This came from my Ateneo High School batchmate Dr. Chino Perez:
I don't really watch this show. Here's another reason why you shouldn't too!
BOYCOTT THIS SHOW!
[In the episode entitled. "Now You Know", Susan's character was questioning the credibility of a gynecologist and said, "Ok before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Cause I would just like to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines."]
- just recently posted by another Filipino doctor who watched the show in the US
Many have been saying it was part of the humor. Here are my comments: 1. People can say that the French are rude or Ilocanos are kuripot and get away with it. But kuripot and rude are negative traits. The comment touched on credibility. That is totally different. DH maligned credibility. 2. So what if some Americans think lowly of Filipinos? It's not an excuse for the scriptwriter to include such a racist comment on a popular prime time television series in democratic America. 3. Although there may be some truth to it (no thanks to Recto), they should not have put it in the script. It was not necessary. 4. Besides, it's difficult for Recto fakes to pass through the detailed screening process for US medical professionals. Because if they do, then it's the US process which is faulty. In a way, the lines also malign the US screening process. Does that mean sobrang daming nakakalusot and there a lot of fake Filipino doctors in the US, enough for them to generalize? 5. We should not allow people to think lowly of us especially in this instance where Filipino medical professionals are among the best in the world! If we keep quiet and accept it, then it will continue.
From Yahoo! Answers: Did any Filipinos watch Desperate Housewives on 9/30/07???
I was watching it online today and they made a comment that was a bit disturbing to me. It was a scene when Terri Hatcher was being told by her GYN that she might be hitting menopause, and her reply was something like "Wait a minute, I need to check your credentials.. I have to make sure that you didn't get your degree from the Philippines."
This upsets me because there are a lot of medical professionals that have graduated from the Philippines. I don't think that a direct pun was necessary in this particular situation.
It was really irresponsible for the scriptwriters and for Teri Hatcher to have said that. I've written to GMA 7 and will write the producers of the show to complain.
personally, I'd rather not be upset by something like this. these same US TV writers also malign jews, arabs, hispanics, koreans, catholics, muslims, born again christians, middle managers, rednecks, republicans etc. equal opportunity potshots kumbaga. sure, it is an indication of ignorance and mild racism but not enough for me to get my feathers ruffled. we're bigger than that.
but then again, i am not a product of a Philippine medical school. i can imagine why some of our medical professionals are upset. we've got great med schools and great medical practitioners and they're the ones with the most rep to lose. however, can we categorically state that we don't have any diploma mills in the medical education industry?
in similar repostings of the Desperate Housewives snafu across the blogosphere, i've seen DH compared to Malu Fernandez. Personally, no comparison. in the Fernandez article, she harps constantly about OFWs, mercilessly and with absolute prejudice. Teri Hatcher's line doesn't compare. For non-PC me, it's akin to someone saying kuripot ang ilokano, or the french are rude.
i think reality naman talaga na people in the US think lowly of those from other countries, even in medical fields.
love your own ika nga.
sorry, masakit nga, pero ganun naman talaga tingin nila sa atin e
Hey Alric, you should read the comments in Chino's post. Magagaling ang Philippine med professionals abroad. So what if some Americans think lowly of Filipinos? It's not an excuse for the scriptwriter to include such a racist comment on a popular prime time television series in democratic America.
personally, I'd rather not be upset by something like this. these same US TV writers also malign jews, arabs, hispanics, koreans, catholics, muslims, born again christians, middle managers, rednecks, republicans etc. equal opportunity potshots kumbaga. sure, it is an indication of ignorance and mild racism but not enough for me to get my feathers ruffled. we're bigger than that.
but then again, i am not a product of a Philippine medical school. i can imagine why some of our medical professionals are upset. we've got great med schools and great medical practitioners and they're the ones with the most rep to lose. however, can we categorically state that we don't have any diploma mills in the medical education industry?
in similar repostings of the Desperate Housewives snafu across the blogosphere, i've seen DH compared to Malu Fernandez. Personally, no comparison. in the Fernandez article, she harps constantly about OFWs, mercilessly and with absolute prejudice. Teri Hatcher's line doesn't compare. For non-PC me, it's akin to someone saying kuripot ang ilokano, or the french are rude.
my two cents' worth.
Karlo, kuripot and rude are negative traits. The comment touched on credibility. That is totally different. DH maligned credibility.
Besides, it's difficult for Recto fakes to pass through the detailed screening process for US medical professionals. Kasi if they do, then it's the US process which is faulty. In a way, the lines also malign the US screening process. Does that mean sobrang daming nakakalusot and there a lot of fake Filipino doctors in the US, enough for them to generalize?
