I don’t know how many readers have heard about the big controversy this week, but a line uttered in a US TV show caused a lot of buzz in the Philippines. The show was ABC’s popular “Desperate Housewives” which aired this week. In the show, the character played by Teri Hatcher, while talking to a doctor said:
Can I check those diplomas ‘coz I just want to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.
Well, within hours of the show airing in the USA, there was a real stir in the Philippines! I started getting a lot of e-mails about the line, and a lot of people were asking for an apology from ABC and from Hatcher herself. I have to say that I have to agree with the people who took offense with the comment. Frankly, it is an offensive thing to say, as it implies that all Philippine Medical Schools are sub-par, or lacking in some way.
The truth is that Philippine Medical Professionals (especially nurses) are sought after around the world! It is because of their excellent skills in the medical field, their mild and kind bedside manner, and just their all around competence. The fact is, in the USA, if you go into the hospital for any reason there is a good likelihood that one or more members of your treatment team will be Filipinos! One e-mail that I got after this incident even said “I hope Teri Hatcher does not go into the hospital anytime soon, because the Filipino nurses there will probably not treat her well.” To me, this comment goes out of bounds, though. Why? Well, Teri Hatcher was only reading the lines that she was told to say. She didn’t write the show, they have other people who do that.
All in all, this was an unfortunate event, and one that ABC will probably try hard to avoid again. Can you imagine if they had said that “black” or “hispanic” dominated Medical Schools were inferior? What an uproar that would cause, and rightly so! It makes me wonder – what were all the people responsible thinking when they let this air?
Living here in the Philippines, I often hear anti-American things on Philippine TV shows, or anti-Foreigner in general. Currently, the Koreans are really looked down upon, and anti-Korean things are said on TV, in the Newspapers, and just about anywhere you can imagine. Why are comments like this allowed openly, and are said over and over again (especially concerning Koreans), while a single comment on an entertainment TV show creates an uproar? What is right in one instance is also right in other instances too, don’t you think?
Yesterday, ABC issued an apology for the slur. When that happened, I thought the incident was over already. I thought that up until about one minute ago. I just got another e-mail claiming that on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart recently, the show labeled former Philippine President Corazon Aquino as a “slut.” Here we go again…
Hi..I did not hear about it at all until I read it here….I do not have cable tv and do not want it and for sure not interested in Desparate housewifes…..hahahah..so I get my news on the net most of the time…
I think that all should be a little more sesitive to others and remind their selves that how would I feel if a rude and racial or other not so good comment was directed at me.
So..some times it makes one really wonder who is behind some of these shows on tv and such..with some of the stuff that is said.
Personally I think that the Asian woman is one of the most beautifull woman on the face of the planet and also belive if you are lucky enough to have one and treat her with respect and kindness you probably will be in heaven most of the time 🙂
So..I quess it comes down to this..if we stop and think a moment about how we would feel our selves if some of the rud and hatefull and worse comments were directed at us…how we would feel..then we might just learn a little more and stop and think before we make a rude or hurtfull comment to another…
I quess in lots of ways the whole world is going down in stead of up…lets just hope there is enough of us that want to keep improving on things and have some kind of decent vaule system with in our own self,the good old Golden rule has a lot of food for thought.
I really enjoy this web site a lot…lots of good comments about many things and also some fun Photos of many things also….
Our media and entertainment shows attack or manipulate those that they feel can't or won't fight back. I mentioned last week that Marlou had given birth to our new daughter Isabelle. While a patient in a large respected hosptial Marlou was actively recruited by the majority of the Nursing staff to join them. (Marlou is an RN that worked at Davao Doctors for years). The director of Human Resources heard that there was a Filipino RN that was not working anywhere in her hospital as a patient and personally extended her an invitation of employment when she is ready. I am telling this because its obvious that the people that really know the value of the Filipino know what a talent they are. Hollywood can go heal itself. Ron
Hi Bob,
I signed the online petition. I just hope that those responsible for this won't end up in the ER and have Filipino doctors and nurses attend to them. Their conscience, if they have any, will take care of them. The statement was truly uncalled for.
