Enforcing on Enforcers

It takes an objective observer like James Deakin of Service Road on CNN PH to point out that our traffic enforcers are themselves delaying the flow of vehicles (and endangering their lives) by standing in the middle of the road just to continuously wave to drivers to speed up. Meantime, the lane where they are standing is blocked and contributes to traffic!

And we are supposed to have common sense?

Family Feud

Mediated one yesterday. Two sisters and their mother squabbled over the behavior of one sister's American husband and their 5-year old son.

Cultural differences affect their manner of discipline, aside from basic individual and family background.

Commission errs

With the recent move for government offices to display portraits of national heroes, my "take":
1. Entails additional expense and kickback possibilities.
2. Similar to a cop asking the name of the lawyer (hero on the peso bill) of a violator.

First, we have to change the name of an office from tanggapan to plain opisina.
Then by all means hang the already martyred heroes.

Hazy Victims

Yet another bright future of a young man was snuffed by his supposed brothers. It brings to mind Joseph in the Old Testament, though this had a happier ending.

They say hazing is premised on getting even with the neophytes by subjecting them to what their seniors underwent. This violent cycle has to stop, perhaps by calling on the last butchered batch to become truer, bigger, and better men.

Rebels With a Cost

Seemingly heeding the Les Miserables marching song in Pilipino, our rebels in government are up in arms again, against each other at this time. Lacson vs. Faeldon vs. Trillanes.

Let's hear what they have to say, grateful that they are not carrying arms now.

Supreme Injustice

Not excusing the Chief Justice, but her P5M bullet-proof vehicle and villa in Boracay are a far cry from the real violations of the Constitution done by FM Sr. with a $10B loot to boot.

Piss off the President and get pissed on. We're back to the cave!

Horrorscope

In the 9-21 issue of Lourd de Veyra's Hayag newspaper is this advice: "Hindi hawak ng mga politiko ang ating kapalaran, gabay lamang sila. Mayroon tayong rights at freedoms, gamitin natin ito nang tama."



Same goes to disputants in relation to their mediator.

Cementing Fiendship

A favorite reality show case study, the Kardashians are more than glitz and glam. At times, there are guns. One particular episode has Bruce (still) getting a gun for their home. Of course, Kris got frantic and had to take a shooting lesson so that Bruce would tell her where it was hidden. After which, she promptly cemented it in a bin. Just then, Bruce came home with another one for her own use!

O Henry in reverse. Soon, the couple would be divorced for several reasons.

Mediating U-mali

Don't mess with the human rights of the Commission on Human Rights. In the end, public outrage and support led to the restoration of its budget originally slashed by Congress.

Chuck and Nancy

Misery sure loves company. Over at Mother America, the folksy DT refers to two of their political figures thus.

Looks more like Chuckin' Nancy Pelosi.

Conflict over Conflict

Protesters with itchy feet are in a quandary where to vent their ire on 9-21. The main event is the 2 pm Holy Mass to be officiated by Caloocan Bishop Pablo David at San Agustin Church, then they march to Luneta for the 4pm rally culminating in the 8pm ringing of everyone's bell.

There will be another Mass at the UP Chapel and could a march to Bantayog not be far behind? At nearby ELJ Building's Zendo, meditation shall start at 5pm. That's just what is known and only in Metro Manila.

Let the opposition begin. Hopefully our beleaguered president meets it halfway and not with a nationwide Martial Law declaration he is also itching for.

Beating the Red Light

Congressmen are truly living up to their being legislators of the Lower House.  After taking the side of convicted drug lords who then exacted special treatment, they now want the latter for themselves, too. And over traffic violations!

Constituents better beat the light out of these representatives.

Mediating Martial Law

As we remember another catastrophe, 9-21, rallyists are forewarned to behave or less suffer a repeat of what they are precisely protesting about.

"No way, "(as Polong Duterte would say) to treat an opposing party. What has become of his father's first presidential invitation for activists to sit with him in the Palace?

The War at Home

Finally got the title of this old movie starring real father and son Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez in a stormy relationship. Son goes to Vietnam and sees his dad in the faces of people he killed.
Returning home to his unforgiving father, son leaves again.

Wherever the conflict is, meeting the other party in a com-promise ends it.

