It was a joke, but not nice to hear by televiewers who are not aware that the Philippines (especially in Quezon Boulevard) that anything can be reproduced at a minimal cause. Thanks to the engenuity of the Pilipino people who are in need of money in view of poverty.

Even if it’s a joke, it’s not good to hear. if you dont have anything to say good then just keep to yourself…that is insulting, a racist remark i should say. Nobody is perfect even if you graduated from top Medical school all over the world. If you have watched the episode, the OB doctor from Harvard failed to diagnose the character’s symptoms and admitted his mistake.

It’s a very irresponsible remark… Im very much disappointed!

It is interesting that these remarks sometimes get my attention. With the diploma mills in the Philippines, it can be embarassing for us here who go through things legitimately. Believe me,those diploma don’t count a thing when you through the process before practising medicine here.

The comment is quite insulting to the Filipino Physicians who are practicing in the US. These people are well-trained whose competence is equal to the US graduates.

These comments are only happening during the time of great lier and cheater Gloria.
This is one of her legacy, di ba?

If you do the same thing to Caucasians, Hispanics or African-American, watch how they react. I’ve lived here in the US for over 20 some years now and I have seen Comedians castigated by the American public for their nasty and racist remarks delivered with impunity. Ever heard of Richard (from Seinfeld) ranted craps against blacks? And there are so many others. One can blame the writer - but I blame the writed, the deliverer (Terri Hatcher), the producer of the show as well as ABC. They are taking a swipe and killing the very noble Filipino profession. They (ABC) have to explain to us (the Filipino people) where they got the idea of poking fun at the Philippine medical schools - i’m sure there’s got to be a reason and maybe we could look into that reasoning why they decided to stick that obvious racist line subtlely put in a comedic way but definitely will not escape as comedy. However way you turn it, it’s still nasty. It’s a fun show, it’s entertaining, it’s popular in the US because it’s the epitomy of the dysfunctionality in the US which is ordinary to upper class Americans can relate. Put in simpler words, it’s suburbia trash and I believe they wanted some serious Filipino audience by putting those lines in there.

Obviously, I believe in Philippine medical schools and our doctors and our nurses. But of course, the doctor and the nurse in our family are graduates in the Philippines.

The remarks are quite racial and insulting. I’m filipino and I am studying medicine in my country. Part of it is true though, since we have med schools here that are below international standards, but you cannot generalize all. In my own opinion though, its free speech, what can we do about it. Bill Maher did just that about saying that terrorist on 9/11 were heroic and his show was cancelled. You have the right to speak but check first the consequences of your actions.

I was indeed shock when this statement was included in the dialog. Why on earth did they have to say it? This show is one of my favorites but I think their writers need to be more compassionate on what they write. They should try to stay away from racial comments.

stupid, insensitive comments like this one is never a good humor. filipinos should and must demand an apology from the producers of the show…but again The damage has been done and surely they need to do something to repair it, and i mean more than just an apology.

My wife is a Desperate Housewife addict, but the comment, while racial, is a joke. We all know that you can buy diplomas and transcripts of records on Recto Avenue. There are diploma mills in the US as well. The joke works because it is common knowledge that there are many Filipino health care professionals in the US. We all know that Bill Clinton and Orprah’s doctors are Filipinos.
Wouldn’t it be more interesting if the gay Filipino friend of Eva Longoria’s character was a doctor instead of a designer.
Everyday, Leno and Letterman poke fun at no less than President Bush. It’s a joke. Enjoy the exposure and let it pass.
MABUHAY!!

jeez, it’s a JOKE! being all too politically correct can be more annoying than hitting on some unfortunate ethnic group, race, etc.
just think about it, if were forbidden to make fun of other people, there would be no jokes at all.

This comment is not only an insult to Filipino doctors and med schools but also to thousands of foreign students who graduated from a Philippine med schools.

joke lang yan noh!.wag nang gawing big deal..it’s non sense!

Nice to know that many readers are finding the humor in this issue. I struggled with it in the beginning but after viewing the full clip again and again, I was able to see the humor too.

Anyway, for those who are not convinced that there is actually humor in it, I hope you can find time to read my views on this issue. It’s too long to post as a comment here so I posted it in my weblog. Here’s the link:

http://lestercavestany.com/2007/10/03/reacting-and-over-reacting-to-desperate-housewives-script-about-medical-school-in-rp

Cheers!

