Racist Remark Against FILIPINO MDs on Desperate Housewives

[fish 0]

I got this email from a friend back home.....

In the Premiere of Desperate Housewives Teri Hatcher made a remark about Filipinos - doctors/nurses. She was talking to her doctor and then she said "Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? 'Coz I would just like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines."

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.petitiononline.com/FilABC/ or you can reach them directly at 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

[Jasman0717 9]

Someone started a thread on this yesterday. One of the Philippines expats groups I belong to is also discussing this. Guess the studio isn't political correct

[sabre_romanza 0]

(u can see it in this clip!)

Edited October 3, 2007 by tipsy_81

[july052007 0]

seen it...we all know that this shouldnt be said on-air! wether its the truth or not, for public relation's sake, this shouldnt be said on-air!

[vsmtghdy 2]

Yes, that was said in a bad light for the Filipinos and Fil-Ams. I don't blame Teri Hatcher directly, but the script writers and the directors and those responsible for that episode should make something about it. Not just fro Pinoys but for any other racist remarks that they do and may do in their series.

[RandyandRina 2]

no matter where we go, we do see a lot of Filipinos in the healthcare system. If we graduated at just any school in the Philippines, then there's something wrong with the expertise and education of the countries, not just US, that hires Filipinos.

[fish 0]

I actually watched the episdoe and I was shocked and told another friend about it. We concluded that we stop watching the show period. Let's encourage more kababayans to sign in the petition.

[desert_fox 32]

what is the racist part???

As an American I would feel more comfortable knowing that my doctor was trained with some kind of standard that I might be roughly familiar with. I know nothing about the med schools in the PI's.

[RonMay 1]

what is the racist part???

As an American I would feel more comfortable knowing that my doctor was trained with some kind of standard that I might be roughly familiar with. I know nothing about the med schools in the PI's.

gosh help find the strength not to start something here...

[desert_fox 32]

what is the racist part???

As an American I would feel more comfortable knowing that my doctor was trained with some kind of standard that I might be roughly familiar with. I know nothing about the med schools in the PI's.

gosh help find the strength not to start something here...

already was started...next thing will be al sharpton posting here.

[walls1010 3]

Just want to share this email in case some of our kababayans reading here.

Dear Fellow Thomasian Medical Alumni & Co-Graduates of Philippine Medical Schools.

Many of us were shocked and appalled at the blatant racial slur demonstrated by an actress in the television show, Desperate Housewives, in the September 30th episode. In this part, the actress refers in a derogatory manner to a physician’s credentials, “can I check those diplomas because I want to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”

If you have not seen this episode for yourself, you can view online by going to www.ABC.com .

As we all are well aware, the medical education offered by schools in the Philippines is equal to or superior to that of any other school. For those of us who have adopted the United States as our home, we cannot stand idly by and allow such racist remarks to go unaddressed.

Please join me in voicing your displeasure and disapproval of this injustice directly to the network, ABC. The mailing address is:

ABC, Inc.

500 S. Buena Vista Street

Burbank, CA 91521

You can also send your comments directly to ABC online.

Humor at the expense of others is not appropriate. We will not tolerate such, even if legal action is needed. I have asked that ABC publicly retract and apologize for the remark in question. Hopefully this issue will be addressed promptly by the Administration. I will keep you informed of ongoing communication.

Please forward this to fellow Philippine med school graduates.

Regards to all,

F.C. Dante Gapultos, Jr., MD, F.A.C.O.G.

Fellow, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologist

Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology

President, University of Santo Tomas Medical Alumni Association in America. (USTMAAA)

[Ianne25 0]

Nobody discriminate our Filipino doctors and nurses. We have the best and well-trained people in the medical field around the world and I am very proud of them. More compassionate, caring and understanding to their patients.

The allowing of this type of behavior and script-writing is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Filipino community.

This is rude and disgrace to all Filipinos. Let's demand for apology from ABC and Desperate Housewives.

Join/Sign the Petition.

[sabre_romanza 0]

The ABC network and the Show itself and its management are PATHETIC. Bad for them, I am sure their show has a great following here in the PHILIPPINES, like other top rating TV series in the US, with that STATEMENT, would the Filipino people even bother to read the lamest writings or publicities about their show Desperate what?

[Jasman0717 9]

Nobody discriminate our Filipino doctors and nurses. We have the best and well-trained people in the medical field around the world and I am very proud of them. More compassionate, caring and understanding to their patients.

The allowing of this type of behavior and script-writing is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Filipino community.

This is rude and disgrace to all Filipinos. Let's demand for apology from ABC and Desperate Housewives.

Join/Sign the Petition.

Not sure about 'best' but know that the U.S. imports a lot of RNs into the country each year because of a severe shortage of nurses here.

[Ianne25 0]

Nobody discriminate our Filipino doctors and nurses. We have the best and well-trained people in the medical field around the world and I am very proud of them. More compassionate, caring and understanding to their patients.

The allowing of this type of behavior and script-writing is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Filipino community.

This is rude and disgrace to all Filipinos. Let's demand for apology from ABC and Desperate Housewives.

Join/Sign the Petition.

Not sure about 'best' but know that the U.S. imports a lot of RNs into the country each year because of a severe shortage of nurses here.

yeah, so US is flooded with filipino RNs.