Note: List of TV series and movies referring to Filipinos.
A recent episode of popular TV series Desperate Housewives (season 4) made a joke about medical schools in the Philippines that has been the cause for outrage by a lot of Filipinos.
See the short YouTube clip here:
The line goes “Okay. Before going further, can I check these diplomas cause I would just like to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines?”“.
Frankly, I found it funny, knowing a lot of people especially students go to Recto to fix their academic problems. Still, a lot of people have found this bit of humor offensive and racist.
Learned about this from Michelle Malkin (via a trackback) who shares her own take on the matter.
Note: direct tv versus cox cable
we complained because we are Filipino Doctors in the U.S. who were offended. It questioned our credibility and pride. If the producers/writers of the show did think it was referring to the NURSING exam fiasco last year then they are mistaken. Not Doctors. Hence the need to Correct it, lest we further propagate it (not based on facts or even fiction). I am happy with the ABC apology. Thats it. No further. Other issues and racial slurs regarding the Philippines…might have some historical context…But MD is a noble profession, for it to be tainted by careless remarks..needs to be challenged and corrected. I am for free speech…but this was clearly a mistake on the writer. Now if you guys think that the petition was wrong. Then you do not understand us. If its regarding what was requested afterwards ex Donation…then i agree with you that it sounds too much. I praise all the Doctors who supported us. Also the non-doctors who helped. But let us keep it regarding Filipino MD and their schools. The rest(non-MD – who are opposed to the petition) cannot understand us anyway, so whats the use convincing them.
Guess what???!!!
The ABC apology over the Desperate Housewives slur agst. us(Filipinos)was JUST a written apology transmitted to the Philippines BUT was not aired in the U.S. where the damage was done.!! THAT’S NOT FAIR, is it?
I demand that the apology be said on U.S. national television and also to include deleting the infamous quote from the series.
The apology was carried and broadcast only in the Philippines. Is ABC trying to save face by issuing a selective apology???
NAKAKAAWA TALAGA TAYO. Para tayong LAGAM na kumakagat sa HIGANTE….
I am a Filipina-American physician who has been in practice now for 8 years in Chicago. I am a graduate of a “med school in the Philippines”, and my medical education was at par with or even superior to some US medical school education. Ironically, I almost took a position at the same Harvard mentioned in the show (believe it or not, there are Filipino physicians there, too). I have since trained US medical grads during their residency as an attending physician, and still handle US medical student rotators even though I have since left the academe. I am board-certified, whereas some of my US grad colleagues are not. Teri Hatcher’s line is a ridiculous line that SHOULD be struck. Now, over some lame show, impressionable patients may come to doubt my competence from the get-go solely because I came from Manila and not from somewhere else. They’re “in the know” about the medical schools over there since they watch DH. There have been thousands of Philippine-trained physicians rendering excellent care in the United States since the 60′s, which is precisely why this is an outrage. Neither of Mrs. Malkin’s Filipino parents must be an MD, or she would know better on both this issue and the vaccine issue. I am a Republican in a very Democratic city, but I can see why the Jesse Jackson approach works—ABC wouldn’t have dared pick on an African nation. Let’s say Filipinos instead! They won’t complain! Both liberals and conservatives like myself should think this is inappropriate simply because it is. Did a specific nation have to be mentioned to make it oh-so-funny? Anyone who knows Filipinos would know that we love a good laugh and we are the first ones to laugh at ourselves, but this crosses the line. Whether you like/know it or not, arrogant attitudes behind statements like these contribute to why people the world over are turned off by the United States.
[...] Desperate Housewives jokes about Med Schools in the Philippines Sadly, It’s true. I have seen people paying for a fake diploma in Recto and actually getting a job because of it. [...]
You know what.. vent it our here: http://www.jihadonyou.com/103918/
=D
A lot of the reaction has been mostly emotional than rational. However, I found an interesting perspective on the subject from another Filipino blog here:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007…
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
To those who raised that line from Miriam Santiago, don’t you find it funny that the woman who said that the Chinese invented corruption is one of the Filipinos who said an apology is not accepted? The Chinese should sue her! But they were nice enough to just demand for an apology, not scholarship, or whatsoever.
