Reflections on the Desperate Housewives Issue
Amid all the complaints and violent reactions, the producers of the show Desperate Housewives have issued a statement of apology for the “racial slur” made on the show’s season premier, aired on September 30, 2007.
“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,” the statement said.
Some people went to my website to air their grievances and feelings, some just countered what the others said. A lot of views clashed, but I’m glad that only a few have resorted to argumentum ad hominem, which could’ve made the situation worse.
I thought twice about posting this on my blog, afraid for my statements to be misconstrued by some people. I know I have also expressed my offense over the remark, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I agree with the way some people have expressed theirs. I understand that feelings, pride and reputation have been hurt and tainted, but I think that a reflection is in order in times like this.
I agree with some of the comments that instead of getting all worked up about the issue, we should think to ourselves what made the DH writers think that way about the medical professionals who graduated in the Philippines. The statement has a basis, no thanks to Recto and all the other controversies that surround the med professionals in the country. But why can’t we just push for the betterment of the educational system in the Philippines? Why can’t we just unite as one in battling the cases of medical malpractice? And most importantly, why can’t we discipline ourselves? I stand by what I said; I think the remark is uncalled for. If DH wanted to be funny, they could have done away with that line. Like I mentioned, “funny” stops when some people take offense. It doesn’t matter when or where or how the remark was made. But why don’t we look for a long-term solution, a solution that would prove remarks like the one in DH wrong?
I say that Filipino are kinda stupid, and it seems that some people have found it offensive. I say this only because we refuse to acknowledge our own mistakes. We rattle on about how Americans are stupid and racists and all, but hey, we also are the same. What’s worse is that we throw insults on our own kind. It may not be called “racist” (maybe “regionalist”), but I hope you see the point. I personally have not seen Avenue Q, but, thanks to this, I tend to agree with one of the songs: Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist.
I also don’t and won’t dare question the person of his or her being a Filipino or a patriot/nationalist just because he/she has a differing opinion. We’re all Filipinos, and offended or not, we’re still all Filipinos. We just happen to have clashing opinions. Hey, we can’t have this certain issue divide us, right? Everyone who voiced out their displeasure, and those who chose to shrug this thing off, have made valid points in their arguments. Let’s leave it at that, and let’s use the points made to make our nation better.
It’s just sad that I’m not a TV whore. I’ve just come to know about a lot of other movie and TV blunders. I think I wouldn’t let those things pass. But, would I let that get in the way of improving myself and my country? I think not. I dare say it provides more inspiration in seeking for improvement. What we need now, first and foremost, is action. If you’re seriously offended, then prove them “dimwits” wrong.
I find the remark funny BUT offensive, and I personally would not remain passive about these things. But I also don’t find it funny when the “uglies” and “fatties” and “nerds” are made fun of on Philippine national TV. Just as I don’t find it amusing whenever my ex-boyfriend was poked on because he was a Muslim. Just as I don’t appreciate it that some people can make insensitive remarks about the minorities, the ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. Call me too onion-skinned (I’ve never denied it), but I can easily take offense, even on the behalf of the unpopular people. But even I have my own biases and unpopular views. Really, can’t say we’re not the same.
How about after this ruckus, we also change ourselves? You know, spice things up by showing the others that we Filipinos are not as incompetent and stupid as they make us out to be. 
[...] Continue Reading » [...]
We have our own biases — so true. Pati ako meron. I think bottom line is how we address things. I guess with this issue, we have to ponder. Seriously. Take a look at our system, our mentality as a people(we’re not exempted here ha! Hehe), our local TV shows who make fools out of our kababayans. Wag tayong ala-the Buzz. Let’s not imitate Malacañang na imbes na habulin yung namemeke ng diploma at ayusin bumababang kalidad ng edukasyon, nakisakay pa. Mag-aral tayo ng mabuti.
OT: Ang sipag mong magblog ngayon.
I took the stand of trying to understand how these writers came up with the dialogue and in the process “educating” them how diplomas are not the only ways to become a doctor in the US.
I also understand all those who put down the feelings of other filipinos who felt offended, insulted etc. Feelings are never wrong whatever your position on this matter is. It’s what you do with those feelings that can make or break it.
People see it in different lights. While some get offended, some find it funny and we can’t force other beliefs on others.
http://www.petitiononline.com/.....ition.html
Here’s a counter petition to tell ABC to not give in to these over sensitive crybabies who wouldn’t know real racism or hate speech if it slapped them upside the face in broad daylight.
It’s ok to sulk about the issue but hey, don’t let yourself be eaten by it, just prove it that is indeed wrong.
Alrighty. Let’s move on. The show will and chances are, this sunday’s episosde just garnered more viewers. From people who took offense and from the ones who didn’t(myself included).