Joke lang yon! It was a white doctor that was being joked about in the show, not a Filipino.
What’s insulting is that most of the best medical professtionals from the Philippines are in the USA, Canada, Australia and U.K. etc., while hundreds of hospitals are closing its doors at home. Even good doctors are practicing nursing abroad. Brain drain isn’t good for the Philippines. Remember Desperate Housewives is a TV show, meant to entertain.

I love sweet potato’s remark on what’s more insulting! hahaha! I think you got that darn thing right! LOVE IT!!!

Who’s to be blamed? No one else but us - Filipinos. For all we know these are undesirable products of the undesirable works of the people from Recto who manufacture fake diplomas.
However, only few are doing this. It’s quite unfair that the remark would hit the entire Filipino Doctors or Phil professionals as well.
Still, it’s just not right. But what can we do? It’s an entertainment! Well let’s just hope people from abroad can realize this, especially the movie producers.

There is no humor when you poke fun at other peoples sensibilities. HUmor is intended to bring fun not insult on anyone.

I don’t find the joke funny! It’s very insulting for Filipinos! Didn’t the writers and staff of Desperate Housewives know that ex-u.s. president Clinton’s doctor is a Filipino?

HINDI NYO BA ALAM? DAHIL YAN SA ISAKANDALONG DINULOT NG NAKARAANG NURSING LICENSURE EXAM. SYEMPRE NAKARATING YANG BALITA NA YAN SA IBA’T IBANG BANSA. KAYA AYUN, GINAWAN NILA NG JOKE. PERO JOKE NGA BA? PARANG GANTO YAN EH… ANG MEDICAL SCHOOL NG PILIPINAS AY SI WILLIE REVILLAME, AT SI TERI HATCHER AY SI JOEY DE LEON. KNG ALAM NYO YUNG ISTORYA NG SA DALAWANG YAN MAGEGETS NYO YUNG PAGHAHAMBING KO. ^_^ BAKA MAGULAT KAYO KUNG ANG ISAGOT SA INYO NI TERI HATCHER EH “EXPLAIN BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN!!!” DI BA JOEY DE LEON? HAHAHAHA.

“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 INDIA.”

Now that it no longer says “the Philippines”, do all of you now think it’s funny? I bet you do…

ANG TANONG, is the government doing anything to help us, the offended, and those of us who will have to live with more and more stigma. Wednesday na bukas, 3 days after the show. Are we alone in this or will the government defend us?

It was indeed a very insulting remark! Very irresponsible. But on the positive side, it’s a wake up call to all med school to study their curriculum especially those who have less doctors passing the board

Please take some time to read about this petition and sign it. This is a definite insult to all Filipinos in general, and not just MD’s, and something should be done about it:

http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/petition.html

Thanks for your cooperation. Feel free to send to your friends so we can get full support of the Filipino people.

http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/petition.html

I don’t watch that show and now, after reading about this bit of news, I guess I never will. (Too bad, I like Terri Hatcher, especially during her “Louis and Clark” days). Anyway, I have to agree with most of the other posts here, this is a bad joke which I hope will never be repeated on this show or in any other shows from abroad. Unfortunately, that would be wishful thinking, as long as we don’t fix our image as a people. Yeah, sad to say, part of the blame would also fall on us. The way we conduct ourselves will be the way other people will see us.

This is a non-issue! I’d be really insulted if she made fun of Erap. Move along kabayan.

Are you telling us to move on? While the Philippine Nursing exam leakage and “alleged” cheating last year is known to many Filipinos, I want to find out to what extent Pinoys back home care for us Fil Ams here, and if you can do anything at all to help us.

There is a Filipino by the name of Gerry who works in a kitchen restaurant in Pittsburgh, and as a gardener for me and my friend on his day off. He sends money to his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and feeds the entire barangay with parties in Mindanao. Back here, he can’t even wear decent shoes in the snow because he puts his family first. He has diabetes. When I take him to and from the bus stop, and when he breaks for lunch, all he talks about is his family and how he has sent his relatives to nursing and medical school.

Now please do not add insult to injury by telling us to take it as a joke. You are telling us the same things the Americans are. So who do we turn to ? Ourselves? Are we all alone in this? We want to keep the respect we have, not lose it. We have children.

