FB Mediation

Social media by its very nature is bound to get people into conflict. Opinions and reactions fly fast and furious. Make that global and you increase the chances exponentially!

There have been a dose of level-headedness poured in good measure, too. Reminders like "Walk the talk" from Jim Paredes, and "What you resist, persists" from Dr. Castillo are virtual fire-fighting reminders.

Photobomb Mediation

Even while its case is still pending in court, there are already remedies being put forth on the Torre de Manila. Alternatives included reflecting glass panels, tall trees and an artistic facade to backdrop Rizal's monument.

Now that's voluntary goodwill needed in mediation problem-solving, not the blame game going on, too.

Hating Kapatid

This was first recorded in the Bible when Abraham and nephew Lot divided their Promised Land between themselves. Lot got the more fruitful, but unfortunately immoral Sodom.

Mediation over real estate became imperative later on, with the increase in population, motives, needs and wants.

Why should I be ashamed, I'm happy!

Thus exclaimed a female rocker on a 2nd Avenue cable ad, expressing thoughts and feelings on lesbianism. Thank goodness, she was no sadist or some other hideous person.

Happiness as a gauge of behavior could be a dangerous proposition, especially for those without a guided conscience. Sometimes, the happy driver is the one who got away from a chasing cop. And how many times have we seen sad victims in mediation. Shameful!

Red Hat Ladies

Cable sitcom "Rules of Engagement" had the last laugh when its resident lech landed with such elderly ladies on a cruise! His staff explained it thus, "Sometimes, bad things happen to bad people. "

Mediation is another equalizer.

A Rat Smells a Landmine

Rats now return the favor. An Inquirer news item from Cambodia related that the country imported rodents "from Africa, to sniff out" whatever unexploded devices still left on their terrain.

Even rats are given second chances at redemption by human ingenuity. Mediation works on the human level.

Mga Ilaw ng Tahanan

Perhaps 'mga munting ilaw ng tahanan.' "Teenage moms light up, empower Tondo slums," read an Inquirer banner on the young women's solar energy project, as transferred technolgy from India'a Ramon Magsaysay awardee, Harish Hande.

Changing lives is likewise  a goal of mediation.

Toral of the Story

According to an Inquirer news item, the Father of the Cebu Dancing Inmates was once one of them. Into the family business after college, Marco Toral made a detour at 36 after being implicated in drug dealing. Even then, he distinguished himself by being the grandson of the donor of the lot where he was jailed.  And while serving sentence, he had a friend-owner of a furniture factory to subcontract the smoothing of rattan to them. They also busied themselves making candles.

It takes one to really know and understand one. Now consultant on jail matters, Toral is helped by his law student son in monitoring the cases of inmates. There are plans to build more room for them. Meantime, the dancers are also baking bread, and recycling materials into pen holders and artificial flowers. Rehabilitation is like mediating between prisoners and society.

A. Grande Thought

Make that Ariana. The pint-size star said a mouthful against women being regarded as possessions, usually referred to as an ex, current squeeze, or whatever.

Mediation often deals with the effects of this chattel mentality. No idle chatter.

Papal Mediation

Pope Francis' long-awaited encyclical on Climate Change is out. As expected, themes of stewardship and common good vs. common good were tackled.

Perhaps the Philippines could make him a resource person in its sea conflict with China.

Spokesperson Mediator

Despite previous nonchalance and denial, Binay finally admits to "running scared" especially with the latest survey results showing him sliding to second place. And believing in quantity over quality, he got yet another spokesperson in the person of former broadcaster & Antipolo Mayor Mon Ilagan, who is more amiable than the rest.

Mon can just mediate among the spokesmen. Binay is on his own in explaining all those corruption charges, which are responsible for his downturn.

Nip The Bomb

The Rizal Park Photobomber, i.e.  Why it took Torre de Manila to be stopped at nearly 50 floors and 9 years later, could only be in the Philipines!

Just like court cases, which take even more time. Except that in this case, it has only just begun.

Messianic Mediation

In yesterday's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus Christ said, "If someone sues you in court for your shirt, give him your coat as well."

If people followed this advice, mediators would not be needed!

Dog Mediator

Twas a pleasure to catch Cesar Millan again on Nat Geo. Last night's episode had him settling the sidewalk fight between poodles out for a walk on one side, and the rest of the pack on the other. He traced their excitement to that of their masters.

If only mediating humans were as simple as that! We can truly learn from our best friends!

Taiwan Family Feud

Inquirer columnist Queena Lee- Chua featured yet another "All in the Family " business. This time, she focused on the Wangs of Taiwan in the plastic industry. Their life was nothing like their product. It read like a telenovela of multiple mates and children's choices. In the end, it has survived with an outsider as chair.

That is the role of a mediator in disputes.

Another One Bites the Dust

Malaysia is the latest country to protest Chinese intrusion into its waters, according to an Inquirer news item. It has joined the ranks of country-complainants like the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan... The list goes on vs. the Sea Bully!!!

Like in popular wisdom, the one with the most number of complainants is probably guilty. Plus the refusal to face the opponents. Like somebody we all know. Mediation doesn't like that.