Re anti-Korean sentiment in the Philippines, I think that has more to do with the negative experiences that the Filipinos have with them. I'm just wondering what negative experiences the writers of "Desperate Housewives" have with Filipinos for them to do something like this?
Hi Bob, I have a comment on this issue. Those type of comments really irratate my soul. I have so much respect for the Philippino Nurses, Doctors, and staff. Fifteen years ago in Juneau Alaska I had my appendix removed. I was in the hospital for 3 days. I had the best care in the world given to me buy a very wonderful Philippino nurse, of course she would do all the nurse things they do but she also made me feel like somebody. It just so happened that my birthday was in just a few days and she asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I said, ya know what, you may think I am crazy, since I hadn't eaten any real food for several days, but I would love some Lumpia. She laughed and said okay. The next day we had a feast in the nurses area and all her collegues and friiends came buy to wish me a happy birthday and enjoy the wonderful food. I will always support their professionalism and hard work, I'm on their side. Keith
Hi Dan – Thanks for sharing your opinion, and also for letting us know that you are enjoying the site! I'm glad to hear that, and I hope that you will continue to visit.
Hi Ron – Interesting to hear about the job recruiting at the hospital! It doesn't surprise me a bit!
Hi Tina – What's wrong is wrong, there is no justification. Insulting Koreans for the misdeeds of a few of them is just as wrong, in my opinion, as what Desperate Housewives did. If a Korean did something or said something bad to me or to you, that does not mean that all Koreans are bad. But, I have heard plenty of TV references to other foreigners here too. Foreigners are pedophiles, etc. It's a slur, plain and simple.
Hi Keith – Haha… your story is heart warming! I bet that was some good lumpia too! 🙂
The ABC's story writer succeeded! He will have a big raise soon. The buzz he or she created probably improve the program's rating a few points higher. 'Meaness' in the media has really worsen.
"Can I check those diplomas ‘coz I just want to make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines."
That statement though uttered in private amongst doctors in prestigious Medical Centers in the U.S. accepting applications for their residency programs will not be offensive. The quality of teaching and training of Philippine medical students has really deteriorated or 'has not kept paced' over the years. That's a fact.
Philippine Nursing though is topnotch. That's a fact. I posted before that hopefully the Philippines will continue to set the highest standard in this field and not succumb to the quick profit of milling diplomas.
It really amazes me how little we have progressed in the 60 years I have bene paying attention to this sort of issue. I was pretty mortified the other night while watching the NBN Blue Ribbon hearing to hear Senator Miriam Santiago use a particularly "bastos" term for the Chinese .. equivalent to the "n" word in some circles.
When I was a boy I first thought racial and ethnic discrimination was somehtng whites practiced on blacks … then I traveled the world and I find it happens all over, in all different races and ethnicities .. It's particularly interesting how some Filipinos from one province will hold extremely derogatory views towards those from other provinces, sometimes voicing their disdain quite vocally … all so-and-sos are thieves, all the women from province x are pom-pom girls, etc. I really and truly don't know the cure … but ABC was certainly stupid to leave that in the script.
Hi Bob, this story is also causing a stir in Australia today, and as I have not seen the episode (and not likely too, as this is not my type of television) From my point of view it supports my personal understanding that you dont feel the hurt of racism/descrimination until it directly affects YOU! Maybee what the world needs is a great big melting pot…
Hey, its fiesta in my wifes village today. I hope they are all having a great time. (wish I was there)
Hi Bob,
I agree with you that a racial slur is plain and simple WRONG! There is no place for racism and bigotry in a civilized world. I don’t think I made myself quite clear on my earlier comment. I don’t know what is being said on Philippine TV re Koreans and foreigners. If these are slurs and stereotyping, then of course it is wrong and there is no excuse for it! It just confirms people's ignorance and biases.
What I wanted to point out, though, is we should distinguish between complaints versus slurs. Of course the Golden Rule always applies “Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.”
Have a good day, Bob!
Hi Bob,
As big as that story is in the Philippines, it is a nonstory in the US. i'd suspect that only those within the Fil-Am community or those who frequent the Philippine news are the only ones who know of this story.