I was an avid fan of the show until this racial comment. I loved the show for its funny entertainment and towards the end I liked the narration of the characters. At first look, you think ok its shallow but every show has a moral lesson I enjoyed. This time, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth! ukk

Common guys, what’s wrong with you? She said ” … SOME med school in the Philippines”. If you think this is insulting, then you deserve it. It is a fact that every Filipino must accept that SOME(NOT ALL) Philippine med schools are below standard. It would have been insulting if she said “…. ANY med school in the Philippines” and in that case, she deserves to be screwed left, right & center by all Filipinos.

That is why the show is titled Desperate Housewives….maybe these gals are desperate highschool graduates? I can not comment on their level of thinking and sensitivity because probably watching their program will be an insult to my medical position in the society.

Let’s ask Miriam Defensor Santiago’s comments.

geolen,

are you drunk.. to compare this to Gloria?

FRank

I pity you for you have degraded your very own pride and dignity by resorting to this despicable behavior just for the sake of having something to feed your fetish appetite for wealth and i hope that one day you’ll be rational enough to realize that you should not use other humans as means in the attainment of your ends. As what the great philosopher Kant uttered, ‘treat a man as an end in himself’.
- inday

I am a physical therapist working in the US. Having worked more than seven years in US healthcare facilities, I’ve grown accustomed to watching their shows. That’s just the way they are, para rin tayo. They make fun of everyone. Watch David Letterman Show, they make fun even about their president like they would make a joke about any other country’s leaders. Sad to say we were the target of the TV series. The best thing to do is prove them wrong. I have done my part and continue to show what true filipino healthcare professionals are, competent and caring. Have you done yours to make your country proud?

[...] a post on his entertainment blog on INQUIRER.net, The Nepales Report, Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent Ruben Nepales reported that in an episode of the show, one [...]

No big deal.. it’s the reality … isn;t it some fiipinos fake their diplomas , some cheat in the licensure exam and a whole lot of never ending scandal..

so what’s the issue ?. Some people doesn;t want to be treated by some med school graduate from the Philippines …

Huwag maging balat sibuyas. This is one of those shows where writers doesn’t get their facts right. If you remeber the film 8 mm by Nicolas Cage, there was a scene where he was being shown videos of actual rape-slay being committed, another character in the movie remarked that hardcore videos came from the Phils. to this effect. I guess no one made a big fuss out of it.

a bullet is still a bullet regardless of how it was used. a racial slur in an entertainment context doesn’t change the fact that it is insulting to those of such race. though the statement consisted of but a few phrases, it is demeaning nonetheless.

to belittle the remark as only a means of comedy is tantamount to stating that the persecution of christians in gladiator fights in the roman empire was all “just for fun”, thus no harm is done. you have been stabbed, dismissing it as a tickle will cause your demise.

how shaming it is to know that some elements of filipino society are quick to rise and defend a program that disparages the integrity of philippine institutions and dismiss it as merely a part of the world of entertainment. such conduct is unbecoming of a citizen who swore to uphold the integrity of the nation and its subjects.

to say that the basis of humor is the exploitation of the wrongs and imperfections of others is perverse. should this indeed be the case, then let us bring to a close this you call “comedy”.

with this, i call for an apology from the network whose censors have shown incompetence and negligence for allowing such remark to be aired.

Tinrato natin sila ng buong pagrespeto at hospitalidad tapos kung tapakan ang ating lahi ay ganun-ganun lang. Wag silang magtago sa matatag nilang ekonomiya at babagsak din yan. O baka naghahanap na naman sila ng problema tulad noon 9/11? Humingi sila ng tawad para magkaayos na.

Inspired by Ms. Malou Fernandez…hahaha

WALA YAN DOON SA NAPANOOD KO NOONG ISANG ARAW!!!… TIGNAN NYO ITONG EXAMPLES:

1. For record China invented civilization in the East, but they also invented corruption…

2. …do you know Evelyn Catherine Silagon? … So you don’t have a daughter by her, you have a son…

3. Who’s your travel agent? … I’d like to be your travel agent!

4. Abalos just said you were lying under oath. Is he also lying under oath when he forgot or cannot recall bribe offer?

HINDI BA NAKAKATAWA? Sana magkaroon ulit ng inquiry at ipatawag itong si Terry Hatcher “in aid of legislation” para matawa ulit ako!

It would be good if the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) should lead in the petition for the apology of this irresponsible racist remarks.

