Filipinos Denigrated on ABC's Desperate Housewives

[a4Tech]

From: "Kevin Nadal"
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 16:46:25 -0400
Subject: [FYP-NYC] Filipinos Denigrated on ABC's Desperate Housewives

Dear Kababayan and Allies:

I heard through the grapevine about a remark made on an episode of
"Desperate Housewives" last night. The scene entailed Teri Hatcher's
character (Susan) at a hospital, being told by her gynecologist that
she might be hitting menopause. Susan replied, "Can I just check
those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines. " If you go to abc.com, you watch the
full episode and witness the scene at about 18:50 minutes into the
episode.

This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful,
but is also unfounded, considering the presence of Filipinos and
Filipino Americans in the health care industry. Filipinos are the
second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many
entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as doctors,
nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces
more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle
the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health
care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant.

As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this
type of hateful message is not allowed to continue on our television
and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that
has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans),
Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/
Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it
through various screenwriters, the show's producers, the show's
actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the first time that negative
remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the
past. In recent years, we've heard one too many "dogeater" comments by
"comedian" Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her standup act, and I
believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that
this type of hateful speech never happens again.

Please join me in expressing your concern, disappointment, and/or
disgust to the producers of ABC.com. You can sign the petition at
http://www.petition online.com/ FilABC/ or you can reach them directly
abc7*abc.com.

And please feel free to forward this widely to other Filipinos/
Filipino Americans/ Asian Americans/ and other allies.


Sincerely,

Kevin Nadal,
Filipino Performance Artist/ Activist
knadal*gmail. com

I guess this is an effect of the alleged cheating of the nursing board
exam last year....

[Stoner]

If that's the case, then I don't get it.

The cheating is just ONE case that damaged the reputation of Filipino nurses. Unless there have been countless other cases that marred medical professionals from the Philippines, the notion is unfounded.

Feeling ko that's what they wrote because there are a lot of graduates here going to the US to work as nurses, so naging sobrang common ang Filipino in their hospitals. The show's writers must be running out of ideas na. Trying hard to be witty with the lines... but failing to do so...

[oldblue]

may new season na pala.

[suv]

Wag na kasi kayo manuod nyan.

Bakit nyo kasi pinapanuod yung mga Matrona na malilibog. Kagaya din na *** and City yan. Isang panuod ko pa lang hindi na ako ulit nanuod

Mag House MD na lang kayo

[VtEC]

just ignore the scene.there's nothing we can do about it.as along as you know what you are doing and what you are doing is right, we will be fine.

[empy]

i will bet money that 99% of Americans have no clue about any alleged nursing board cheating in the Philippines.

there's always comments of this type going around. some are funny, some are not. i won't get worked up about a one-liner in a sitcom no matter what it says...if you watch enough US TV you'll see that lahat ng cultures/nationalities tinitira nila. it's just the way it is.

i'll let Kevin Nadal sit at home with his Tivo and try to play back every TV show where some joke was made at Filipinos' expense. i have better things to do.

[jeffrocks]

i will bet money that 99% of Americans have no clue about any alleged nursing board cheating in the Philippines.

there's always comments of this type going around. some are funny, some are not. i won't get worked up about a one-liner in a sitcom no matter what it says...if you watch enough US TV you'll see that lahat ng cultures/nationalities tinitira nila. it's just the way it is.

i'll let Kevin Nadal sit at home with his Tivo and try to play back every TV show where some joke was made at Filipinos' expense. i have better things to do.

Precisely, and 99% of them don't even know where the philippines is...

[cablespy]

hahaha. balat sibuyas naman kayo.

You hear deragotory remarks about different nations all the time in the movies and tv.

[juntzo]

yeah yeah... free advertisement lang ang mahihita ng show na yan kung papatulan pa. just ignore it and walang mangyayari. lalung lang silang matutuwa kapag lalung pinagusapan! my 2 cents

[gonzo]

One liner lang.. Wala yan compare sa movie na Borat