As unfortunate as that quote is for that show, It really didn't affect me much. Maybe it should have, but I feel a certain disconnect with that quote. Maybe if I had connections in the med field. I haven't even seen a single episode of that show.
I'm more embarrassed for the slurs I read about Koreans in the local publications. I can understand if the words were from blog or reader comments, but many of these slurs are from local journalists, politicians and columnists. I am just appalled by this and such words are seen as acceptable or normal. I feel the attitude shouldn't belong in this day and age and make us Dabawenyos look extremely backward.
Just recently a local sunstar paper columnist practically wrote a hate speech about Koreans (complete with maligning how they look physically). As a Dabawenyo, it's so embarrassing. And the anti Korean sentiment is now somewhat being used a rallying cry as an us vs. them thing. Personally, I think they are an easier target because they are "Asian" foreigners. I could go into that but I don't want to write too long a piece.
It's one thing to have a foreign tv show say those things about us Pinoys (a line that could have been substituted for any culture and still deliver the same so-called "punchline"). We have limited control over that, but it's another thing to see my own people say discriminatory things about foreigners. I'd prefer we be the better people and have more class.
Never heard of the Daily Show quote. I watch and enjoy that show a lot and the humor is tongue in cheek so I am curious what the context of the quote is. it could be much ado about nothing.
I remember an American actress (I think it was Claire Danes?) making an honest quote about how dirty Manila is (true) and she was declared persona non-grata by the city politicians. I'd rather have the pols admit that reality and fix it than making useless grandstanding like this.
My point is that I notice a sad double standard in Pinoy attitude. We may quickly howl in protest at any hint of anti-Pinoy sentiment, which I have no problem with. My issue is that I always hear unfortunate remarks about the Fil-Chinese, Muslims, Koreans, Blacks in casual conversation and laugh about it like nothing. Apply the "Golden Rule" indeed.
Macky that is incorrect as to it being a non issue here in the US in fact, the story is on major web sites , on entertainment television, and on the local and national news and the producers and writers surely will have kearned a lesson from this kind of slander. unfortuneatly attorneys will profit and insincere apologies will be made. Bob has a great point – if a raciest comment was made about the black community or hispanic community here there would be an uproar of epic proportions. It would be nice if all people could see people as humans instead of differant races there is "trash" in every race, sector, and ethnic groups all over the world however the nursing graduates from the phils are in my experience are definetly top notch and trust me when i say i have alot of experience in the medical industry. just my two cents. can't wait to be there next week and maybe see a nurse !
Thanks for the correction, Tommy — I just have not come across the story in major US news that I regularly visit (California newspapers –SF and San Diego– and mainstream US news websites). My wife frequents the US entertainment sites and she did not hear of the story. It may be just coming out now (I just noticed a small line on CNNs entertainment page, but you'd have to go to the entertainment section to see it. still not front page stuff). I only heard of it from the Phil. inquirer site and a blog petition from multiply ang friendster. So this is were I based my opinion on.
Maybe it is news in the entertainment/showbiz world. I don't usually dig into those sites. Not my cup o' tea. Now if it were on ESPN …. 😉
Hi Dr. Long – The writer certainly did raise the profile of the show, they will likely get a few extra viewers from this!
Hi Dave Starr – Yes, Miriam Santiago certainly did make some scandalous remarks against the Chinese race a week or so ago! Even as she tried to defend herself by saying that her husband is Chinese, she seemed to dig the hole a little deeper, don't you think? Racism and prejudice is something that rears it's ugly head in all corners of the world!
Hi Anthony – I agree with you completely. One can never understand the sting of prejudice until it has hit home. When I moved to the Philippines, I experienced a bit of prejudice – nothing too drastic, and I am not complaining, just using this as an example. I found that, as something I had never experienced on the receiving end in my life, it indeed did hurt when I did see and feel it myself.
Hi Tina – Sorry if I misunderstood your previous comment. It seemed to me that you were dismissing the statements against Koreans in general as if they did not exist or did not matter. I just misunderstood your words. As Macky pointed out in his comment after yours, the anti-Korean problem is very bad here these days (and not just in Davao, as Macky seemed to be feeling).
