GMA News got my blog wrong

Jump to Comments

Dear GMA News,

First of all, I think it is reasonable courtesy to at least email me or post a comment that you are going to use my blog as a source for your news story. But this isn’t a big deal, since my blog is out there anyway. The big deal is, AT LEAST GET MY NAME RIGHT. This was the news item posted on the GMA Pinoy TV website:

Offended Pinoys seek apology from ‘Desperate Housewives’ creators

Article posted October 02, 2007 – 06:10 PM

A racial slur made against Philippine medical schools shown in the hit American television series “Desperate Housewives” prompted several Filipinos to demand an apology from the show’s creators.

The issue stemmed from a remark made by character Susan Mayer being played by actress Teri Hatcher when she visited the office of Dr Adam Mayfair, played by Nathan Fillion, on the show’s 4th season premier.

In the scene that was shown in the US on Sept 30, Dr. Mayfair told a visibly terrified Mayer that the word “menopause” seems to open a Pandora’s Box for the age-conscious middle-aged woman.

“They hear ageing, brittle bones, loss of sexual drive…” said the doctor who was cut midway from his explanation by an agitated Mayer.

“Before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? ‘Coz, I just want to make sure they’re not from some med school in the Philippines,” she said while searching for the doctor’s records. He apparently graduated from Harvard Medical School. (For the clip click http://mindy-tv.blogspot.com/2007/10/second-class-citizens.html)

GMANews.TV received e-mails from concerned viewers who found the remark insulting to many Filipinos. Some blogs have also discussed the negative remark made about the Philippines.

“I have communicated with fellow members of the health care profession, both Filipinos and other nationalities alike. We have all come to the conclusion that this kind of racial slur is a very irresponsible act …[which] should NEVER be tolerated in any society, whether in a first world or a third world country,” said Filipino Dr Siegfried Perez from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia in an e-mail to GMANews.TV.

“We, the members of the health care profession, demand the immediate public apology by the producers, writers and actors of this show,” Perez added.

US-based Filipino literary intellectual Sonny San Juan also sent a blog thread condemning what could have been intended as a joke.

Based on the Federation of State Medical Boards website, there are about 32 Philippine medical schools listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED), “30 of which are operating and two of which are closed.”

It also added that three medical schools that are currently in operation have been hailed by the Commission on Higher Education as “Centers of Excellence,” while another one was declared as a “Center of Development.” CHED based this on the track record, performance in the licensure examination and excellent faculty of the said schools.

Meanwhile, several bloggers had begun exchanging disgust over the “insult” made to the Philippine medical industry.

“If not for Filipino medical practitioners, a lot of hospitals all over the world will have to contend with rude health workers,” said Mindy on her blogsite.

“So, do hope your medical attendant is a graduate from the Philippines,” she added.

“I can’t understand why a show like Desperate Housewives would stoop so low as to offhandedly throw an insult just like that,” asked Shari Cruz on her website.

While most of those reacting to the episode lash out on the show’s scriptwriters, others blame the actor.

“The actress, Teri Hatcher, should insist not to deliver such dialogs as she just became the face of this insult to a country that was once a territory of the US,” posted by an online user from the blogsite, Coffee With Aimee.

Desperate Housewives is a multi-award winning comedy series which premiered in October 2003 and is aired weekly in the US by ABC Network. It is locally shown on Studio 23.

It follows the story of five sexually “desperate” sub-urban housewives living along Wisteria Lane in the fictional American town of Fairview. Aside from Hatcher, the show stars Felicity Huffman (as Lynette Scavo),Marcia Cross (Bree Van De Kamp),Nicollette Sheridan(Edie Britt) and Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis).

The show’s first season premier reportedly drew in a total of 21.3 million American viewers and eventually attracting a loyal audience. – Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV

12 Comments

Filed under TV Land