My point is, our Filipino doctors and nurses in the US are doing them a great service. Sadly, instead of serving us, they are serving them. The least they could do is take out these racist comments about their credibility from national TV.
wala naman akong sinabing hindi sila magaling. i just said, ganun ANG TINGIN ng mga taga-US sa doctors of a different race or trained differently
Yup, my point in saying na magaling sila is that we should not allow people to think lowly of us. If we keep quiet and accept it, then it will continue.
Yup, my point in saying na magaling sila is that we should not allow people to think lowly of us. If we keep quiet and accept it, then it will continue.
ah ok i get your point. i was commenting from the context of the show, which is a comedy and the character is painfully melodramatic, kaya kung anu-ano lumalabas sa bibig niya.
Actors have a choice to what comes out their mouth, you know, like everyone else! It is just unacceptable for an actress to be saying that even if it was written on the script. She is not some 3-year old who cannot understand the implications of her action.
And FYI, any foreign doctor cannot just easily practice in the US without having to go through 4 gruelling exams. (2 of those are clinical exams).
question to those who watch the show. Eva Longoria plays a Hispanic character, right? are there instances where Hispanics are portrayed in a negative light? baka naman chronic itong racial epithets sa show na ito.
This sucks! Such insensitivity! And it's not even funny since medical professionals from the Philippines are respected around the world. It's an insult not only to the Filipino healthcare practitioners but also to their patients who have freely chosen to work with them. The show is making it appear that these patients have chosen to work with a lesser kind/level of professionals. I feel another Malu Fernandez-type storm brewing ....
I tried to see if we can leave comments on the website. There's a message board but you may choose to write to them directly at:
Desperate Housewives Touchstone Television 100 Universal City Plaza Bldg. 2128, Suite G Universal City, CA 91608
I've spread the word even to an association of Filipino Doctors here in Grand Rapids. One other way we can help spread the word is to write to your local news channel. I'm going to do that as well.
I tried to see if we can leave comments on the website. There's a message board but you may choose to write to them directly at:
Desperate Housewives Touchstone Television 100 Universal City Plaza Bldg. 2128, Suite G Universal City, CA 91608
I've spread the word even to an association of Filipino Doctors here in Grand Rapids. One other way we can help spread the word is to write to your local news channel. I'm going to do that as well.
Check out http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/index?pn=mb&cat=25224 Filipinos have been airing out their concern about the issue in the message board of the website.. and apparently Americans are attacking us more because of this. Check out their comments about us being stupid and like cavemen--just proves how racist they are.
I think it's because most of the doctors that come from here become nurses or caregivers when they go to the States. Just like what Siegfried Perez said, it's not easy for a non-US educated doctor to get a license. And usually, their need for money is greater than taking the 4 exams, so they settle for a medical profession that has no need to take those many exams. (Please correct me if I'm wrong here, ha...) I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but if that statistic is the only basis of the writers, then I guess we should point out their ignorance, not their insensitivity.
And besides, throughout the history of TV, madaming beses na nabanggit ang Pilipinas. Twice or thrice na nga sa DH ata. We were even mentioned in Seinfeld! But I think the latest before this was Tina Fey (in 30 Rock -- first episode) when she was dressed in a pastel rug-type business suit. When her boss commented that she should wear that to work everyday, she replied, "Yeah if I was president of the Philippines..." (As shown repeatedly in Star World commercials). So it's quite normal for the Philippines to be mentioned every so often.
Eto medyo pumapatol sa kanila.. if you start "attacking them", remember they will fight back. I don't know what they are on (of course you need chemical stimulants to induce your writing flow), so if they have a trip and decide to bash the Philippines more, then talo tayo. Remember, they have the upperhand. They have an outlet. They have a TV show which millions can watch. And, unless we shove them with legal documents, I don't think they'll stop. Also, unlike Malu Fernandez, we don't know who these writers are. But if we do know who they are and start "threatening" them (just like what some did to Malu -- as written in her apology), then we're in for a LOT of trouble. (Ang bilis magsampa ng kaso sa Isteyts, diba?)