Hi Macky – As I said to Tina, the anti-Korean remarks and comments are not just coming from Davao! It actually (in my opinion) started in Cebu a couple of years ago. It has spread like wildfire around the entire country now.
Hi Tommy – I am sure that ABC will learn a lesson from this and screen the scripts a little more tightly, as they should do.
I've experienced some anti semitism here. I was talking to a guy one night had a nice conversatin and he was talking about how he hated Koreans. Then he said whats worse then Koreans are Jews. DId not tell him I was Jewish. Then I met a girl in cebu who had a Filipino friend who went to Germany. She did not know I was Jewish and told me her friend said maybe those Jews deserved to be killed. So Filipinos can be very racist themselves but are so senstive when it comes from someone else.
I know many Filipinos at my job in the U.S. who talk about Filipinas as if they are only good for sex and nothing else. They give a very bad impression of the women here.
Bob, let me post my response to an email by a friend about his contention that the proliferation of diploma mills in the Philippines as a reason why Teri Hatcher's character statement above is correct: Bot,
Bot,
I think you miss the point.
This was a low blow and uncalled for. ABC did this to raise the rating of the program.
As you may know, to be able to practice medicine in the U.S. you need a State License.
So why not just ask for a state license if the character was suposed to doubt the doctor's credential.
Obtaining a State License to practise medicine is a very rigorous process and almost 100% filters fraudaulent credentials.
In fact, the character should have praised the 'doctor' if he came from the Philippines. To be able to pass through all those medical board tests/ECFMG etc. with a third world medical school education is a feat. If indeed the character doctor is a gynecologist he/she must have passed the specialty board exams after five years of rigorous OB/GYN residency training in the U.S.
Also, U.S. hospitals credetialing committees are very meticulous.
Diploma mills are diploma mills and way out of line on this discussion. It has nothing to do with practising medicine here in the U.S.
A fraud is a fraud and victimizes only people with moronic I.Q.- which this Teri Hatcher character has.
The ABC scriptwriter is a fraud. He or she didn't research the topic well before writing such moronic statement. Anyway he or she will have big raise soon from ABC's moronic executives for raising the profile of the show a few points higher…and that was really the point of all these.
Cheers!
To Post # 15 Neil:
It is very easy to make a story just like the story you’ve posted. Assuming we all believe your story, you should at least say where you came from for us to give our standpoint. As you stated “at my job in the US” which means you are not American. ❓ ❗ 😉
Hi Niel – I have also been around when Filipinos talked very negatively about Jews, Blacks and other races. It is quite uncomfortable. It does show that racism is alive in all parts of the world. I do feel that such racism in the Philippines is more a product if ignorance and unfamiliarity than true hatred, though. One thing that I have found fascinating is that on several occasions I have been sitting with a group of Filipinos and heard such racist talk, and then in the next breath they turn to me and talk about how racist the USA is against Filipinos. It leaves me not knowing what to say!
Hi Dr. Long – Every experience I have had with Filipino Medical Professionals (Doctors and Nurses) has been very positive. That goes for Medical people both here in the Philippines and back in the USA. I can't say a bad word about them or the medical schools here. They have served me very well.
Hi Teng – I am not sure exactly what part of Niel's comment you are remarking on. Do you mean about Filipino workers talking bad about Filipinas? I agree that I have not heard that before, but it could have happened, though. Based on the way Niel wrote, I believe that he is indeed an American. I often say things about "my job in the US" and such, and I'm American. 😉
Well Mr Neil, I highly doubt your story regarding filipinos hating jews. As fas as I know, filipinos only reacts to to those who they have interaction frequently and I don't think us filipinos have anything against semites as we can't even distinguish a jew from an arab or any other mediterranean people. What we know for a fact though is that Jesus Christ is a Jew himself.
Now with regards to the Koreans, yes there are filipinos who have something against some of your countrymen in the Philippines but this is not exclusive to the Philippines only just like in your country where you have people who also discriminate filipinos, chinese and other asian nationalities.
