U.S. television network ABC, owned by Disney, released a statement apologizing for the “brief reference” to Filipino medical professionals in a line delivered by actress Teri Hatcher as part of the “Desperate Housewives’” latest season premiere.
Part of the statement read: “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.”
According to reports ABC will consider re-editing the episode for future telecasts. However, Filipino-American physicians stressed that an apology or even a possible re-editing was not enough for ABC and “Desperate Housewives” to correct its obvious mistake. such as making an on-air retraction and acknowledge the contribution of Filipino medical practitioners and health professionals to the U.S. Another demand was for ABC to provide training in cultural diversity among its creative staff to prevent such slurs from happening again.
A protest action is planned in New York on Friday (US time) to pressure ABC and “Desperate Housewives” to make such amends.
The problem is deeply rooted. Unless such insensitive creative professionals change their view of the world, these offensive attacks would most certainly persist.
Such mobilization against the tide of hatred is very much welcome. It sends a stern message to these ignorant, callous, and insensitive individuals that Filipinos, most especially, won’t take this sitting down.
* * *
Jean Garcia was in tears after showbiz reporters asked her about the alleged “advice” she gave daughter Jennica on the use of condoms amid the latter’s rumored affair with GMA-7 teen heartthrob Mart Escudero.
Jean pleaded to the showbiz press and her colleagues in the industry not to “corrupt” Jennica, who has since been affected by the news.
“Sabi ko lang sa kanya, ‘Huwag kang magpapaapekto and you pray.’ Kasi, ‘pag sinabi ko na ganyan talaga ang show business. Hindi dapat ganu’n ang show business, di ba?,” Jean said in a press conference of the upcoming horror movie Hide and Seek, which launches Jennica. Jean plays Jennica’s mom in the movie.
“Huwag naman. Buti kung totoo. Pero ‘pag hindi kasi totoo, ‘yun po ‘yung hurting, eh! So, nasasaktan ang bata, kasi hindi naman totoo,” Jean added.
10 Feedbacks on "ABC’s apology amid the outrage"
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Betty
Can legal action be filed against ABC by a Filipino-American group? Damage has obviously been done here and this will significantly affect the morale of most Filipinos and Filipino-Americans working in health care in the United States! A class action suit is needed by this irresponsible network!
LarryESP
Some comments are deviating from the actual issue. It’s not an issue of competency or how hardworking the Filipino doctors and nurses and are, which I believe America already knows by heart. Why do you think Filipinos in medical field are all over the United States? You will hardly find a medical institution in the U.S even in deep inside the rural states of Kansas, Iowa and so forth without a Filipino nurse. It’s because America knows the Filipinos are competent in every aspect.
The real issue is passing the board exam through leakage as a result of the exposed nursing test cheating a year ago. We are talking about a massive cheating and not just by one or two students so that cast a dark shadow on incoming nurses and doctors. It did not affect the competence and image of the current Fil-Am nurses at all. Their performances speak for themselves and the employers are happy.
Now that ABC have issued a public apology, let’s all go back to work and put this behind us. I’m sure this will fade away in no time. The more we talk about it, the more Desperate Housewives will benefit on it. They are flourishing ‘cuz we are giving them free publicity and they are enjoying it. Asking the Filipinos to boycott Desperate Housewives is just like asking your kids not to go to Friendster anymore.
Now is the time for self-examination. Let the guilty party – the govt. officials, the students and others who tried to hide the cheating feel the magnitude of their unjustly acts. That it’s a sin against the Lord and against humanity. Think about a nursing or a med student who didn’t deserve to pass the test but passed it by crooked way, got hired in a hospital and was assigned to a critical intensive care unit. Put yourself in the shoes of the patient.
Corruptions in the govt. and crab mentality among the people were the root cause of all of these misfortunes and many more to come. Behold, these sins are not just against mankind but also of divine.
Tim
hypocrisy is the term for it. they would have fired a scriptwriter who uses the N word in his script, or make disparaging remarks about the girlie man group, but apparently okay to insinuate that Filipino medical schools cannot be relied on to graduate top notch medical personnel.
who the hell even knows where the Philippines is anyway, much less care about hurting a whole nation’s pride and self-esteem ?
adolfo
Kasi ang mga Pinoy,Pina-Patronize ang mga shows na ganito.Ang NBC na nagpapalabas ng SNL nakaligtas na ng maraming bese sa pang-insulto nito sa mga Pilipino.ngayon, kayong mga nasa amerika, HWAG NYONG IPATRONIZE ang mga palabas na ito.ganoon din sa Pilipinas.kaya nakakaligtas ay sa dahil HINDI nito nararamdaman ang EPEKTO.Marami rin ang polpulasyon ng mga Pinoy.Kung HINDI nyo Ipa-patronize ito…then makakaramdam sila.Tandaan ninyo na ang mga artista at mga PALABAS na mga iyan(American shows/Sitcoms) ay KUMIKITA dahil sa mga MANONOOD.Wala silang naibibigay sa inyo.Entertainment? ANo iyon??Kung ako sa inyong mga Pilipino. magbasa kayo ng libro at PAUNLARIN ang mga PAG-IISIP.dahil darating ang oras na KAILANGAN mong IPAGTANGGOL at IPAGLABAN ang bansa na pinangalingan mo at ng iyong lahi.DO NOT PATRONIZE NBC,ABC,FOX,TV20.Hollywood is such GARBAGE!!It makes millions out of GULLIBLE SUCCERS like you who patronize their shows.Kung hindi matututo ang mga HIND-t na mga ito irespeto ang bansa at ang mga pinoy,,THEN hwag nyo ring IPATRONIZE ang mga palabas nila.SAKRIPISYO,,pero kailangang GAWIN…..
tony
I dont watch desperate housewives, just because it is a stupid show! reason why I am leaving a comment is for stupid people who watch the show and idolize whatever they get from watching the show. I hope they learn a lesson with their racial slur and research on what they will broadcast on the show. As far as medical license is concerned , I personally can show the staff of ABC where Philippine Medical schools stands as far as excellence is concerned.
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Jun Pindot
Why do tongressmen keep referring to Teri Hatcher as Teri Tatcher? If they don’t know what is going on, they need to just shut up instead of embarassing themselves.
Chrissie
Guys, apparently there are other TV shows in the US that continue to insult the Filipinos. Look at this video:
http://www.pinoymoneytalk.com/2007/10/08/stupid-americans-filipinos-cant-take-jokes/
It insults Filipino nurses by saying “I am fairly certain that Filipino nurse is stealing from me.”
Janet
Kaplastican ng mga Pilipino
Eh masmasahol pa nga yung mga jokes natin. Panoorin niyo yung DJ Bumbay! Nakakahiya ang mga Pilipino
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