying that when elephants quarrel, the little ants disappear. We power consumers are the little ants and there are hordes of us; now that the Lopezes of Manila Electric Co. and Winston Garcia, the big boss of the Government Service Insurance System, are fighting over control of the giant power distribution firm, with talk of takeover, breakup of the power monopoly and the futility of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act flying around, we little ants scurry to the sidelines to watch developments with bated breath.

I personally have not followed this complex issue that closely, but I believe I echo the primordial sentiment of the consumers?let?s have lower rates. I hope the giants keep the end goal in mind?the welfare of us little ants?as they battle for control.

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In the light of what the ?punditocracy? in the US terms the impending victory in superdelegate votes of Democratic presidential candidate Barrack Obama over rival Hillary Clinton, the US media and the world are hard-pressed to explain his phenomenon, which one writer dubbed ?as once in 100 years.? With one stint as state senator from Illinois and an unfinished term as US senator, Obama suddenly emerges to challenge two established political figures, Clinton and Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate. How does one explain his meteoric rise?

I had earlier written of his incredible oratorical gift, but there?s also his mesmerizing challenge to be the agent of ?change,? as the US passes the torch from one generation of leaders to another. Perhaps America, reeling from the twin problems of being quagmired in war and a worsening economy, is ready to gamble on a totally inexperienced and virtually unknown 46-year-old. However, I shudder to think that he has to tackle the growing might of China, Russia?s flexing of its muscles anew, the war in the Middle East and world economic slowdown.

Whether Obama can survive the fierce scrutiny of his inexperience in the months of the campaign is another question and this early there are people, like business executive Fernando Peña, who are betting on McCain in a one-on-one with Obama.

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I wrote up the world pool championship tournament here two years ago in an effort to push our tourism program, headed by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano. Hence, it was with glee that I received a few months ago the twin news. One is that our country will again host another world pool championship tournament from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 this year at the PICC (with the players billeted at the Sofitel Hotel next door), after Yen Makabenta of Raya Sports successfully negotiated the agreement with the World Pool Billiard Association as chair of the Billiards & Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP), the governing body of the billiards sport and a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The other good news is that because of the Philippines? impressive hosting earlier, we have won a five-year franchise (renewable for three more years) for the World Ten-Ball Pool Championship here. This means this big event will be set always for early October and thus will virtually become a permanent fixture in our sports and tourism calendar up to 2015; in so doing, players and fans abroad will be able to make advance plans to come here, while sponsors and merchandisers will be able to brand world pool with their products.

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A recent development, however, threatened to affect the preparations for this big championship event in September. A local tournament in Muntinlupa City was sponsored by Senate President Manny Villar, catchily dubbed ?Bilyar ni Villar,? that directly coincides in dates with the ongoing Philippine Pool Tour sponsored by the BSCP. The latter is an international tournament kicked off in Mandaluyong City by Mayor Benhur Abalos, the League of Cities president, and meant as a ?warm-up? for the September championship in that it would help search for more qualified Filipino talents for that big event. From Mandaluyong it will go to Palawan province, Angeles City and other places.

But Villar?s ?Villar Cup? was scheduled for the same week as the Tour. Already some in the media are decrying the poor timing of the Senate Chief?s project and his judgment, while the professional handlers of the big event view him as a spoiler. I suspect, however, that Villar was unwittingly sold the local tourney idea by handlers who thought they?d make good money by selling him a campaign gimmick. I caught him on TV averring that he did not quite realize what had happened. I can believe this, as it?s a predicament prospective (and moneyed) candidates find themselves in from time to time.

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I have been quite saddened by the rift between Couples for Christ (CFC) founder Frank Padilla and Tony Meloto, who runs Gawad Kalinga. They had such a good thing going for years and now their followers are torn up over their feud. As a result, many faithful are heeding the recent call of Pope Benedict XVI for additional hours of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament (which underscores the ?centrality? of the Eucharist in the life of the Church) as their way to help resolve it. As one CFC member put it to me, it was the CFC?s emphasis on prayer that has not only kept families centered on Jesus Christ, it has also made adoration a ?life-long attitude of soul.? To this member, the priority of prayer of praise and thanksgiving and the keeping of God-centered families is truly the mission of CFC. This is a timely thought in view of the recent feast of Pentecost.

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Retrouvaille, headed by Columban Fr. Dave Clay, has helped many troubled couples here and abroad to reconcile and make their marriage work. A stay-in healing weekend will be offered once again from 6 p.m., Friday, May 23, to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at the Mother of Mercy Spiritual Center, SVD Road, Tagaytay City. Call Father Clay at +63918 9020 511 or +632 5250308, Inday at +632 9389719 or +63916 4438346, Neomi at +632 6815746 or +63916 3954642, or Zeny at +630917 8220115. All calls held in strict confidence.