Why not ask yourself why is it so? How come japanese are treated deferentially in the Philippines even though they've done atrocities during the WW2. It is not because they've invested or whatever in the Philippines but because it is inherent of the japanese culture to be respectful and they show it to us and not act arrogantly when they're in my country. They don't act like they despise us filipinos even if they do despise all humans except them but they don't show it.
Respect begots respect mind you.
Sorry Bob but i've been trying to avoid commenting on this issue here but can't help it.
Hi Rey – Everybody is free to make a comment, provided that they don't attack. All I can say is that I have been present when anti semitic have been made by Filipinos. But, the thing is – these remarks should not mark all Filipinos! It only denotes racism on the part of those who say these things, and I really believe that such things are said because of a lack of knowledge.
I found an interesting perspective on the subject from another Filipino blog here:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007/10/…
Some food for thought to digest, certainly.
Exactly Bob! His story about OFW Filipinos who speak about Filipinas "AS IF" they are only good for sex and nothing else. I quoted the words 'as if' because this is very hypothetical and putting your ideas into somebody else's mouth is not a proper manner I believe. 😛
Hello Everyone,
I am “walking on eggshells” as I write this, fearing I might be misunderstood. I didn’t want to make any further comment but I felt that avoiding the subject doesn’t help us analyze a very real and serious problem and discuss possible solutions.
To Teng & Rey, let us not get defensive when someone says Filipinos are racist. Instead, let us try to understand why such a statement was made. My first instinct is to also get defensive because, deep inside, I don’t believe Filipinos, as a people, are racist. The ones who display some sort of racism are just plain ignorant or base their beliefs on limited information or knowledge of a particular race, nationality, ethnic or regional group. Like Dave Starr had mentioned above, prejudice exists amongst Filipinos against other Filipinos. It is a sad reality. Again, it is because of ignorance. I can believe that some Filipinos are anti-Semitic because we are a Catholic country and we grew up studying the Bible where we read about what the Jews did to Jesus and His followers. I even remember expressions like “Hudeo kang dako!” or “You’re such a Jew!” and it wasn’t meant to be complimentary at all. Where did this all come from? The only explanation I can think of is what we learned growing up as Catholics. I am not saying that Catholics portrayed Jews to be bad but those were the conclusions we made based on our limited knowledge of them. I did not have any exposure to any Jew until I came to New York. Currently, I live in a very diverse neighborhood and majority of our neighbors are Jews. However, we all live in harmony. We have a lot of Jewish friends. Truly, New York is a melting pot as America is a land of immigrants. We all practice tolerance and this is what I love about New York.
Back to the Philippines, I really believe that the anti-Korean sentiment is a classic example of a culture clash. I believe that the Philippine government has to do more to resolve this or it will only get worse. My thought is it might be a good idea to have a cultural sensitivity seminar for Koreans who wish to live in the Philippines long term. What may be acceptable behavior to Koreans may be viewed as insulting or rude by Filipinos. From stories I've heard, I can see this to be the root of the problem. Word travels fast and people are quick to draw conclusions based on hearsay. Unfortunately, the burden lies on the Korean/foreigner to prove Filipinos wrong about their biases. It is unfortunate that we have public officials who, instead of setting a good example, do the opposite. I really hope that the government addresses this issue sooner than later.
Hi Tina,
Thank you for enlightenning my thought. I guess I was over reacting 😛
Hi Tina,
I absolutely agree with you.
Growing up in a Chinese – Filipino household in the Philippines, I heard a lot of bad racial comments from the Filipino side of my family about my Chinese side of the family, and vice-versa. I understand that those comments were uttered purely out of ignorance, anger or bitterness, desperation, or whatever. But a lot of times both sides of my family tried to work it out and stick to one another especially during difficult times.
At my current job in California, I have the priviledge to work with christians, jews, baptists, jehovahs, muslims and atheists. No one dare say anything bad or demeaning words toward one's religion, sex orientation, race, etc. because it can be taken as grounds for reprimand, suspension or termination.
With the Philippine Government promoting the country as a retirement haven, edutourism, medical tourism and that sort… need to consider programs ideas like yours- "cultural sensitivity seminar". Maybe then, we (Filipinos and foreigners) will be more respectful and accepting of one another.
