Credit

Some people do not want to pay it but most of them want to grab it even if not meant for them. When priests ask the faithful to clap for the Lord, do they refer to His representative?

Mediators give credit to the disputants for crafting their Compromise Agreement.

If the Issues Fit

Cinema World featured a German film yesterday. Specifically, about sneakers in the time of war. They were not spies. Dassler Bros. Rudi and Adi made sports shoes and even for "negro" Owens of the U.S. To make up for this violation, they made war materials for the Nazis. When the Americans won, Dassler reminded them of Owens. Still the brothers split the business between them (other than Adi's wife implicated with Rudy!), except that Rudi used to handle marketing, while Adi did production. Long story short, Adi's Adidas made the Germans win over Hungary for the first time. Longer cleats on their sneakers saved them that rainy day. Rudi's Puma was defeated, also by not giving in to the coach's demand for DM 1000/ month.

This is like a case study in mediation. In the end, Rudi left a note of congratulations to "the little guy."

Dropping the Bomb

The real thing, i.e. Cinema World featured a Danish tv reporter who exposed the coverup on a bomb dropped accidentally off Greenland's Thule Island by a US plane upon crashing.

Mediation likewise uncovers hidden agenda.

Pinoy Bird Cage

Not hawla, but "Pre-nup," an adaptation of the movie starring Robin Williams. A refreshing take is the list of contra demands from the poor girl's family.

Mediation ensures an even playing field especially between unequal disputants.

Disputants' Prayer

If there is an advice a mediator can give disputants, it is to pray, "I am down but not done."

That is the hope of mediation.

Crowd Control

Not to secure a personality, but to tell the faithful to say a phrase to seatmates, or the internet users to forward an alarming message to family and friends. The priest one can forgive for personalizing his homily, and internet for sincere concern but could it also be driven by desire to up usage?

Mediators cannot directly advise disputants but can direct them by questioning to arrive at a settlement both come up with. Then there are more chances of their compliance.

Bodas de Sangre

Yesterday, watched Bienvenido Lumbera's Filipino translation of this Federico Garcia Lorca work. Plot revolved around a love triangle turning bloody.

Disputants settle amicably in mediation.

Breed drug goons

Perhaps putting drug pushers together in jail is not a good idea. Those who were caught recently claimed they formed a partnership while incarcerated.

Mediation puts the good eggs in a basket.

Hate Red

Or anything else? Fran Lebowitz asks, "What is that about? It's a fear of your own weakness."

These issues are tackled in mediation.

Tough Talk

From DU30 down, cursing is the name of the game. Just the other day, the manager of the airport called the cab drivers "buisit."

Mediation could do well without name-calling.