Double standard ang Pinoy.
To Kris:
How can you say that Filipinos are double standard in THIS particular issue????
The ABC apology was only WRITTEN and BROADCAST in the Philippines…who needs the apology in the Phils?? Not even our President Gloria Arroyo needs it!!!! No one needs to hear the apology here in the Phils.!!
The slur was committed on U.S. television,seen globally by cable television… so, the least ABC can do is apologize ON TV in the UNITED STATES where they hurt most the medical professionals themselves and that would be enough for everybody.
In that way, a broaodcast TV apology in the US will be picked up globally by cable and the ABC error would be rectified properly.
There is no double standard here, sis!!!
Miriam did not go to China to apologize but apologized in the same media forum.
let it go and move on……… history na yan………… let’s talk about gretchen barreto.. kumusta na yan? hiwalay na ba yan kay boy cojuangco? bwehehehehe…
@mae
Does it have to be worldwide that it should only be declared as offensive??
Why is it hasrd for Filipinos to accept their own mistakes? PRIDE? Wrong sense of nationalism
How many times have our media made fun of the Visayans? Of the Igorots? RIGHT IN FRONT OF FELLOW FILIPINOS. Now that kind of discrimination is being practiced by many Filipinos. Many non-Visayans think that all Visayans have a funny accent. Many non-Ilocanos think that the Ilocanos are really ass-stingy and too dark. Now, tell me if it needs to be worldwide to be offensive and discriminatory.
We blow out Desperate Housewives issue out of proportion but we hardly care kung dito sa Pilipinas, Pilipino mismo ang naglalaitan?
What about that racism statement by Miriam Santiago right in front of the Chinese officials and Filipino-Chinese community despite all their contributions to our economy, culture and country! Imagine how the Filipino-Chinese feel that their own kababayans(non-Chinese) are the ones who discriminate on them. Imagine how the Visayans feel that it is their own countrymen who mock them? Many non-Igorots think the Igorots are dirty and barbaric. Many non-Muslims think the Muslims are outrageous.
WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN LOCAL MEDIA APOLOGIZING TO THE PEOPLE THEY’VE MADE FUN OF? WHY ISN’T THERE A PUBLIC APOLOGY?
Double standard it is. Fortunately for Teri hatcher, she’s predominantly Caucasian. If she was black, it is not far from possible that many Filipinos will use that degrading “N” word against her.
Think of the Filipino minorities and indigenous people that our local media and a lot of our countrymen are mocking EVERYDAY?
Double standard, indeed.
I’m not saying that the Filipinos in the medical profession do not have the right to complain. But heck, in the Philippines, the discrimination toward our own people and hardly many Filipinos care at all. Why, is it beacuse it’s okay to make fun of them because hindi naman kayong mga hindi bisaya, hindi Igorot, hindi batangueno, hindi Chinese ang na-ooffend?
Let me add. Why is it that despite the call of the Visayans and ethnic minorities to put a stop to racism in the Philippines, no one would even dare listen. Not even our media. Only a few NGOs whose voice are not even heard?
An example how such mentality has permeated the Filipino mind
A recent episode in game ka na ba:
One of the contestant was asked abnout the name of her daughter. She said they chaged the supposed THIA to THEA because THIA sounds “Bisaya”. That was in national television and right in front of Edu, who’s part Ilonggo(an ethnic group in the Visayas, just in case you don’t know). It would catch my attention if she said “|kasi hindi magandang pakinggan”. But no, she said “parang Bisaya”.
It wouldn’t catch my attention if she said “|kasi hindi magandang pakinggan”. But no, she said “parang Bisaya”.
Let me correct that statement.
Don’t you also know that there is a institutionalized discrimination in the Philippines?