In my previous job, I remember feeling so hurt and lost because the people around me (mostly Iranians) were very rude and inconsiderate. Out of desperation, I mentioned that I wished to have a book to help me understand Persian people better so I can be effective around them. On my birthday, one of the girls gave me a book as a present. It was a book written by a Persian Psychologist about Persian History, its People, their culture, Persian peopole who are based in the U.S. their experiences and tendencies and why they are who they are today.
Reading that book helped open my mind about a lot of things about them who are based in the U.S.. It really helped me a great deal and I felt happier around them. The proverb: Do not judge a book by its cover have a more profound meaning for me since then.
I don't know if a similar book is already available in the Philippines.
I think we should have one like this for the Pinoys, the Koreans, the Japanese, etc.
The Chinese- Filipino and the Spanish-Filipinos have been in the country for hundreds of years and they learned to live and cope with the problem at hand. They carved a place for them in the Philippine society worth of respect and admiration. The Koreans are just beginning to do this, I hope.
Interesting about the comments on anti-semitism. That surprised me and it is unfortunate.
I can only base this on my experience. Growing up in Davao, I always noticed people around me had a hard time understanding why there was anti-Jewish sentiment. Anti-semitism was alien to them. Ignorant statements about other cultures? sure. But the Jewish topic was non-existent. Chinese, Indian and now Korean tension, that was easy to explain.
I remember watching WW2 movies like "Schindler's list" with my friends and there was a lot of confusion about the Jewish persecution. There would be times that I even answered questions about why there was so much hate against the Jews in stories depicted in the movies (being the resident history nerd in the "barkada"). It was like explaining the Shia/Sunni tension to them.
Even the recent movie, "The Passion" created heated debate between the film-makers and the Jewish community here in the States. In the Philippines? It was just a movie of Jesus' trials. From what I have gathered from the Filipinos around me, the extent of Jewish knowledge was: Jesus was a Jew in a Jewish community. Topics like why there was a holocaust, tradtions like the Hannukah or bar-mitvahs are not well-known.
I chalked that up to the fact that the Jewish faith and people are almost non-existent in the Philippines. Rey was right about that some Filipinos may have a hard time identifying a person of Jewsih culture. when I arrived her in the States in 97, I remember telling my cousins (who are half-Jewsh) that they may be the first Jewish people that I met or got to know.
Maybe times have changed and that new media, the internet and the current headlines have led to this change. I don't know. Like I said, this is just my own experience and surely, it is different with others.
Hi Tina – Thanks for expressing your thoughts, it was very well written, and I agree with what you are saying.
Hi Joy Co – Interesting about the book about Persians. I would think that maybe a show on TV could help a lot of people with such training.
Hi Mack – As always, interesting comment!
Hi Bob
I am an American who lives in the san francisco bay area. I work at a pawnshop where we get many Filipino customers. I have never ever experienced anything negative about Jews from the Filipino customers. This only happened on this trip and I have been here 7 times. I did get before that Jews have a lot of money and power. This I thought was more then that. Some of the Filipino customers will talk about how easy it is to get sex. Like with 3 girls at one time. Things of that nature or how I could trust I my gf bieng away so long (once only). I would say a couple dozen talk like this out of hundreds of Filipinos. I may have overstated the extent, but there is some there.
Let me state that this only happened to me twice. That one comment came from the friend of the person who i talked to about history. That was why that comment came up. The other guy that hated jews more then Koreans has been to the U.S. many times. I've told many Filipinos of my religion and I have never received a bad comment. I would say most are ignorant of Jews because there only a few here and mainly in Manila. Plus you generally cant tell a person's religion by looking at them. One even thought Jews were Christians.
Hi Neil – Yes, I agree. Racism is not rampant here, but you run across it from time to time. It exists everywhere in the world, I believe.
Filipinos should just get over it and those making a big deal out of this are just plain silly. Firstly, the line in Desperate Housewives was not RACIST. She did not say she wanted to make sure her doctor was not a Filipino. She said she wanted to make sure the medical diploma was not from a medical school in the Philippines and there's a huge difference.
