Rhona Canoy SO... many times, I have been criticized for being too frank--no filter. This is my initial offering on Gold Star Daily’s altar of public opinion. The first order of business should be to establish the playing field. If you are an avid OpEd column reader, this is not going to be one of those “wiser than you” column. This will be more of an “I challenge or question your paradigm.” So... who is Rhona Canoy? Rather than tell you about myself, I suggest you ask around. I’m almost sure you will get a variety of responses, most of them coming from a somewhat confused opiner. This is all you need to know. Having grown up in a “Perspective” household governed by a unique alternative parenting style, the push to challenge the norm was my norm. I am driven by the deceivingly simple question which has haunted, or rather driven, me all my life: Is this all there is? So... anything and everything which will erupt from my brain may find its way onto Herbie Gomez’s editorial desk. And it shall be a challenge or a dare because we have all become complacent as Cagayanos, as Filipinos even. Yes, we criticize, gossip, express our selfightousness at the drop of a centavo. In the wrong arenas. Not where it counts. Not where it will elicit a visible result. So... let’s start a conversation. One where nothing is sacred. And your mind is willing to say, “Hmmm...” And our first conversation shall be about rules. The first week of school (school administrator: check!) we go through an orientation with our students on the rules in our handbook. This includes infractions, possible consequences, and most importantly the rationale behind the rules. This is so that responsibility and accountability for their behavior are demanded right from the start. And I (stupidly) tell them this is part of preparing them for the real world. What real world? The Filipino paradigm regarding rules is this: Yes, there are rules/laws but it’s okay to break them if nobody is looking. Better yet, as long as you don’t get caught. Breaking the rules is not an issue unless you are holding the short end of the stick at the end of the day. And yet the laws are the cornerstone of an orderly society. Being law-abiding shouldn’t be an option. In spite or because of his pronouncements, we are divided about Duterte. Crass talk aside, I think people are scared of him because he is going to make everybody follow the rules. So what is it that makes us recalcitrant about this? Tungod ba kay mas lisud na dayon ang palusot? This is what I like to call the “sieve mentality.” Where there’s a loophole, there’s a way. Let me wind up with this conversation: Foreign Friend (FF): You know, it’s very confusing living in the Philippines. You can talk your way out of a traffic violation, especially if you’re a foreigner. Can Filipinos do that as well? Me: Depends on the language you’re using. FF: What language? Me: Currency works better than sweet talking. FF: So what use are the laws around here then? Me: Have you notice that all laws are titled by the letters R.A. followed by a number? FF: So? They stand for Republic Act. Me: No, they don’t. They stand for Recommended Action. So... here’s the challenge: Do we have it in us to be responsible, accountable, law-abiding citizens? Game on! (Rhona Canoy describes herself as a wanderer, questioner, school principal, slightly unbalanced unbalanced old broad. Her column appears here every Saturday.)