“Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Because I would just like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines.” -So uttered by the character of Teri Hatcher in Desperate Housewives.
According to inquirer.net, “Filipinos, especially healthcare professionals in the US and the Philippines, were outraged by the remark. E-mails expressing outrage circulated among Filipinos all over the world. Blogs and websites denounced the remark.”
Let me just say the reaction is a bit over the top. Yes, it was insulting to the Filipino doctors and the Filipinos, in general. But it’s a comedy. Bato bato sa langit, tamaan ay ‘wag magalit? Didn’t we have that Filipino belief? Oh yes, I know, it (its genre) is not an excuse to forget ABC’s responsibility as a medium of entertainment to be sensitive, respectful and all that. But I really can’t blame the scriptwriter (pls stop blaming Teri Hatcher!) Why, we recently just had a cheating scandal in the Nursing Board Exam! For all we know, that was the “inspiration” of the writer. Lest we forget, African-Americans, Hispanics, Chinese and other Asians had been the butt of jokes, too, in American sitcoms.
And isn’t it more insulting to us that Filipino professionals are there abroad serving other nation while we are desperately, miserably lacking in health care?
Let me just say as well that Teri’s character in Desperate Housewives is, um, desperate, stupid and careless so it’s not that mindbloggling that she uttered such prejudicial statement.
I do believe though, that our doctors and nurses are one of the bests in the world. Hell, there won’t be a high demand for them if they’re not and I don’t think they’ll give them attention (good or bad publicity) if they’re not. We should have just taken it lightly. The funny thing is one congressman filed a resolution calling for a ban on airing Desperate Housewives in the Philippines. Oh boy! It’s not unlike the Catholic Church banning The Da Vinci Code.
The irony here is that we express such outrage for this issue which compared to GMA is nothing but a mole (smaller than her mole). Now, we have a more pressing issue which is the ZTE-NBN scandal. It constitues bribery, corruption among other evils of the world. Where is our indignant outcry? Why didn’t I get an email expressing outrage for that scandal? Why didn’t I read blogs denouncing such iniquity? Why didnt’ I read congress filing a case to jail GMA, Abalos, et al?
Desperate Housewives VS the Philippines?
No, Filipinos VS the Philippines.
Filed under: Entertainment, Opinion, Pinoy | Tagged: abalos, abc, benjamin abalos, catholic, church, comedy, da vinci code, desperate housewives, doctors, gloria arroyo, inquirer, medicine, Opinion, philippine politics, philippines, Pinoy, Politics, television, teri hatcher
Yeah, I heard about that remark and the reaction did seem a bit too much to me. I do understand why the feeling of insult.
I found an interesting perspective on the subject from another Filipino blog here:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-was-going-to-conclude-ten-letters.html
Some food for thought to digest, certainly.
The writer is MARC H CHERRY, 45 yrs old. The Filipino basher is a self-proclaimed CONSERVATIVE GAY REPUBLICAN who lives since June 1, 2005 at 4352 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Studio City CA 91604. Please be kind to him.
http://www.tv.com/desperate-housewives/now-you-know/episode/1074352/summary.html
http://www.google.com/lochp?hl=en&tab=wl&q=4352%20COLDWATER%20CANYON%20AVE+STUDIO%20CITY+CA+91604
Yes, I think I have to agree with what this guy says on his blog:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007/10/final-word-in-desperation.html
———————————————
I will end my commentary on the whole issue by simply asking why we think it is perfectly alright for us to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QusLouQhEfo
and this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDQJGIFzV1Q&mode=related&search=
and even for one of our most respected politicans to say this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBEuhLlNYTY
but when anyone dares to poke fun at a segment of our population like
this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYB4H0Po0A0
everyone immediately cries racism and discrimination?
To hammed and all who share similar feelings as him/her
The kind of reaction to the offensive Desperate Housewives remark is proportional, not ‘a bit over the top.’ You said it yourself that the remarks were ‘insulting to the Filipino doctors and to the Filipinos in general.’ Reference to the whole nation makes the insult a racist one.
What makes it worse is that the insult was MADE IN PUBLIC, through one of the biggest media network in the world. That’s why you should be glad and not upset of the extent and intensity of the adverse reaction against the show. Personally, I wish the adverse reaction were more widespread. Anyway, a widely disseminated insult should be also challenged widely. A mild response would only encourage more insults in the future.
Racism is still strong in America especially now that the most racist, and there are many here in case you don’t know, raise the spectre of illegal immigration (which is a cover for vilifying immigration from poor countries).
If is a fact of course there have been anomalies in nursing and even medical board exams in the Philippines, but the rigorous screening process for foreigners who intend to practice here make such developments in the Philippines irrelevant here in the US. The real credential required here is passing medical board exam of the state, like say, New York, where a Filipino doctor may want to practice.
The setting of Desperate Housewives is the US, not the Philippines. The context of medical practice in Desperate Housewives is a hospital in the US, not the Philippines. Therefore, any doctor in the US, foreign or not, should have passed the state board first. Given this context, it would be stupid and plain silly for a patient in the US, as in that scene in Desperate Housewives, to demand to see the country of origin of a doctor’s credentials. It is this context, not the genre, that determines whether the remarks were insulting or racist. That was foolish of you to even suggest, that just because the show was a comedy the offensive remarks were somewhat alleviated. Actually, the insult is greatest when you are made a laughing stock.
The persistent racism in the US and the growing resentment to the increase of immigrants, including those in the medical profession, can motivate anyone, possibly including the scriptwriter of Desperate Housewives to deliver racist lines. If such lines were not intended then that scriptwriter should have studied the process of how one gets a license to practice medicine in the US. Obviously, the scriptwriter didn’t and that’s totally irresponsible. On the other hand, if the scriptwriter were aware of the process, then it only means he or she is racist.