ano ba yan ha! ang tanga tanga naman ng script writer na un! hinde ba nya alam na the best care givers are filipinos!!! try going to a hospital here...kapag naka pasok sa isang floor ng hospital na walang pilipino....isa itong himala!!!! sa totoo lang companies pa mismo ang nagpepetition sa mga nurses natin para lang magkaroon sila ng quality worker kahit sangkatutak na mga puti sa paligid nila they still prefer filipinos..1st smiling fes tayo..2nd masipag, sincere, at likas na saatin ang pagiging maalaga sa maysakit. ang problema lang kasi tungkol dyan sa diploma ekek na yan...e totoong napepeke...hinde rin lahat ng colleges sa pilipinas na porket graduate ka sa pinas e akala mo accredited lahat ng units mo...mali ka dun! spagetti un!!! pag dating mo dito kailangan mo pang ipasa yan sa american accreditation ekek (I forgot the whole name) tapos titignan pa nila kung ung hours of classes mo is the same as theirs at kung hinde then you'll have to take that same subject again...hassle pare. tsaka unless na tatawagan pa ng company mo ung school mo just to verify your your diploma then your good to go! ligtas ka! at hinde ka makukulong for fraud for giving them your fake diploma. some companies pagnakitang may diploma ka sasabihin lang..uy! you have good credentials..interview came..you look good...stunningly good...they like you..ok your in.. you may start tom.. tadaa!!! fake diploma lusot!! nyahaha!! evil laugh ka ng nde oras!!! pero marami na talagang reports of fraud lalo na pag ang papers ay galing pilipinas...guys..paalala lang..nakaabot na dito sa tate ang tungkol sa recto kaya hinde masyadong uubra ang panloloko pag dating sa papers...kahit anong papers pa yan... sa to too lang hinde ko ineexpect na hinde magulat sa sinabi terry dahil alam nyo naman ang pinoy kung may lusot...lulusot.
ang masama lang sa ginawa ni terry is.....sinabi nya....ang bagay na nasa isip na ng marami pero hinde masabi out loud, out of a bit of respect and fear of us..masama kasi magalit ang pinoy...kung hinde makuha paharap, patagilid, pataas, pababa...gagawin patalikod hanggang sa makuntento...
magkano kaya makukuha ko sa company nila kung sasampahan ko ng kaso? mag trip kaya tayo na ipahinto ang show nila?
*magtatanong ako kung pwede ko sampahan ng kaso tapos magkano pwede kong makuha for damage at kung anu-anong kaso ang pwedeng isampa, stop the show. prevent people from criticizing or opening their bad mouths agains filipinos and
specially againts my FUCKING!!! HOMELAND!!!! grrriiiaaarrrr!!! tae! tae sila!!!
nakakapanginit ng ulo pag ganyan ang naririnig ko tungkol sa bayan ko parang ang sarap sabihin na anong sabi mo? gusto mo suntukan nlng tayo eh... kung sino matalo bobo,tanga,inutil and you will die in 3 days...nyahahhaa...
---sensya na imagination running wild...comments nonsense...gotta take my meds. :P
I think it's because most of the doctors that come from here become nurses or caregivers when they go to the States. Just like what Siegfried Perez said, it's not easy for a non-US educated doctor to get a license. And usually, their need for money is greater than taking the 4 exams, so they settle for a medical profession that has no need to take those many exams. (Please correct me if I'm wrong here, ha...) I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but if that statistic is the only basis of the writers, then I guess we should point out their ignorance, not their insensitivity.
And besides, throughout the history of TV, madaming beses na nabanggit ang Pilipinas. Twice or thrice na nga sa DH ata. We were even mentioned in Seinfeld! But I think the latest before this was Tina Fey (in 30 Rock -- first episode) when she was dressed in a pastel rug-type business suit. When her boss commented that she should wear that to work everyday, she replied, "Yeah if I was president of the Philippines..." (As shown repeatedly in Star World commercials). So it's quite normal for the Philippines to be mentioned every so often.
Eto medyo pumapatol sa kanila.. if you start "attacking them", remember they will fight back. I don't know what they are on (of course you need chemical stimulants to induce your writing flow), so if they have a trip and decide to bash the Philippines more, then talo tayo. Remember, they have the upperhand. They have an outlet. They have a TV show which millions can watch. And, unless we shove them with legal documents, I don't think they'll stop. Also, unlike Malu Fernandez, we don't know who these writers are. But if we do know who they are and start "threatening" them (just like what some did to Malu -- as written in her apology), then we're in for a LOT of trouble. (Ang bilis magsampa ng kaso sa Isteyts, diba?)
But it can never hurt to try.
Yun lang, my two cents. (More of 3 or 4).
"And usually, their need for money is greater than taking the 4 exams, so they settle for a medical profession that has no need to take those many exams"
There is no way around these exams. Even if you pass these exams, you still have to go thru residency training in the US, kung matanggap ka. HENCE, you will not be able to practice if you don't have these exams PLUS residency training.
there is no medical specialty that will allow you to practice without taking the USMLEs. Kahit mag fellowship program ka pa, di ka pa rin papayagan without it.
And to think of it, sila pa ang pumupunta dito para may mag-aruga sa kanila. Its so nice to think we have to be suplado/a sometimes with these Yankees. Haynakupo!
There is no way around these exams. Even if you pass these exams, you still have to go thru residency training in the US, kung matanggap ka. HENCE, you will not be able to practice if you don't have these exams PLUS residency training.