Its a joke that doesnt need attention. In fact its a joke on a Harvard graduate doctor mistaken for a Philippine graduate doctor because of his poor diagnosis. I find it more insulting for Harvard University. If you still feel violated, then BOYCOTT the show, the channel and the products endorsed in the show. But dont let this ruin your day.

I understand that it was meant to be a joke, but a bad one. It is sad and unfortunate. What makes me sadder is some of the comments here from fellow Filipinos who do not feel offended by it AT ALL! Have you become so complacent that you would accept any insult hurled your way? Ganito na ba ka kawawa ang mga Pinoy? HOY, GISING MGA KABABAYAN!!!

[...] she went to ask why her menstrual cycle was off for several months. (Editor’s note: Click on Ruben Nepales’ blog post to hear an MP3 file of the dialogue between Delfino and her [...]

Why do i need to watch the whole show for me to understand what Terri said? Besides i am not a fan. Hey, the actress uttered unfair remarks to the Medical Shools here in the country. Can’t you understand? Indirect, malicious, purely insult.

[...] The Nepales Report : Insulting remark about Philippine medical schools? [...]

“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.”

That’s GMA’s legacy, the result of “lapse in judgment”, cheating, lies, gag orders… We’ll anyway according to her… “Let’s move on.”

I pity our own history.

everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Let’s all have an open mind about this issuues. The statement is not a proof of filipino MDs incompetence.

there was a time when i watched eyewitness news (aired in abc) here in CA that they featured the reproduction of fake diplomas (those that were done there in manila). maybe, this is how the writers of the show got the idea.

so, i guess the people who are behind these false diplomas should be the ones to blame. and its about time to clean them up.

we could take the message as constructive and correct the wrongdoings of our fellow filipinos. but i was hurt too when teri mentioned philippines in that manner.

Is the writer ever had made a research before he/she wrote the script? The fact that they put some comments that would be very degrading not only to medical schools and doctors, but to the whole country. They should be held liable for what they had done. Is the writer know that many foreigners enrolled in the Philippines because it is the best training grounds to be a caring and competent MD in the future? No! The insult for us Filipino’s is already done, they should apologize and correct whatsoever they had put in the mind of every viewer of that television show.

Many Philippine Medical School are being recognized by the World Health Organization. No words can definitely heal the wound that this comment had made to the Filipino Race. As we know Filipino doctor’s are the best not only in the country but in the whole world.

Fight for the rights of everyone. You, the one who is reading this should do your part for us to show the world that we are the best.

Gina:

Why feel offended. It’s our own people’s fault that we give these misimpressions.

Years ago, there was this furor about some dictionary defining Filipina as “a domestic helper, etc., etc., etc”.

Why the furor ?

Is it true or not true that there was a cheating scandal in the Nurses’ exams ?

Is it an open secret or not that bribery is a way of life even for those taking the PRC licenses ?

Is it true or not that our college graduates have to go abroad to wipe Caucasian and Negroid butts to earn a decent living ?

Is it true or not that in the Middle East most of the Filipina domestic helpers who act as yayas and all that have a higher education than their employers who practically use their thumbmarks as signature ? (form of speech).

Like I always say, the guys and gals who always makes “paguapo” and “paganda” in the Senate and in Malacanang need to clean up their act, and make sure that the economy rebounds in fact and in deed.

FOLKS, calm down. Who is to blame about the bad reputation of our medical professionals? None other than the government (past and/or present). How can we justify a passing rate of less than 50% of medical professionals on a Board Exam - mostly from reputable schools. Some medical schools even have zero passing rate. How can those schools stay operational when none of the students pass? Most students who don’t pass after numerous attempts just give up and take nursing so they can work abroad. The government should weed out the schools that do not produce good results (even the nursing schools). And you know what too, a lot of the students who go the Philippines to study MD are the ones who cannot get into the med schools in the US. It was so much easier to get in because the standard for acceptance is so much lower than the US. If you have money, and your grades are so so, you’re in (that was just a perception based on observation). That is one of the reasons why our medical professionals have such bad reputation. I’m not condoning what Terri Hatcher said in that episode, as I think it’s racial and ignorant - and I sort of blame her in a way, because she could have had the wording changed if she wanted to, but because of her ignorance, she probably brushed it aside not thinking of the consequence. Base on my experience and observation, some of the Filipino doctors that I encountered, have a not-so-good grasp of the English language (not all - most are ok). How can you practice that profession in the US if you cannot speak good English? I believe that some of the Filipino doctors are comparable, if not better, than the US-trained doctors - but that’s just a handful. It’s time to get our government spring into action and review the records of all the medical and nursing schools in the Philippines, and close down the ones that are not performing well. I love the Philippines and I know there is still hope in our education system. If only the DepEd can use their time and effort on getting our education system up-to-par with the other countries, instead of trying to see how they can dupe the system and get their hands into the coffer and enrich themselves. It’s time for a change, people! There’s hope, there’s hope! We can’t give up! Everyone has the opportunity to voice their opinion, but action speaks louder than words. Write the government, write the president, senators, governors, etc - and don’t be content with a Yes or No answer. Get the media to help you (unbiased media). We are the army of ONE - and I believe it! GBY.

