‘Relasyon’s’ dynamic mix inspires, informs and entertains

VALDES. Authoritative but accessible.

IS the agreement between a pregnant mother and the woman who wants to adopt her unborn child valid? How do you deal with nuisance neighbors? Is a man’s live-in partner entitled to his properties more than the wife he’s (legally) separated from?

Instructive answers to those questions are found on “Relasyon,” hosted by Luchi Cruz-Valdes and Atty. Mel Sta. Maria, who dispense practical tips to help listeners find their way out of legal scuffles.

The talk show runs for “merely” two hours (12 noon-2 p.m., Mondays to Fridays on 92.3 News FM), but its hosts manage to squeeze in a dynamic mix of segments that inspire, inform and entertain. More admirably, they begin and end the program with a prayer!

When we tuned in to their Father’s Day episode, we marveled at how easily the quick-witted lawyer made usually incomprehensible legalese sound simple and easy to understand—with remedies that were further clarified by Luchi’s succinct questioning.

Viable option

Also informative was the “Word of the Day” segment, wherein the hosts’ discussion about the featured word—“recognizance”—presented a viable option for accused persons who cannot afford to post bail. Valdes and Sta. Maria sound authoritative but accessible—and they get to the heart of the matter by moving from one issue to the next in quick succession.

Other issues discussed: Spurious land sale and acquisition of foreclosed properties; labor disputes and employers’ unfair practices; the differences between civil and criminal cases; collection of unpaid debts; diminution of monthly remuneration; execution of private documents, and even tampered electric meters!

To pay tribute to dads, the show presented a quick dramatization of a listener’s moving story—about a loving stepfather and his distant, rebellious stepson, who only realizes the error of his ways when the latter succumbs to cancer! (Unfortunately, the impact of this portion was diluted by voice actors who turned in less-than-empathetic portrayals.)

Amusing moment

We also like the hosts’ easy rapport. One amusing moment happened spontaneously when Valdes, who is the chief of TV5 News, cheekily put her cohost to task for calling her by another news anchor’s name. Sta. Maria apologized by exclaiming, “Naku, sisante na ako bukas!”

Valdes also won us over with her candor. After extolling the virtues of her 86-year-old father, she shared, “As a parent, I tend to be mapagpintas (faultfinder). In contrast, my dad always sees the good things in his children. As we were growing up, he made us feel like we were very talented—kahit hindi naman kami ganun ka-outstanding. Kapag naririnig mo ang mga magulang mo na ipinagmamalaki ka, you tend to live up to it!”