Masochism in the Family

How else to explain the rush of families to run for thankless, low-paying jobs every election? Unemployed or unemployable, too? Or more so, another form of family (monkey) business? Take your puke!

Finally, the Anti-Dynasty Law's Implementing Rules and Regulations are being taken up by our dynastic legislators, in an obvious attempt to derail the Binay dynasty. No mediating that!

Mad MMDA

According to an Inquirer Metro news article, MMDA traffic marshal Cesar Detera, Jr. lives up to his name. With a little help from his Sr., he devised a helmet with a camera on top.  This has now deterred motorists in his beat from traffic violations and violence.  Hail, Cesar!

He has self-mediated between mad motorists and his MMDA group. Nothing like a bit of protective gear! Mediation likewise protects the rights of both parties. Everybody happy but first and foremost, alive!

Brushe Jenner

While watching the Kardashians, have always thought their patriach Bruce looked like our old nuns in school before. True enough, Bruce is now Caitlyn.

Interesting times for mediation, since Caitlyn has launched her own show, and her mother has said that it was always about money when s/he was still married to Kris.

Lucky Break

The Mutts cartoon: "I've insomnia."
                                    "That's nothing a goodnight's sleep couldn't cure."

Sometimes, cliches and cure-alls seem apt solutions. However, disputes require more insight and inside info.in order to be resolved.

Hospital-ity

APEC time again, to clear the streets of the homeless. Some have been hurt physically,
other than emotionally, morally. Why were they allowed to stay there in the first place? And now, not anymore?! City officials obviously have not been making the rounds of their scope of responsibility and authority way before this time.

Mediation handles such swept-under-the-rug cases that are bound to surface, as sure as the Manila Bay sunset.

Reason for Release

Now comes a Batasan motion to give house a-rest to their fellow-legislator GMA. They say she is not getting any better in the hospital, so better send her to one of her homes, in the country, i.e. Shouldn't she be sent to a regular prison cell instead, since she may not need hospitalization anymore? And if being in VMMC doesn't help her any, how would being at home be a better alternative, except for her freedom? Ang daming butas sa Batasan motion.

Disputants have likewise come up with alibis galore during mediation. Time to separate the cheap and the gross.

Toby or not Toby

Voter's Beware time! Anyone is free game and target. Accusers need not know how to count nor have a bit of conscience. Just a feel for money.

Mediators are wary of accusers all the time. They say to them, "Show me the proof."

Non-Honrado

If I'm not mistaken, Honrado means honored/honorable in Spanish? The NAIA manager is anything but. The only thing going for him is being an Aquino relative. So passengers can wait in line and get soaked in the rain INSIDE the terminal, planes can also undergo traffic on air...

We need disputants with word of honor, too, so they keep their side of the settlement.

Cyber Report/Bullying

One good news today is that Taguig and Pateros (aptly called TAPAT) are working together with DepEd toward a solution to cyber-bullying on the internet, too. One
can report such cases right on the crime screen.

Out-of-the-box settlements are likewise the stuff mediation is about.

Her

HBO finally showed this movie I missed. An ex-wife is replaced by a computer. Worse than another woman or a man!!!

Romance has been taken over by sci-fi. Usually, it is by accounting, as in separation of properties. Can't imagine mediating between a man and the computer! Not that savvy.

The Fault is the Star

The San Andreas and West Valley Faults are now stars, literally and figuratively.  The buzz they are creating is earth-shaking enough!

There are things that are beyond our control. But as much as we can, let us try to lessen the pressure of man-made conflicts by disagreeing agreeably in mediation.

Advice to Retirees

Being a senior citizen now, Inquirer columnist Michael Tan gave the following advice to retirees, whom he will be joining soon:

1. "Be grateful for what we have gotten from life.
2. We should be giving more as we age.
3. Stay active physically and mentally.
4. Stay in love.
5. Do come back to visit your office, your friends."  And may I add, consider becoming a mediator.

Out Came the Sun

That is the title of Mariel Hemingway's latest book. Papa would have been proud, more so because the scion has overcome suicidal tendencies successfully.

Suicide is a plea for attention to one's conflict, whether personal or relational.  Maybe mediation could set-up a 24-hotline for this purpose as well.

Collateral Damage

Pleas for attention to one's conflict take many forms- from dialogue, confrontation, suicidal attempts to hostage- taking, which was the action of choice by a soldier. He was "reportedly incensed by suspicions his wife was cheating on him," as reported in the Inquirer, so he took over a bus with over 30 passengers for 4 hours in Camarines after which he gave himself up.

All's well that ends well but didn't have to begin that way. It could have been settled at the barangay level.

Precedent

That is legalese for prior deed that justifies the same in the future. Applied to practical life, a B.C.cartoon asked, "What's the best way to prevent hangovers?
A well remembered precedent."

Put negatively, "a burnt dog dreads the fire." A painful experience normally
leads to its avoidance. Hopefully, too after mediation, persons would learn
how to deal with the onset of conflict.