The problem with most pinoys are that they are too balat sibuyas. Yes, there is obviously a racial intonation in the said remark. But it was done in a skit broadcast. This remark, while true to be a swipe at the state of this “fake diplomas” controversy, it can not be taken as an insult to all Pinoys. If you are not one of those fake ones, then why should you even be concerned? If you are a patient in one of the dilapidated medical facilities in the Phil., would you not also be concerned if the doctor treating you may be one that has a questionable diploma?
Do you realize that there are worst “medical” professionals? Like the “chemist” who produce heroine and illegal drugs? Now, this are really dangerous to society. The joke was just a joke, nothing else? Now if you still feel insulted, then don’t watch the show, or any other show.

No, not all Filipinos in the medical profession are incompitent. Not even close. Just like not all Americans are arrogant, obnoxious, imperialist, rude, crude and obnoxious, oops, I said that already. But you get the point.

Teri Hatcher’s scriptwriter is an idiot, a mongoloid racist whose knowledge of other countries is just about as high as the cheeks of his butt.
Reproducing diplomas is not a Filipino thing.
In case nobody knows, some years back there was this huge thing among the government employees here in the US whose credentials included PH D’s and Masteral Degrees that came under suspicion because there were those who were found out to have been issued by diploma mills.
So, cheer up, folks.
Nice to know that blond, blue eyed Americans can be morons too.

[...] In the same token, the value placed on us is dependent on how we “package” ourselves. This is the reason why some people gets better salary compared to others of the same job. Or as a nation or race, we either receive preferential treatment or slur,  like the one made at Desperate Housewives. [...]

We can all settle with the statement that a joke is a joke. But we too have to bear in mind that a joke remains to be half-human, half-meant. This just goes to prove that it doesn’t really matter what the joke is, but who’s saying it and who’s hearing it.

Another thing noted from the comments posted here is the very nature of Filipinos to be passive and to bow down to foreigners. We are treated this way because we let them so. Then again, it depends on who’s hearing it.

Most of the Filipinos who probably lamented over it are those who’s been here in the US coz they are the ones who went through and are going through the battle of proving themselves… that despite being a citizen of a third world country, we have something to offer to the rest of the world, thus deserves to be treated fair and square by anybody and anywhere.

[...] network and producers of “Desperate Housewives” have issued a statement apologizing for a remark made by actress Teri Hatcher’s character in a recent episode of the television [...]

Just a clarification to those who seem to be confused, the comment was not about faking diplomas but looking down on diplomas acquired LEGITIMATELY from Philippine med schools.

So please stop using the argument that the fake diploma mills gave rise to the insult.

I find it more embarrassing to hear that our Congress have nothing more important to do than having Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., chairman of the House committee on public information, introduce a bill to ban Desperate Housewives from airing in The Philippines. If you want the world to take Filipinos seriously from politics to academia, shit like this needs to stop.

I also agree wholeheartedly with what Sayoni stated earlier.

There are problems with the education system of the Philippines from top to bottom. Stop getting all worked up and finding what a sitcom said offensive, because even after they apologize and you rant and rave… all those problems with out education system will still be there!

Also I find a problem with the thousands of Filipinos who enter Nursing and Medical school specifically for money reasons. If you’re only looking for that paycheck than I don’t want you being a nurse or a doctor.