@Anon:
I’m curious if it’s really a Filipino who wrote that one. It’s spelled Philipino kasi. Mabuhay Filippines? LOL
Hey Shari, long time no check up on you.
I’m back now and I’m going to bother you a lot. lol. I didn’t even know about this incident, I guess it has something to do with me not watching DH. I used to be able to handle racist remarks, I would just shrug it off and move on. Ever since I move to Newcastle, things have gotten a little worse and racism is something that pisses me off. I don’t know much about the Philippines and really can’t comment on what was said on the show, but I’m sure there were tons of people that found it offensive.
And I agree with you, something stops being funny when people take offence to something.
Can we also make a call to stop the more racial remarks aired in national television and locally produced movies?!
1. Stop making fun of the Bisayans
2. Stop making fun of the Indians
3. Stop making fun of dark-skinned colour Pinoys or Africans
4. Stop belittling the maids, houseboys, security guards, and gays.
5. Stop making fun of the Mulim-Filipinos.
I am bisaya, and i take offense when i hear racial slurs directed at my ethnicity in the movies or just around the corner. Since i am aware of that offense, i try not to make fun of other ethnicities and races.
@ Jeffrey:
Let me add:
6. Stop making fun of the Igorots
7. Stop making fun of the Aetas
aside from calling for a boycott against Desperate Housewives, let us also call for a boycott on Bubble Gang. The bubble gang culture had deeply permeated into the Filipino subconsious mind. Sadly.
Here’s what Teri Hatcher’s line 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.”
Here’s what I would have preferred 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 street corner in the Philippines.”
Yeah, I actually read about the apology a couple of hours ago on Google News when I was at school.
And you’re right about how everyone is a little bit racist. I totally agree with that statement.
I finally put my thoughts on the matter on my blog. It’s been a while since I wrote like this, and it feels great to really cut loose again.
Response to :
I agree. No one should ever be hit by jokes that sre supposed to make everyone laugh. If a sizable part of the people don’t laugh at any joke in particular, then the joke should not exist at all. We all should grow up really.
P.S. I linked your blog to my blog. Cheers!
Well everybody is a racist sometimes we dont even know it. I can’t blame them if some people think like that since it is either a. they are ignorant b. media only focuses on the bad side of the apple. That’s why I usually educate my fellow classmates that the Phillippines is a great country with wonderful people.
Btw, I am in the Philippines now.
thing is, blog commenters are only an itsy-bitsy-teenie-weenie-bit of the population who care. the humongous part of teh population of this great country do not even care what people think. to them, earning enough dough in order to feed their family/families is enough. so yeah, i’m talking about poverty. =\
I soooo agree with Jeffrey and Kris. Must put a stop to all of those regionalist and racist and sexist and jobist (is there such a word wtf! eh basta! “jobist” is like when you’re discriminated against because of your job) punchlines on Philippine TV immediately. Hell, if we could do that to our foreign counterpart, what more here?
Anyway, what I learned from this whole ruckus is that Pinoys can be the most insensitive yet at the same time overly sensitive creatures the world has ever beheld. Duh! As if we’re not guilty of our own racial slurs.
But like I said, apologies have been offered so let’s just move the hell on.
Now if only the government and kongresistas and other political bigwigs would mind their own beeswax, quit commenting about things that don’t really concern them e.g. forcing the viewers NOT to watch the episode and banning it from being shown here so that the ratings would drop and even going as far as calling Teri Hatcher “persona non grata.” WTF!!?? Stop being so showbiz dammit! Fix our country’s shit first mmmmkaaaay!
And yeah S, you seem to be blogging like hell lately! 6,420,955 entries all in just one freaking day wtfwtf! What gives, huh? ;-p
I think flips should take jokes as jokes. Jokes abound in the Philippines, too. A convicted drop-out former president who’s been the brunt of jokes take jokes in stride in his palatial jail - similar to Escobar’s self-made jail in Colombia. That’s right guys. Flips imprison corrupt government officials in palaces - so that the incumbents if convicted with similar charges get to chose their palace jails, too. Going back to this convicted president, this guy reportedly replied when his doctor said he will apply local anesthesia to his wound, “Money’s no problem. I can afford imported anesthesia.”
Where in the world doctors would downgrade themselves as nurses just to get to the US? Where in the world medical board toppers surprisingly come from low-end diploma mill med schools? Where in the world med students have to re-take board exams even if they passed the first one? Only in the Philippines because of money and corruption. Money really gets you around in the Philippines. It’s not what you know but whom you know (you can bribe).
A mother brought her child to a Flip pedia. “What wrong with the kid?”, the flip doc asked. The mother says the kid’s not been eating. The flip doc replied, “… maybe he’s not hungry.” - as his findings.
