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BY SONIA D. DAQUILA
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Peacemakers
MEDIATION was a beautiful, simple approach introduced by the former Chief Justice Hilario Davide. It was a project under the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Philippine Mediation Center, Justice Reforms Initiative Support (JURIS) and National Judicial Institute of Canada in 2003-2004. Trainings took long sessions held in different venues, and trainees were professionals such as educators, school administrators, retired judges, stenographers, court personnel, lawyers, and community workers.
My first mediation case was in the Hall of Justice in Bacolod City. As my baptism of fire, my first case was surprisingly a case of concubinage which was not appropriate for mediation. It was a shocking experience for me when the estranged wife immediately slapped the husband when they were seated before me. It was my first experience of a failed mediation.
The second experience was the case of my former student who was accused of homicide through reckless imprudence. It was nearly settled but when their lawyer appeared, the aggrieved parties changed their minds and decided to file a suit and the accused nearly stabbed his cousin.
In many instances, I succeeded in mediating conflicting parties: from mauling incidents, to bouncing checks or estafa, and when we were fielded outside Bacolod City, there were cases of land-grabbing, controversies on inheritance, and many more.
What was gratifying then was the success of striking a compromise between and among parties. In many instances I joined the involved parties, feeling so grateful and fulfilled when reconciliations through forgiveness were achieved, and ended in tearful, peaceful resolution of a conflict through a “win-win approach.”
Wherever I may go, I always carry with me the principles behind our training in mediation. The valuable lesson I realized is this: pride blocks the quest for peace. Lawyers are needed for interpretation of the fine ramification of law and they were sworn to help their clients but somehow William Shakespeare was right when he said, “To achieve peace, first of all, we have to kill all the lawyers.”
Mediation has been here, from our old folks to the millennial generation. It works in our homes, in our barangays, in the school, in our community. Start it now before filing that complaint and involvement in costly litigation. All you need is a listening ear, a forgiving heart and a feeling how it is it to be in another’s shoes.
Peacemakers are children of God. Start it now. This is still a lovely world. PEACE! (delsocorrodaquila@gmail.com/PN)
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