Although mediation is the traditional form of interpersonal conflict resolution in the Philippines, colonial rule has weakened its use. In the 1970's, governmental leaders became aware of new developments in American mediation and helped devise a mandatory system of mediation and conciliation called the Katarungang Pambarangay. The system is now claimed to exist in some 42,000 barangays (districts). The training process developed for Hawaii's program attracted the attention of the main administrator of the Philippines' program. Ultimately, he interested the Asia Foundation in supporting a conference on mediators. Delegates from 10 nations attended and exchanged information. The conference led to the authors' presenting a demonstration of American mediation training, with the Filipinos as participant-observers. The demonstration used extensive role-playing. The authors learned a great deal about the values and practices of Filipino mediators, who may offer to solve the problem for the disputants. They also learned about elements of the Philippine system that may be useful to the current American mediation movement, including the conciliatory tone established at the start of the mediation, the friendly way the mediations are conducted, and the community roots of the system. 13 references.