Church vs. State

There is "schism" in the Philippine Catholic Church regarding what to do with a problem like P-Noy.  Some pro-GMAers want his outright resignation, and being taken over by a Council headed by B-Nay! Others are content with an apology or an honest-to-goodness explanation. Cardinal Tagle called for working together to strengthen government institutions.

When too many cooks want to run the kitchen, there is going to be something or someone burnt. Mediation serve as firefighters of relationships.

Solomonic Mediation

On BEAM channel last night was a timely feature on King Solomon. It narrated, among other less known events, his being confronted by two mothers claiming an infant. Solomon decided to half the baby into two, forcing the real mother to come forward to save it by offering her child to the other mother, instead. Case solved.

These breakthroughs in mediation are truly inspired and worked for by mediators together with the disputants.

Listen in Silence

Today's Holy Mass homily had a thought- provoking message. Listen spells silent in jumbled letters.

How true! For aside from prayer, mediation requires the same, and not only to prepare one's reply to what is being said. One should not only hear with the ear, but with the heart, as well.

"Am arty" Blues

When one news commentator asked if the MRT was an accident waiting to happen, we are sure she was not referring to the catfight that ensued recently in the first section of the train reserved for women, the elderly and the disabled. Three Catwomen exposed their claws and aimed for the other's crowning glory in rowdy celebration of Woemen's Month.

Truly, propinquity breeds contempt, whether in public utility vehicles or close relationships. Mediation to the rescue- of untangling hair or other knotted situations.

Media Stars

All the young stars sprouting like beans are fair game for nosy entertainment reporters. One of them asked pointblank a controversial teen star regarding an emerging competitor. As expected, the reply was "Good for her," or the like.

Ego plays a big role on the mediation table, too. Instead of fanning the fire, though, the mediator extinguishes it. Then, the real issue rises out of the ashes.

Moro con Moro

The new head of the Special Action Force which lost 44 of its men to the MILF/BIFF/ Muslim private armies is a Moro. He is Moro Virgilio Lazo. May he bind the opposing forces in a lasting peace. After all, he is one of them in name.

At times, in mediation, too significance is not lost to disputants. Mediators bring this out, especially the former close ties of conflicting parties.

Tragedy, A Part of Life

During the tv coverage of a fire yesterday, this philosophical remark of a woman victim stood out among the usual pleas for help.

This point of view lessens the burden during mediation, too, while not preventing us from seeking a way out of it that is fair to all concerned.

Family Feud

Peping and Tingting are up in arms, not embracing but repelling their nephew Noynoy.

Their motives have been suspect. As in mediation, when families fight, one wonders what went wrong down their tree.

MRT Works Woes

The saga of the elevated trains has been elevating blood pressure, too. Passengers naturally demand additional service in exchange for the additional fare.  At last, a glimmer of hope in the weekend repairs to be done! Of course, service will then be shortened on those days, but better to avert more accidents waiting to happen.

Mediation likewise looks for doable compromises to settle disputes, considering the needs, interests and capacities of both sides.

Admission of Fact

Nothing disarms like candor. Kris Aquino's siblings, she claims, admits that she is "maarte" and that is why she is in show business.

In mediation, too, admission of fact hastens the process toward settlement.