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.