The ‘Desperate Housewives’ statement on Filipinos
Two (or three) days ago, after the season premier of the popular TV series Desperate Housewives, Filipinos from all over was rattled from a statement in the show. Susan Mayer Delfino (played by Teri Hatcher) made an offending remark to the medical society here in the Philippines.
Gynecologist: Susan, I know for a lot of women the word menopause has negative connotations. They hear aging, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire.
Susan: Before you go any further, can I check those diplomas? I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.
This statement caused an uproar on Filipinos all over the globe, and even in the U.S. The news spread quickly throughout the Internet. Many bloggers, specially Filipinos started posting this remark early in their blogs. A search on Google regarding this will lead you to 2,000+ related posts. Mostly that were affected by the statement are the Filipino community in the medical fields.
There is also an online petition to protest against this remarks, started by Kevin Nadal, a Filipino-American college lecturer who lives in New York.
“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… To belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant,” Nadal wrote in his e-mail message now being passed on by other Filipinos through mailing lists and blogs.
(inquirerbloggers.net/blogaddicts)
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he was writing the producers of the show to seek an apology and note the country’s “vehement protest.” Senior cabinet member Eduardo Ermita told reporters that an apology should be sought “on behalf of our Filipino professionals.”
Viewers called the network to complain but the number of callers was not available, an ABC spokesman said Wednesday. As of Wednesday evening, more than 30,000 names were attached to an online petition seeking a network apology.
”A statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field,” the petition read in part.
The TV episode even became an international incident, with reports on it topping Philippine news shows and drawing newspaper headlines as officials there registered their displeasure. Filipinos could judge the scene for themselves when it was posted on YouTube.
Apparently last Wednesday, ABC studios issued a statement and an apology regarding the said incident. “The producers of ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines. As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs.”
This has already became a big news here in the Philippines as reports states that even the Philippine presidential palace, Malacanang, said it would seek an apology from the TV network. A congressman filed a resolution that called for a ban on airing “Desperate Housewives” in the Philippines. “This ought not to be shown in the Philippines because of that incident,” Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., chairman of the House committee on public information told reporters.
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Mike
The reaction was a big OA. The truth hurts. It is better to look at ourselves and analyze if the comment has basis. Why dont we react if our DH or other OFWs are discriminated about?