But whether the intention behind those offensive remarks in Desperate Housewives were intentional or not, they were nevertheless racist and should be condemned as such. Filipinos who still have an ounce of self-respect left are justifiably outraged.
Thank you for airing your grievances. But first, Hammed is “him” not “her”, lest you’re too emotional or chauvinistic to notice the blog’s banner or the fact that there is no woman named Hammed.
Anyhow, let’s get straight to the point. Just because the remark is insulting does not mean that the reaction generated by that remark could not be “over the top”. It does not follow. It is not “proportional”. Just because I said it was insulting does not mean I was insulted. And it does not mean I am less patriotic than you are. If you believe so, then you yourself are discriminating.
I never said I was upset by our exaggerated reaction. I just wished we could offer, express the same passion, the same outrage to a more pressing, more serious issues happening locally. And why should I be glad by our indignant, furious response to such pathetic and bigot remark when we ourselves are indifferent with the iniquity happening in our very own eyes in this country. I mentioned this and it is worth mentioning again:
The irony here is that we express such outrage for this issue which compared to GMA is nothing but a mole (smaller than her mole). Now, we have a more pressing issue which is the ZTE-NBN scandal. It constitues bribery, corruption among other evils of the world. Where is our indignant outcry? Why didn’t I get an email expressing outrage for that scandal? Why didn’t I read blogs denouncing such iniquity? Why didnt’ I read congress filing a case to jail GMA, Abalos, et al?
“A mild response would only encourage more insults in the future. “
No, you do not have to express outrage to minimize the insults. Proving them wrong would be the mature and best solution. Surely you can’t deny that despite having excellent doctors and nurses, our education system is going downhill, which will mean less brilliant doctors and nurses. And if you can only accept and face reality, yes, some medical insitutions in the Philippines are way below quality standards for several reasons, chief of them, the lack of funds for education. Now instead of wailing like a child, we as Filipions should work on how to improve our educational system so we could raise our heads with dignity and say “well, it does not bother me at all, why we’re one of the world’s best.”
“Racism is still strong in America especially now that the most racist, and there are many here in case you don’t know, raise the spectre of illegal immigration (which is a cover for vilifying immigration from poor countries). “
Frankly, I don’t give a d*mn. I do not care about discrimination in America. I only care about discrimination here in our own backyard.
“Given this context, it would be stupid and plain silly for a patient in the US, as in that scene in Desperate Housewives, to demand to see the country of origin of a doctor’s credentials. It is this context, not the genre, that determines whether the remarks were insulting or racist. That was foolish of you to even suggest, that just because the show was a comedy the offensive remarks were somewhat alleviated. Actually, the insult is greatest when you are made a laughing stock.”
I think it is stupid and silly that some people do not realize that Teri’s character in the show is stupid, silly and well, immature. She’s not as smart as you not to be bothered by any doctor’s diploma or credibility. I did suggest that the genre i.e. comedy can sometimes went over board and commit prejudice in any shape or form. But I never said that being so “offensive remarks were somewhat alleviated.” I think it is foolish of you to suggest that. All I am saying is, sometimes, in a comedy show, it does happen. The insult is greatest not when you are made a laughing stock but when your pride is wounded.
“The persistent racism in the US and the growing resentment to the increase of immigrants, including those in the medical profession, can motivate anyone, possibly including the scriptwriter of Desperate Housewives to deliver racist lines. If such lines were not intended then that scriptwriter should have studied the process of how one gets a license to practice medicine in the US. Obviously, the scriptwriter didn’t and that’s totally irresponsible. On the other hand, if the scriptwriter were aware of the process, then it only means he or she is racist.”
I think you are being too ideal and unrealistic, if not over-analytical or judgmental. Now, you want the scriptwriter to study the process of how one gets a license to practice medicine in the US? And if he was already aware of it, then he is a racist? Aren’t you being prejudicial yourself?
I did agree that such remark should be condemned. But we already did that to such an epic proportion that one congressman suggest to pass a bill that will ban the said show. Why can’t we condemn what’s going on here? Surely, the GMA government is more evil, more discriminating. Why, because our ego was hurt? Is it really a sense of nationalism that generated such reaction? Or was it pride? Because if we really have a sense of nationalism, then our professionals should have stayed here instead of going abroad servicing other nation, crying like a child if their pride is wounded. If we really have a sense of nationalism, then we would have rallied, condemned and impeached GMA, Abalos, JDV, Garci et al.
Frankly, the remark is quite funny even if it quite hurts because there’s quite a truth in it. I guess truth is more insulting than a slur, eh. And yes, funnier than a slur.
As a final say, let me quote De Quiros
Masyado kayong apektado! ang mga pinoy sobrang GUILTY! para kayong NANA. sinabi ng actress ang linyang “in — SOME — med school in the Philippines”. Does anyone get the point? “SOME MED SCHOOL” HELLO!!????? “board exam leakage controversy” hello!!??? RECTO hello!!???…. hwag nyong sitahin ang scriptwriter, baka i-sampal sa mukha natin ang bulok na sistema at katotohanan. Pupunta kayo ng Amerika tapos rereklamo kayo. “SANA DUMATING ANG PANAHON ang lahat ng experto nandirito na lang sa Pilipinas…”
hear,hear..
but still dont give ‘em a reason to make future “comical stints”..
it’s just not proper for abc to air such things..
and yes.. the reaction was SOOOO over the top..
tama..tama.. bato bato sa langit.. tamaan wag magalit..
it was as if we really didnt have a glitch in our system..
it all boils down to what we show to other people..
alam nilang may leakage..
and how easy it is to forge a diploma in recto.. and *pooof..
it became a comical stint..