Conflict is an inevitable part of life. It could happen anytime and anywhere.

It may happen
with your neighbor and even in the workplace. But these conflicts may be avoided, talked out,
negotiated, arbitrated, adjudicated, and resolved through a lighter and friendly approach such as
Mediation.
Section 3(g), Chapter 1, RA No. 9285 defines mediation as a voluntary process in which a
mediator, selected by the disputing parties, facilitates communication and negotiation, and assists
the parties in reaching a voluntary agreement regarding a dispute.
Mediation is one of the alternative dispute resolution processes that pave the way in terms of
resolving disputes by appointing a neutral third party mediator to facilitate communication
between the parties, with a view to agreeing a settlement. It is efficient in such a way that it is
more speedily done and the parties do not necessarily have to hire a lawyer for it.
The video clips entitled, “Mediation: The Process” and “Mediation: A Neighbor to
Neighbor Conflict Role Play - The Mediation Process”, showed a perfect example in which
mediation is applied. In here, we can see that mediation process has effectively resolved conflicts
between neighbors without seeking relief from the court. These showed that conflicts may be
resolved through good communication by laying down the facts and issues, with settlement as
the common goal. These also showed that real purpose of mediation which is to improve and
mend broken relationship between and among disputed parties who will have to deal with each
other again, or even to help them learn how best to handle conflict with other parties in the
future. These clips showed that through helping each side understand the other person’s issues
and through helping the parties identify the key interest, mediation often leaves to transformative
outcomes.
It is not only the purposes and advantages of mediation that were shown in both video
clips. These also showed the Mediation Process. In here, we can observe that mediation is more
time saving and more cost saving than litigation.
As can be gleaned from the clips, there is a third party intervenor commonly referred to
as the Mediator. The Mediator acts as the manager in the process. He facilitates the parties by
asking questions to help them develop other attitudes and ways of thinking about what they are
dealing with so that they can find a good outcome for themselves. The mediator is not a passive
facilitator but a person stirring people to get them to focus on what they need to do to move
forward. Rather than rush the parties to find a solution or ‘thoughtless outcome’ the mediator
helps them to bring everything to the process, put it all out and then begin to look at what can be
done to enable a ‘wise outcome’.
As a conclusion, Mediation, although an informal proceeding, has become one of the
best, widely-used and effective remedies in resolving conflicts without undergoing in a costly
and time-consuming process of litigation which I believe would cause additional causes of
conflicts. Restoring a good relationship with others, which is the main purpose of mediation,
should be given more importance rather than creating more feuds among parties.