What the big furur about this insinuation? Why make this a big deal? What was said, even in the context of a racial bias was, “some medical schools”. It did not say, ” all medical graduates” in the Phil. which should include all foreign students and natives. So why is there a wholesale defense for the entire Filipino nation’s integrity, when it was very clear that it was only “some”? And, it is really true that there are “diploma mills” in the Phil. The decency,good moral values and excellent work habits of Filipino medical practitioners in the USA are unparalled. That is why there is a great demand and preference for them. And the American public knows that. Stop indulging in self pity. (Kinakawawa tayo palagi attitude)There will always be the bad apples of our country. And they do not help promote good business or ethical sense, so why dwell on it?
Can this really be worse than the legendary jokes and insults hurled on Erap, the President of the Republic of the Philippines? Sa ating wika, Ang Kagalang Galang Na Presidente nang Republika nang Pilipinas. Susmaryosep!!!!!!

totoo naman ang sinabi sa abc desperate housewives. ang university of the philippines college of medicine at university of santo tomas college of medicine lang ang naka comply sa u.s. stringent medical quality standard systems. dati seven medical schools lang ina allow to operate in the phil. ngayon dahil sa politics , marami nang mga diploma mills na medical schools. papayag ba kayo na maging patient ng doctor galing sa diploma mill phil. medical school, baka mamatay kayo unnecessarily. attentio ched chairman ! pls. close immediately all substandard phil. medical schools! you are doing your job!

Well I’ve always had the hots for Teri Hatcher ever since Superman, and I believe that she is one of today’s sexiest actresses, although I never watch Depserate Housewives. But I did listen to what was said over the radio and I don’t think people should go over board. Because I don’t think it was meant to be insulting or racist in anyway. It was all apart of the script. I mean I have live in America my whole and gone to American schools. Yes I’ve been called many things but I learned to grow with it. And why should we let what was said put us down unless we let it. You know so many other minorities have been called much worst than what was said on that TV show. Like blacks do you know for a long time blacks were slaves in America they were given no freedom whatsoever. Until Fredrick Douglas,or Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Beecher Stowe did something and Martin Luther King Jr. Also let’s see what racist is it is a group of people who differ from other groups of people because of color,sex,religion,etc. People like Ku Klux Klan people who dressed up in white hooded robes and terrorised people who are not white. Those are racist. I have lived in America for a long time to know that yes there are those who may be arrogant but there are also those who are very helpful and kind some of them are my friends and my teachers and priest and yes doctors. I’m not taking anything away from the Filipino health professionals because I think you are great. But why not take what said make it as your fuel to strive and reach your goal to become great doctors.

[...] Services « Insulting remark about Philippine medical schools? [...]

It is a common knowledge that for a few thousand pesos one can buy a degree in Philippines. I believe that Filipinos should take it easy on this one least of course you want that issue to bomeerang in your face. Just look at the present occupant of the Malacanang Palace. Illegal President equals illegal diploma equals corrupt society equals immorallity. Add to that is the Catholic institutions evil ways.

Filipinos should clean their acts first and clean their own backyard of illegals and do start with Arroyo if you guys want respect from the world if not from your own.

It is so easy for us to re-act to such comedic script when the evidence is their in our face.

I always believe that the Filipinos deserve the kind of government they have for allowing of course such things to happen and for allowing their religion and the media for controlling their minds.

Time to clean our backyard now….

Teri Yaki,

I JUST LOVE THIS….makes my day

Guys read this again…

WALA YAN DOON SA NAPANOOD KO NOONG ISANG ARAW!!!… TIGNAN NYO ITONG EXAMPLES:

1. For record China invented civilization in the East, but they also invented corruption…

2. …do you know Evelyn Catherine Silagon? … So you don’t have a daughter by her, you have a son…

3. Who’s your travel agent? … I’d like to be your travel agent!

4. Abalos just said you were lying under oath. Is he also lying under oath when he forgot or cannot recall bribe offer?

HINDI BA NAKAKATAWA? Sana magkaroon ulit ng inquiry at ipatawag itong si Terry Hatcher “in aid of legislation” para matawa ulit ako!

Mga Kababayan,

Nag-sorry na daw!

Kaya lang ginamit daw ang speech ni Gloria Arroyo…the infamous “I AM SORRY”.

In fact, they hired Nora Aunor daw in the states to deliver the I am Sorry speech..

Oh di ba panalo…

Remarks made against the Filipino medical community is very disappointing. I hate to hear that we are belittled because we do excel in the fields we are in. I also believe that at this point it is not for us to focus on the reason of those remarks. It is but right for us to react negatively even to the extent of boycotting the show. I hate to hear some filipinos trying to justify abc and teri and diverting the issue on our system. There is a different venue for that.