Thanks Siegfried. So it goes to show na mahirap talaga makapasok --- that's why most people "settle" (for lack of a better term). It's a vicious cycle lang talaga.
junanteola wrote on Oct 3, '07, edited on Oct 3, '07
in hopes that i'd find objectivity of opinions regarding this matter(and mold my view into one that is balanced and unbiased), i've gone blog hopping. i am open to ideas different from what i hold to be true, as per experience.
i am just disappointed at some who easily dismiss the issue as something common and expected out of a comedy show. some find it OA for reacting to a line taken out of context, that it was wrong to see it as a generalization by the show. well, if one is only to read it as it is, " some med school from the Philippines", it does seem harmless, legit even. in the sense that it only alluded to "some" (such as perhaps the diploma mills). it also doesn't hit us Filipinos as a race, referring only to medical schools. and because that line came from a distressed character.
HOWEVER, viewing and listening to the clip gives one another picture. the same line could take another meaning. and it did. i reviewed the clip several times, and that's how it came across... it was a sweeping generalization about those trained in Philippine schools... Filipino or not, doctors, nurses, or any other allied health professions. even if it came from a distressed Susan.
perhaps that's a subjective matter. others may have a detached view on it, but that's how i felt, that's how a lot of Filipinos feel/react. and this must not be ignored. just because certain opinions come from seemingly detached assessments of it doesn't make them correct opinions. it never was, and never will be right to have a laugh at the expense of others.
isa lang naman talaga ang point ng lahat na to eh....kapag pinoy ka at mahal mo ang bayan mo...masasaktan ka kapag ginamit ang pangalan ng bayan mo in vain....
the truth is I showed the clip to all of my co-workers here...you know what they all said:
"DUDE...THAT IS SO FUCKED UP!" --hinde to pinoy,mga americano to ok...kung sila nga na shock ikaw pa kaya?...if you were surrounded by all this people and all of a sudden biglang mamaliitin ang "Some school in the Philippines" and the fact of the matter my country was mentioned...of course who else is filipino on the area? "ME!!!" and imaginin nyo nlng ung tingin nila sa u..waiting for your reaction.. syempre composed lang kahit sa loob mo nasaktan ka...then I just said...hinde nga ako taga med school ng pinas pero when you mention philippines my mother land of course I get hurt....pano pa kaya ung mga nag med school no!
for me this is a blog site..so my opinion is as is...mine.
magalit man ako ayoko lang nadadamay ang pangalan ng bayan ko... sana lang hinde inassociate ung pinas as having a mababang klaseng school...the way she say it...parang ganun na rin ibig nyang sabihin.. read nlng between the lines what does her words imply? minsan nga pag understressed ka wala ka nga sa tamang isip pero lumalabas ang totoo sa bunganga mo o nadudulas and dila mo right?
Pinoy Comments: mistake yun pare! Comment ng mga puti at decolor: That is Fucked up dude!
after that...since its not real...its just TV..its just a show... The American people know the Truth... we are good in what we do. that line will be ignored by them because they know its not true..were the best man!!!
basta alam ko na hinde totoo un sa puso, isipm experience, atay,balunbalunan at kung ano pa! taas noo parin ako..
http://whatdowecare.blogspot.com/2007/10/desperate-housewives-abc-network.html "I remember an accounting professor who once said, "Zealously protect your grades. Do not let any dumbass professor give you anything lower than what you deserve. Any failure to do so will become very regrettable, eventually." Looking back, it was just a grade in a minor subject, but he's right. A failing grade will become a permanent mark that will haunt you every time somebody looks at your transcripts."
call me kill joy, think twice, if it wasnt because of our negligence, we will not be quoted badly. blame that school who made that possible, the p.r.c. as well, and ourselves for allowing things to happen this way.
i guess it is also not blame them, for they are doing it to others too, if we are to boycott that show, we must not watch anything else.
dont you think the answer here is not to boycott the show, but improve ourselves? think about it.
well, ang sa akin ay hindi naman niya generalized ang philippines, but she said, from some med school in the philippines. plus, for me again, what good will it do to boycott a show and not improve ourselves and prove that they are wrong.
it is not just the med school, that includes all professions. also tayo din naman nilalait din naman natin ang ibang school from the bundok ng tralala.
ivanhenares wrote on Oct 4, '07, edited on Oct 4, '07
They hit the wrong subject... our doctors who play a vital role in the American medical system. To tell you honestly, kung sinabing nursing, hindi siguro ganun ka-harsh ang reaction kasi alam ng tao may truth to it.
Talking about bundok ng tralala, with the strict screening procedure sa US, imposibleng may makapasok from bundok tralala dun. So baseless comment talaga. Anyway, nag-apologize na. Tanggap na nilang mali sila. Hehe!
well, im sorry, dahil ako ay na affectohan ng medical board exams brouhaha in 1993 when a medical school became so controversial for having the top 20 sa exams ay from that god knows what that school is back then.
well, for me, i will just take it as a notice of negligence, if they admitted they were wrong, good for them.
Ivan, post ko rin sa multiply ko 