She could just have easily said a medical school in the Caribbean. Or in Costa Rica. In each case, the line doesn't imply that Caribbeans or Hispanics are stupid. But rather that the STANDARD OF EDUCATION in less developed countries are usually lower than in industrialized nations like the United States, and frankly my dear Filipinos, this is true of the Philippines.
The prevalence of filipinas in the U.S. nursing industry has no bearing on this issue. Those are individuals who have studied and passed exams according to U.S. standards. A doctor's medical license in the Philippines does not entitle the bearer to practice as a doctor in the U.S.
This is what the line in Desperate Housewives meant. Again Filipinos, get over yourselves.
Huh? Who was talking about DH? I thought we already have moved on?
Rice King,
Since you mentioned it, the point here is: unfortunately, not everyone who watches DH is as well informed as you are. They will take what is being said on their favorite show as the truth. The writers could just have said “diploma from some third world country”. Why did they have to single out the Philippines? This clearly reflects the bias the writers and producers of this show have. It denigrates the achievements that Philippine-schooled doctors, who are mostly Filipinos, have made in the US. (By the way, for your information, there are foreigners, including Americans, who go to the Philippines to study medicine.) A lot have excelled in their fields, notwithstanding their Philippine education. So, the reverse is also true that you don’t need a US education to excel in your professional field.
I have moved on so I won’t be making any further comment re DH. I hope you have, too.
Hi RiceKing – Your remarks are pretty insensitive. You could have said the same thing in a way that is not offensive to some people.
Hi Tina – Yep, enough said! I think the topic has run it's course!
I've never post for sometime because I've been busy. Now, I do have time to respond to Hari ng Bigas 🙂 (riceking!).
You said "The prevalence of filipinas in the U.S. nursing industry has no bearing on this issue. Those are individuals who have studied and passed exams according to U.S. standards. A doctor’s medical license in the Philippines does not entitle the bearer to practice as a doctor in the U.S". I don't exactly understand what you meant by this.
FYI – for most, if not all, professionals from any foreign country who wanted to practice their profession in the US, they need to pass qualifying exams. That does include just RNs, it applies to teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. SO, you can't just rule out the nurses.
I'm not too sensitive with the DH show as others here. If I have to compare myself, I think I'm like Macky (see post # 11, para 2) that it didn't really affect me much. And that's probably our level of sense of humor is different from others. Just like others said, it could have been substituted with other countries/cultures.
However, if I'll be sensitive to the issue, though the DH situation refers to the MD's diploma, it did imply to a certain degree questioning the integrity/quality of education in the Philippines. And that's a sensitive issue to degree holders and professionals. That's why you get all this reactions. Though, true, there are some mediocre school in the Philppines, so does other countries and US including; average and above average schools in the US are somewhat comparable to average schools in the US.
I studied in MSU-IIT and MSU Gensan in the Philippines. These schools have limited funding from Phil. govt. but there were several instances that we top the engineering exams in the Phils. And when I took some classes in University of Michigan, though I'm not the smartest, but trust me I'm not way too far either compared to some of my classmates.
So, bottomline, only an ignorant person will believe what DH is implying, which unfortunately quite a few. 🙂 As I've said it doesn't bother me much because lucky for me, I don't have to deal with that, it's not even a news here in my part of the US! Aside, from the fact that I work with people that always believe in professional skepticism. 🙂
I am rambling here… though Pinoys are the second largest immigrant in the US, I think we're politically underrepresented, hence, we don't really have a major impact. That's why I'm glad when the guy who initiated the online petition and made ABC apologize, for me that's an accomplishment :).
Corrections to my post… I should have read my comment before submitting 😳
1st para… I've never postED….
3rd para. 2nd sentence…. That does NOT include just RNs…
5th para. last sentence… average and above average schools in the PHILS. are somewhat comparable to average schools in the US.
… and probably more!
Have a wonderful night/day to everyone! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lea.
When I studied at the University of the Philippines (U.P.), I had so many classmates who came from U.S. High Schools. There were some bright kids who excelled and there were some who were left behind.