The PRC will not grant you your licence if you have foreign sounding surname even if your birth certificate and baptismal certificate states that you are Filipino and so are both of your parents? My cousin who was a quarter Chinese and has Chinese surname had to get additional documents just to prove that she is Filipino? Isn’t that institutionalized discrimination?
What’s funny here is that they forgot to define what is a foreign sounding surname! if they are referring to non-native surnames, they should ask Filipinos with Spanish surname addition documents too! But no, people who have Chinese and Anglo surnames(and other surnames but Spanish) are being compelled to submit additional documents to prove their citizenship kahit ilang generations na silang Filipino citizens and nationals! Imagine the burden that our Filipino-Chinese kins go through just because of their Chinese surname na sobrang common din sa Pilipinas. As if naman sa Pilipinas lang matatagpuan ang mga apelyidong Garcia, Cruz, Lopez, Arroyo, de la Cruz, etc…
Like what Jeffrey said, it such a sad thing that Filipinos fight against racism against Filipino which is not a bad idea(a good step in fact) but the very sad part here? Many of our kababayans practice racism against each other and is accepted AS NORMAL and when our object of racism react, rathe than saying their apologies, sasabihin “ano ka ba, hindi ka na mabiro” “Ang pikon mo naman”. And then after uttering those words they continue with their insulting jokes even though they are aware that the other party is being deeply offended.
So next time if a filipino racist says something like “ano ka ba naman hindi ka na mabiro” after saying demeaning remarks towards bisaya or whoeversay, it’s not funny and if you find it funny go find someone else to tell the joke okey?
a start to end racism in that poor country.poor country,poor attitude and poor discipline.
Can we all please stick to the main issue of this forum? Its precisely why we click on it and join this because of specific concerns.
There are other forums addressing other issues of concern in Topix or just log on Philippine Forums and we can address these other issues independently.
Like reading a book, we go chapter by chapter. If we are face to face in a debate, a moderator would say:…excuse me, you are OUT OF ORDER!
If we were all seated in a cafe, discussing this issue…wala na…LABO-LABO na ang usapan!!sabay, sabay pa magsalita….labas na ang karamihan.
Anyway, for purposes of ease and clarity, this forum happens to be just one of about 20 forums related to the infamous slur.
FILIPINO GOVERNMENT, TAGA MANILA AS IN THE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK THE TAGALOG LANGUAGE AS MAIN DIALECT ARE THE CULPRIT OF THIS BIG PROBLEM OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE PHILIPPINES. YES THEY ARE.. I NEVER PATRONIZE THAT LANGUAGE HERE IN THE US FOR THAT REASON.
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?
Frankly, i agree with everything you said to be true in the philippines. I AM BISAYA bisaya and frankly, it’s like a bang against the wall if you fight back because if we react and say something, they will say WE ARE SO SENSITIVE… and on the news one time, this bisaya guy really hurt a person for mocking him right and you know what NOLI DE CASTRO DID on his tv program? mocked the poor bisayan community more for being sensitive. and he even said he can’t vote a bisayan candidate because we might change the national language to bisayan.. isn’t that gross? to hear fellow filipinos say that.well, glad this is becoming a talk and we have internet because we can express the sentiments 24/7 if we want too.
i’m based now in the US and happy to be here.feel respected and free at last..
Your analysis (10) of the remark is by far the most objective comment that I have encountered regarding this issue. Honestly, I feel like some people are just unnecessarily magnifying the whole situation.
[...] Abraham Olandres’ Desperate Housewives jokes about Med Schools in the Philippines [...]
[...] of the Desperate Housewives issue here, here , here, here and [...]
[...] Desperate Housewives jokes about Med Schools in the Philippines [...]
howdy blogger, first of all thanks for putting up a nice blog like %BLOGINTITLE%. i definitely hate the fact that bloggers these days focus a lot more on making money and fill their blogs with irritating adverts.. i liked the way you’ve arranged all of the content here. are you on facebook or any social networking web-site. i would really like to connect with you and know you well. cheers