Cold War Mediator

Among his roles was a reluctant mobster in "Road to Perdition." Recently, however, Tom Hanks played an international mediator between US and Russia over their exchange of captives. From guns to goodwill.

Mediation champions the same evolution.

Last 90 Minutes

Because Robin Williams played "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn," his doctor he kept badgering said he had only 90 minutes to live. What did he do? Make amends with his wife and son, mainly.

Mediation makes us do those things even before our time is up.

Shcariest Campfire Shtory

That's from (a) Mutts' point of view. Indeed, non-human beings suffer "loss of habitat, bait for bears, and leg traps."

Like in mediation, it pays to look at the other side of the story.

Living Cemeteries

Aside from families, mostly of plot caretakers inhabiting cemetery grounds, other living beings have sprouted in one such in Nueva Ecija. A vegetable garden has been producing fresh produce for the community.

More than property or pesos, the departed have again provided for their relatives.

Public Perception

When Downton Abbey was opened to the public for visits, a young boy wandered into the master bedroom. When the staff raised a fuss, the ailing lord of the manor calmed him down with this assessment, "He was more of a philosopher than a thief."

Too easily, we typecast persons especially economically. But taxi drivers have shown honesty more than our honorable legislators.

No Reservations

This show of Anthony Bourdain presents food all over the place, sometimes not on plates. Tonight's venue was the former battleground of Kurdastan.

In mediation, there has to be communication without reservation, too.

Fireflies in the Garden

Ryan Reynolds and Julia Roberts starred in this heart-wrenching movie about a son verbally abused by his professor father. The theme was summarized in this quote,
"If you don't take care of something, you don't deserve to have it."

This goes for relationships as well as material possessions. Private owners and the government, for instance have to be faulted for their lack of vigilance that leads to informal settlements everywhere in the country. Then the Pope and APEC come and everyone gets concerned for a while.

Murder Mantra

The producers of Grey's Anatomy have evolved into the creators of  How to Get Away with Murder. From the life-saving surgeons, characters now are the analysts of life-enders. Their woman head constantly reminds them to "trust no one."

On the contrary, in mediation, disputants are encouraged to begin trusting each other again.

Advice to Tourists

On E's show Top 5 Philippines, a foreigner gave tips on how to get along in Manila. "Smile, say sorry, and drink tequila." The first two are highly recommended, for any place. The last one might precisely get you into trouble.

Same goes for mediation.

Select-a Celebration

Always liked the tv ads of Selecta ice cream. This Christmas, they had a brilliant idea. Treat your household helpers!

This could be the start of less labor conflicts at home.

Dating/Tanging Hiling

How wishes change! In a Powerhouse feature on GMA News TV, singer April Boy Regino sang a new composition expressing a desire for health from Above. This was after suffering a series of illnesses, self-inflicted/not that disrupted his career.

Sometimes, reverses in circumstances open disputants to compromises.

Apec Nation

Again, the activists were at their futile attempts at attention-getting. Meantime, a Pinay engineer was on stage with President Obama on her project of saltwater-powered lighting system for the rural areas. Now that is productive protest.

Mediation is another productive way out of conflicts.

Wallace Tick

Peter Wallace's column "Like It Is" featured a win-win on taxation. To compensate for less government income after the proposed lowering of income tax, he suggested "fuel marking, raising VAT but protecting the poor, jailing smugglers, disposing of government property but with informal settlers, and running after Marcos money."

Mr. Wallace could be the tax mediator.

Revolution Road

This movie seems to be a follow-up to Titanic. It stars Leonardo di Caprio and Kate Winslet as a couple. Issues tackled included infidelity, abortion and househusband- in the 50-60's. Kate dies this time- from the suicidal self-induced abortion.

Marriages still face these crises. Hopefully, couples seek a neutral third party in mediation, other than God!

Mag Menor Ka

Not a driving advice, but a reference to the Iglesia ni Cristo conflict. A church leader, Menor was suspected of having written negative articles in their newsletter under a pen name. For this alleged breach, he was given a hard time, he says.

Allegations and suspicions have no room in mediation. Instead, face-to-face dialogue is encouraged.

By GAD

That stands for Gender and Development, which Philippine academe is continuously   tackling under the Commission of Higher Education (CHED). In an Inquirer article, noted feminist Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, listed the four areas covered by CHED as administration, curriculum, research and extension programs. Basically, there is a move to prevent discrimination and harassment.

Hopefully, this would lessen, if not totally eradicate sexually-related cases brought to mediation.