@ TIM

I agree with you, in a way.

Instead of complaining and venting, I think we, Filipinos, should look at this as a wake up call. EACH AND EVERYONE OF US can start doing something to change this negative image. The doctors who have been successful here in the US should start investing in the Philippines - i.e., medical tourism, etc. Let us start an “economic revolution” so that Filipinos don’t have to go abroad to find jobs and be treated like dirt!

yes we must do something about it..it is really an insult to us filipinos..other nationals would think filipino doctors and med schools are not competent especially those who have watched that episode…it is a joke yes but the impact can create bad impressions to us filipinos and definitely can affect employment abroad…this is an exaggerate but it is true in some point…on the other side, hope this episode is a wake up call to the government to improve the quality of education in the country because how can one foreigner creates a joke like that if they dont have a basis..maybe that is what they observed..

well, turn the joke on the Americans with their ivy league schools…maybe they’d aim their nukes at us.

though its a joke, should it go far to humiliate an entire people? doing it to an individual is ideally taboo. we cant blame many, even if you do too, in reacting against that because, down as we are all we could do is maintain the faces we look in the mirror everyday we wake up.

in a State University (in a province) where I graduated from, students from other nations come to study medicine. I saw them with my own eyes. so i see the joke really as insulting.

I wonder, maybe the scriptwriter is not aware tat he has a great uncle or grandfather of some sort who saw action in the WWII Pacific campaign. Im sure a score of Filipino doctors cured their share of American casualties in those dark days.

I also have a friend who lives in Hong Kong, she chose to go home ere in our province to have a surgery. I wonder why? She certainly can afford the best medical care in the US.

[...] she went to ask why her menstrual cycle was off for several months. (Editor’s note: Click on Ruben Nepales’ blog post to hear an MP3 file of the dialogue between Delfino and her doctor.)Filipino blogger Mike in Manila [...]

I hate the writer of the show, he/she doesn’t have any rights to discriminate Filipinos. It is not a funny joke.

as much as we don’t deserve such an insulting remark via a tv script, this is the fault of sensationalized journalism in the philippines. we already know how sensationalized local newspapers and broadcasters are — hyping up a specific scandal about board exams here. Worse, they are not ignorant to the fact that the world is watching. It’s called Karma. Media vs. media. Poor Filipinos: victims.

I don’t even watch the show. I only found out about it coz it’s on the radio, the newspaper and TV. Then officemates picked up the news from those sensationalized sources. It’s weird coz the same local media who seemed to have brought to the world’s attention the board exam scandal are the same entities who are so furious about the American TV script… Phonies!

Damage control starts at home. I sincerely believe in responsible democracy. And irresponsible democracy is the abuse of free speech: hyping up alleged local scandals. The culprits? Local media. Another irresponsible use of democracy is automatically pointing a finger on the government. Sheesh. We are the government. We make the country how we want it to appear abroad.

If you look at the scene closely, Susan was actually insulting the WHITE physician by asking if he got his medical degree from the Philippines. She was not insulting Filipino doctors but the AQmerican doctors who failed to get into US med schools and had to go abroad to earn their degrees. Although it IS a slur on our med schools, whose fault is that? There DOES need to be a drastic change in our educational system. Filipinos who graduate from local med schools may be as good as or better than the US medical graduates but just can’t get into the US schools because of visa and/or financial constraints. However, it is the American FMGs (foreign medical graduates) who should feel insulted because the joke (done in poor taste, by the way) implies that just because they graduated from a foreign school, they are not competent. I know many Americans who went to the same med school as I did who had no choice because they simply could not afford the tuition in US med schools. Most of them are doing very well in their practices. One is even the head of continuing medical education in a prominent University Hospital in New York City. He has been very helpful in facilitating specialty training for Filipino medical graduates not only from his alma mater but from other Filipino schools because he believes in them. If anything, it should be this good doctor who should be filing a complaint with ABC. Filipino medical graduates, American graduates of Philippine schools and graduates of US medical schools have to pass EXACTLY the same examinations in order to practice medicine in the US. No exceptions.

I found a dispassionate and objective perspective on the controversial issue here, from another Filipino blog here:

http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/

Interesting food for thought?

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/2007/10/i-was-going-to-conclude-ten-letters.html

Some food for thought to digest, certainly.