You can’t blame Flip docs and nurses if they see their American patients as zombies or cadavers they used to dissect at their low-end med schools. It’s green bucks they’re after, you know and nothing more. They’re just like any US migrant who would do anything in their country just to get to the Big Apple or anywhere in America.
Anyway, ABC’s apology is merely a marketing ploy and they’re laughing their hearts out of this brouhaha.
um.. what is a desperate housewife? dami kung naririnig na ganyan ngayon. Is it a law? how does it work? ahh.. ABC… ok.. so series siya? sorry hehe di me makarelate.. @.@.. anyway dropping by… pag commercial lang ako dito sa discussion na toh hehe
you know what, whether there’s truth to that comment or none, bottom line is they have no right to insult the filipino medical practitioners working in the USA. doing so would also be questioning the professionalism of their own licensure examinations because before a foreign practitioner can work in the US, he has to pass a lot of qualifying exams given by no less than THEIR OWN licensure council. i despise those who justify and rationalize the action of the production team behind this show… philippines may have a lot of flaws, but then again, what country doesn’t have? they don’t have to flaunt on National television (even worldwide) their unfair outlook on philippine medical schools. for those who are saying that we are being onion skinned for reacting to this issue, well i ask all of you, how do we suppose to react? give that show a standing ovation? get real! maybe you are not on the medical field that’s why you are not so affected or the USA have colonized you deep down to your soul but remember this, millions of people have seen that episode around the world and it HAS tarnished our reputation and degraded us. that comment is downright unfair and racist. dont justify their actions just because we have dirty laundries of our own. I say it’s just like being in one family. we tend to throw pranks towards our brothers and sisters, even calling each other names and throwing insults toward one another but when other people start doing that, we stand and fight for our siblings. just like in the philippines, we stand against those foreigners who tend to belittle and oppress us because it’s simply THEY HAVE NO RIGHT to do so. we’ve done them no wrong, so why all of these sudden media attacks towards us?
lastly, all i can say is that I can take insults and jokes on how i dress, what i eat or even throws of derogatory remarks on my physical appearance. it’s just skin deep and very superficial. but when they start to criticize without basis my views, beliefs, culture, nationaltiy and my professional capacity, all hell will break loose!!! because that’s the very essence and core what i am. No one has the right to insult that. a person who cant control what’s coming out of his mouth has control over nothing.
PONDER on this: what the world needs is for each of us to have respect towards one another. from there, we move on to loving one another.
hello shari.. first of all, musta ka na?
mas malala pa nga sa atin di ba? kapwa pinoy.. nag aaway, dahil lang sa rating sa channel hehe..
As Frank Cimatu put it — “Take it into perspetive, almost 40,000 already signed the petition condemning Desperate Housewives for denigrating Philippine medical schools or PMS-educated doctors. On the other hand, only 850 signed the petition calling for the return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines.” What is wrong here?
sign ka ngasa petiton here.. http://www.petitiononline.com/bells05/
hehe.. ngayon lang kita nadalaw, nag plug pa ako..
ingats!
[...]doesn’t speak well of us as educated professionals. I’d like to think that our medical professionals are equipped with the temperance to deal with such issues in a not so emotional manner. [...]
The Philippines should get even by producing a sitcom,”Desperate Housemaids” and have Ai ai de las Alas as host. Or make a movie, “Desperate Houseboys” and have Joey Marquez with his super-expensive “walis tingting” take the lead role. Philippines should lace these shows with toilet jokes Filipinos are known for and cater to. (This is the reason why Eat Bulaga is the Philippines’ longest (still getting stronger) TV show.)
The Philippines should take it from their former president who was convicted of corruption and plunder. He was the brunt of jokes even when he was still in power as college-dropout president - a joke. He is now languishing in his luxurious resthouse serving as his jail - still another joke. His doctor once told him he will apply local anesthesia to his would-be-operated knee. He replied,”to hell with it. Money’s not a problem. Get an imported one from the US.” - still another joke.
The Philippine Congress and Senate are sitcoms composed of actors and teen-agers. Need we say more!
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-ho.....mmary.html
http://www.google.com/lochp?hl.....Y+CA+91604
you know what, whether there’s truth to that comment or none, bottom line is they have no right to insult the filipino medical practitioners working in the USA.
Just as much as the non-Bisayans, non_igorots, non-Itas, non-maids, non-sekyu, non-Indians, non-jeepney driver, non-muslims, non-dark skinned people, non-mangyans, non-probisyanos have no right to make fun of them. But the irony? such practices are VERY rampant in the Philippines not only i n the local media but also in daily lives of Filipinos
[...] have signed this online petition. And Shari blogged about it not once… but twice… then thrice. It’s a good thing she didn’t write a 4th entry because there’s no short word for [...]