Mediating Cults

Usually shy away from Crime Investigation, but was hooked by the mention of Black Jesus.  It turned out to be a cult in Papua New Guinea.  Actually, it was a front of a pedophile preying on young girls. He was caught and imprisoned from where he managed to escape and get back to his evil intent.  This time, fathers and uncles of his victims sent him to the next life in 2013.  But last year, the cult seems to have been resurrected by another such man...

Seems like another back-to-court case.  

Mediating Faults

"How I Met Your Mother" episode dealt with the faults of these New York yuppies.  One girl friend was decidedly too talkative.  They suggested she get a parrot.

Instead, she introduced them to her deaf boyfriend!  Like disputants, she knew her way out of conflict. 

Catch Me If You Can

Again saw a young Leonardo di Caprio as Frank Abagnale Jr., con man like his father who made him wear a rented suit and act as his chauffeur while trying to get a loan for his business. Didn't bag/ nail it, but Junior went to greater heights of heists to get back their lost glory.

It took the insightful FBI character played by Tom Hanks to turn Junior's counterfeiting talent to good use working with the law instead.  Mediating maximum misdemeanors.     

Fall Don

Faeldon seems to be so in the Bureau of Customs.  He was caught with the empty bag, so to speak.

Going on a dental emergency was his choice of escape.  Then a vow of omerta.  He has just spoken louder about the Davao Mafia.  

Proverbial Words

"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent." Proverbs 10:19

(Internet server provided such restraint by being off for about a week.)  In mediation,this is practiced by not dwelling on the past ill will, but focusing on future amends.  Hence, a strict ban on shouting, cussing and the like.  Then, a clear, definite, and thorough Compromise Agreement can be crafted.    

History

In the run-up to PH's own 9-11 catastrophe in Ilocos Norte, Hitler has been featured coincidentally as sourcing his swastika sign from a Benedictine abbey. Mao got rid of journalists who were hounded and killed in Hongkong and USA. Putin now is said to prefer the poison dioxin as his coup de grace.

Movement against tyranny is making sure PH doesn't suffer the same fate again.

Gross

Tinder is said to be the highest grossing app in cyberworld. Relationship is then the top need of netizens.

Hopefully, a Kinder app would beat that, without the grousing.

Mediating Hunger

In her G Diaries show, Gina Lopez offers a simple solution. Protect endangered birds from being shot and eaten or sold, by providing another means of livelihood for the hungry.

That's win-win for both parties.

Sharing

CNN's  Business Traveller observes that people now share clothes and cars. Air BNB started with 3 air mattresses in San Francisco. And "Eat with" has a chef inviting transients to her home for a healthy meal.
Oculus shows British Columbia on air to incoming arrivals.

As disputants share their skills in negotiation toward their Compromise Agreement.

Unreal Estate

TLC features these over-the-top mansions Down Under. In one, the caretaker takes an hour and a half to switch on/off all the light fixtures!

Over here, this term refers to informal settling. 

Mexican aMor

Despite the wall being built between the US and them, the Mexicans came to the aid of Americans in distress.

That is like the biblical pouring of burning coal on the head of the enemy.

Look What You Made Me Do

Dubious do. Sounds like a sandbox squabble when Taylor Swift says that. Or when DU30 blames citizens for his declaration of Marcosian Law.

Mediation empowers disputants to be responsible for their own Compromise Agreement.

Mediating Murder

HISTORY traced presidential assassinations in the US. It had to take the killing of Lincoln, Harding and McKinley before the Secret Service was formed.

This service must be more jittery nowadays.

Prevention

"Free your heart from hate. Free your mind from worry. Live simply. Give more. Expect less."

Good advice always.

Chasing Chopin

Hugh Grant's out-of-usual-character role is refreshing as the frail composer who was thus turned down by his beloved's family for being a bad risk. Big mistake! To his rescue is Madam George Sand, a feisty writer in deed, aside from the lusting wife of Franz Liszt!!!

Mediating music.

Homework

Not only children but their parents now have it too and are being paid for it. Work from home is really much like homeschool.

And ironically, they found out that working out of the office made them stay on their job longer. They felt more empowered, aside from other benefits as more family time and less gas/ time spent on the road.

Working mediation.