Invite

That is the millennial's shorter term for a request for one's voluntary presence and participation. Much like our Lord's call to
us, Our Daily Bread reflects.

So to the disputants, except in court-annexed mediation wherein it forms a preliminary process before pretrial can commence.

Breaking the Magician's Code

Magic tricks unmasked step-by-step!

Nonesuch in mediation. Pure realistic work of disputants.

Same Kind of Different as Me

HBO feautured a white couple who gave a black man a second chance at life, just like "God's recycling business of turning trash to treasure."

Much like mediation.

Seeing Yellow

There is a recent order that states that in DU30 visits in government institutions at least, no one should be wearing yellow.

Someone ought to mediate fanatism.

Journal of Political Risk

They advised PH to flood all possible platforms and institutions with cases against China. Forum- shopping, in legalese.

Disputants will just have to go to mediation.

The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann

This riveting Netflix feature followed the loss of this British child in 2007 while on vacation in Portugal. A decade later, a digitalized photo of how she would look then was released to her parents in a heart- wrenching moment. Her updated photo was more useful in the continuing search for Madeleine.

Mediation also looks for creative ways to resolve conflict.

As Good As It Gets

Seen again in Netflix, it could actually be titled As Good As He Gets- how an OC grouchy old writer gets to take care of his regular waitress at the diner, and his gay artist neighbor.

Mediation likewise gives disputants the opportunity to be their better, not bitter selves.

A Toast

"Grace and Frank" on Netflix is a Sunday treat. At Frankie's son's wedding, his AA brother proposed a toast on the literal one.

That's like a creative Compromise Agreement.

Peace and Quiet

Our Daily Bread featured an infant's fussing when in the arms of her mother's friend.

Like disputants choosing the mediator they are comfortable with.

Hilmarc

Your word. The company implicated during the Senate hearing on the anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall is now building the new Senate Building. Such twist of fate!

No such surprises in mediation.

Spent Rifle

It can still be put to use, as shown by the New Zealand hero who used it to smash the getaway car window of its terrorist owner. They were caught soon after precisely because of that damaged window.

This is like the lessons learned from conflicts in mediation.

Apple

It used to just keep the doctor away. Now, its watch can detect irregular heartbeat.

Mediation is likewise a sign of progress in the judicial system.

Happy Days

The Fonz, Henry Winkler didn't have them in school.  He had dyxslexia. At home, his short German parents did not want him to be an actor, but instead sell wood. "The only wood I was interested in was Hollywood," he recalled. Along the way, he earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama despite "not reading off a page to this day."

Happy self-mediation!

Mediator Rizal

"Toolfo" calling Filipinos indolent compared to the Chinese alertness in taking local jobs, seems to have read just the title of Rizal's work. In his Looking Back column, Ambeth Ocampo traces this trait to our Spanish history and even the climate. We were not born this way, too, as ironically, Chinese historians cited our industry and honesty.

No quick fixes and hasty generalizations in mediation.

Spilling Through My Fingers

Yesterday's Our Daily Bread spoke of the futility of recovering spilled water.

Mediation is a better option.

She's Baaack

To her old tricks, the Speaker of the House is again involved in funds-padding the National Budget.

Bad shot moves of disputants after the Compromise Agreement are safeguarded.

Right

Going over files of nurses in the hospital where we do volunteer HR administration, chanced upon a checklist evaluation for nurses, among them: Right drug, right dose, right person, right frequency... Right on!

The Compromise Agreement is also along the same pattern.

Mayday

Always liked this show before that detailed the history of expressions. This particular one was traced in Our Daily Bread. It was created by Frederick Stanley Mockford in 1923 when he was senior radio officer in London's Croydon Airport. Then it had many flights to and from Le Bourget Airport in Paris. The SOS call came from the French "m'aidez" meaning "help me."

Mediation in a way is an SOS out of court. It also clears all barriers in communication.

American Idol

Usually follow The Voice and its host Adam Levine but a lucky surf to AI gave a front row view of a truly blind audition! Singing Rise Up, she drove Lionel Richie to tears. Hope she felt that.

Mediation is blind-sided in that it takes no side.

Last Man Standing

Caught another episode of this comedy show with Tim Allen. In his commentary at the end, he mused how the term "nuclear family" is so apt, with megatons erupting at times, especially with a mother lode around. She can push buttons she has sewn herself!

Credentials

Candidate Imee's cv says she graduated here, there, everywhere, complete with rites at the state- confiscated Meralco Theater of the Lopezes originally.

UP and Princeton are to be believed against the Princess ton of claims.

Honesty

Credentials of senatorial candidates have been a hot topic this midterm election. Those whose hands were caught in the cookie jar scoff at this criterion as irrelevant. Incredible!

Mediation sticks by the best policy.

Fantastic Tales

You hear them at the start of mediation, each disputant blaming the other. Like Aaron in Exodus when he told Moses, "Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf" !

Attitude

GMA News Tv's morning show has this parting shot- "tawanan ang problema, wag tambayan."

Mediation is not exactly to laugh about but to get over conflict.

Buddha

He said: "If you like a flower, you pluck it. If you love a flower, you water it."

A lot of likers in mediation.

Sirach

Not so crazy are his words: "Keeping the law is worth many offerings. Being faithful to the commandments is like a peace offering."

Otherwise, mediation will make disputants do so.

Dirt

You flick, was someone's graphically blunt remark on people bug-ging us.

We say it nicely in mediation.

Finishing the Other's Sentence

Our Daily Bread speaks of loving couples thus, comfortable as "the old shoe."

In mediation, it's usually preparing to rebut the other's sentence.

Blind leading the blind

That was the warning in this Sunday Mass reading.

Same goes to mediators, who have to shed light during the session.

Empathy

Our Daily Bread mentions Charles Schultz' eulogy by fellow cartoonist Cathy Guisewite as "the cartoonist...who encouraged us, commiserated with us, and made us feel he was exactly like us."

Unlike the cold atmosphere of a courtroom, a mediation table is approachable and accessible. Not peanuts.

Audit-orium

The first meeting of the newly appointed leaders of Bangsa Moro Autonomous Region was held in a cavernous hall. They occupied the first two rows. Not very conducive nor ergonomic to face-to-face interaction.

Mediation requires sincere dialogue between disputants.