When I enrolled in the Proper Medicine Course at the University of the East (UERMMMC), we had classmates who had their Pre-Med courses from the best schools in America…Yale University, University of California-Berkeley, etc. And I was surprised to see white classmates from the best schools in America falling behind the batch, if not eventually kicked out of medical school.
When I did my Post-Graduate Medical courses in Harvard Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine & Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, I was even more surprised. These are supposed to be the best schools in America and I was very appalled and dismayed to find out that they can't even spell their own language correctly. I expected too much from these elite & Ivy League schools and was only frustrated to find out that horrible spelling errors were common in e-mails, hand-outs, and slide presentations. It was plain disgusting! They didn't even care enough to edit the lines before sending or printing it out. It was like jumping into conclusion without giving the premise a much deserved thought. And I have concrete evidence of these shortcomings which I kept in my "Believe it or not" Archives.
And to note that although English is just our second language in the Philippines, I never encountered spelling errors in any of my courses at the University of the Philippines (U.P.)
The message I learned from here is that we are only human beings and we are not perfect. From my experience, even the best medical schools in America also commit mistakes, which I was shocked for awhile and caught me in complete disbelief. So the scriptwriter of Desperate Housewives should have not generalized the standards of the Medical Schools in the Philippines. What if I generalized the mistakes of a few people in Harvard, Stanford & Johns Hopkins? What would I think of the whole American system of Medical Education?
Hi Dr. Javellana – Thanks for visiting my blog! It's always nice to have new visitors leaving comments. I believe what you are saying – there are good and bad students from every country in the world. And, good and bad schools in every country too! Making generalizations is almost always going to turn out to be wrong!
Thanks again!
Dear Bob,
Thanks for your balanced view of the world. Your are indeed very sensible and level headed. You can think clearly & deeply without color and prejudice. And you always try to be as objective as you can. I'm impressed!
Regards,
Dr. Herm Javellana
thank you very much for that, Dr. Javellana! Very nice words indeed!
Yes, I think I have to agree with what this guy says on his blog:
http://asbb-foreignexchange.blogspot.com/2007/10/…
———————————————
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&mo…
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?
UP to honor grad chosen by Harvard as scientist of the year
Inquirer
Last updated 03:03am (Mla time) 10/28/2007
MANILA, Philippines—The man whose research led to a groundbreaking medical discovery—a drug a thousand times more potent than morphine but without its drawbacks—will be conferred an honorary doctorate by his alma mater, the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Baldomero M. Olivera, who has been named 2007 Scientist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation at Harvard University, will receive the degree of doctor of science honoris causa on Jan. 16 at the UP Film Center, where he will also deliver a lecture as part of the UP Centennial celebrations.
Olivera and his research team, which includes National Scientist Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz of the UP Marine Science Institute, studied toxins in poisonous cone snails collected in the Philippines and discovered biomolecules called conotoxins.
Prialt, a chronic pain-relief drug, is the result of this study. It is a synthetic compound derived from conotoxins and is widely prescribed to cancer patients.
Significance
The significance of this discovery is that while conotoxins are more powerful than morphine, they do not induce tolerance. (Cancer patients who take morphine for chronic pain develop tolerance for the drug, so in the long run, increased amounts of morphine are prescribed to treat the same amount of pain.)
Because of his contributions to biochemistry, particularly his breakthrough research in conotoxins, Olivera is acknowledged and recognized by the international scientific community.
This year alone, apart from being named Scientist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation, he was also elected to the American Philosophical Society and became a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
'He never really left'
Olivera has "never really left UP," according to UP President Emerlinda R. Roman.
Since he obtained his bachelor's degree in chemistry summa cum laude in 1960, and despite having lived in the United States for many years as a sought-after professor and researcher, he has continued to maintain his relationship with his alma mater.
He still comes to UP twice a year to deliver lectures and conduct training seminars for students and faculty.
And as a distinguished professor of biology at the University of Utah, he makes his laboratory available to UP's budding scientists.
Olivera recently accepted from UP the position of adjunct professor. This will enable him to continue doing research with the university's students and faculty.
Olivera obtained his doctoral degree in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1966 and did postdoctoral work at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, Contributor