Thinking with Pen and Paper

This article by Grace Shangkuan Koo in the Inquirer details the English-writing exercise she asks her students to do. Then, she proceeds to lecture on a related psychological theory or principle.  She finds it "quite useful to generate ideas,
map a plan, compose a line and even reflect on life issues."

Drafting a compromise agreement or settlement of the conflict works the same way.

Peace In-Play

"33 Variations" of Beethoven is one sub-plot of this same-titled musical play. The other focuses on the relationship between a musicologist mother and her daughter.
The composer and the mother represent "artistic obsession" against the daughter's "pragmatism of everyday life." She "excels at changing careers,...your own daughter you can't see."

Values and attitudes of parents, let alone their professions are not necessarily inherited by their children. Inquirer columnist of "All in the Family" Queena Lee-Chua knows this too well.

In the genius

Indigenous people have always managed their own  disaster prevention, rescue and relief. Of course, in the Old Testament, God warned Noah. Nowadays, they have to rely on observing nature, starting from reaction of animals. They also share among themselves all year round, so one tribe was pleasantly surprised to have been reached by an NGO after a calamity. They seemed to have no need for them.

Men are basically good, one belief goes. For the rest, there is mediation.

Woe Man

Facebook find: WOMAN- "Think like a man, act like a lady, look like a young girl, and work like a horse" then, you'd be okay.

To counter male chauvinism, laws are enacted to safeguard women and children against abuse and violence. Mediation empowers them, too.

Not my Fault

Khloe Kardashian kept repeating this phrase while the SUV she was driving for family members was spinning in the snow of the winter resort they were just
leaving.

Accidents always are a toss- up among human error, technical problem, or force of nature. Mediation deals with them, too, in looking for solutions to conflicts.

By Gosh, Groban

Josh Groban is a classical singer of the millenials. In one docu, he admitted that he is too young to sing "Send in the Clowns" as he is too old for "Oliver!" That is credibility for you.

So in mediation. We can start by acting our age.

Garfield's Tact

John was planning to give something to Garfield's vet, Liz. "A wrinkle cream holiday gift set!" Garfield's prediction on John, "You're going to be a lonely, lonely old man."

Fights have ensued on such "minor" issues which could be major for some.

"My Lucky Elephant" Owner

Fox Family Movies had this feature on Thai elephants who painted. Of course, the family cashed in on it, gradually moving from low rates to bidding! But naturally elephants want to have a family so off the pair went back to the forest. Their boy caretaker, bless him, let them go.

Sometimes, there are lesser conflict when values are closer to the ground.

Electricity

FB's Laughing Colors compares it to wives. They, too have to be handled with care so they can light up your life (and lighten it, we add). Mis(man)handled, they can give you the shock of your life. Feminism has raised the awareness of women on their rights. For the others, there is mediation.

Anti-Annulment

Bo Sanchez gave some tips to avoid the travails of marriage. He suggested that couples be consistent, converse, laugh and say sorry.

That would be bad news for mediators.

Kids Complicated

Kindergarten Cop's rerun had some timely reflection. Practising the Gettysburg Address, the kids mistook "forefathers" for four fathers! Perhaps, some of the
children may really have at least two fathers- one biological, one step, or trans?

Family Mediation is getting more interesting.

Hacking System

Nat Geo did not show ways to intrude into restricted territory. It just presented "alternatives". One example was getting an upgrade on a flight or even just into
the first class/business lounge at the airport. Tip was to be humble, admit why
you want so, and not feel entitled. A video clip proved that to ask a co- traveler
if he could bring someone into the lounge who had never been there and so was
curious how it looked, was successful.

Openness and non-entitlement are likewise elements of successful conflict resolution.

Neuroplasticity

Not a term for insincerity, but rather the brain's slow adaptation to the changing environment. Nat Geo conducted visual experiments such as staring on an object, which persists even if already out of the picture. Perspective can be adapted in mediation. Viewed after some time and space from the original situation, hurt and pain can now be discussed objectively toward a fruitful settlement of the dispute.

Cheerleading

Nat Geo featured an experiment on positive thinking. Individuals were asked to shoot basketballs sighted and then blindfolded. For the second phase, an audience clapped or not, regardless of the shooter's performance. Of course, those whose performance was reinforced by clapping, did better later on. This also works with the disputants' crafting of their own conflict resolution. While advices are a no-no, a little encouragement as well as pointing out good behavior such as control over temper surely help.