Kevin Nadal, who lists himself as a ‘Filipino Performance Artist/ Activist,” is upset it seems over ‘a line’ in the TV show ABC TV show desperate housewives about Philippine Medical Schools – obviously he hasn’t been to Manila recently, nor maybe heard about the last nursing exams which led perhaps to this unkind of comment or opinion in pop-culture on ABC TV.

But Desperate Housewives, like all episodic TV Shows tries to pick-up on the topical and be cute at expense of others. Sometimes it’s best to just ignore this kind of thing.

But, at other times, perhaps a complaint is due to make ABC TV, Capitol Cities, and others in Hollywood aware and be more sensitive to an issue like this one.

Below is Mr. Nadal’s petition which was emailed to me. I don’t know him, nor anyone from Desperate housewives itself, But I have been in the news business here for a long time and it might make a nice story.

Even if only to make medical schools aware of the need to ‘improve’ their image in international pop-culture.

Desperate Housewives’ Teri Hatcher SLURS Filipinos

Posted by RoMa on Oct 2, ’07 4:55 AM for everyone

In the Premiere of Desperate Housewives Teri Hatcher made a remark about Filipinos – doctors/nurses. She was talking to her doctor and then 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 med school in the Philippines.”

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Dear Kababayan and Allies:

I heard through the grapevine about a remark made on an episode of “Desperate Housewives” last night. The scene entailed Teri Hatcher’s character (Susan) at a hospital, being told by her gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause. Susan replied, “Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines.” If you go to abc.com, you watch the full episode and witness the scene at about 18:50 minutes into the episode.

This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful, but is also unfounded, considering the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the health care industry. Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world. So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant.


As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this type of hateful message is not allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O’Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the show’s producers, the show’s actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn’t the first time that negative remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the past. In recent years, we’ve heard one too many “dogeater” comments by “comedian” Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her standup act, and I believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful speech never happens again.

Please join me in expressing your concern, disappointment, and/or disgust to the producers of ABC.com. You can sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/ or you can reach them directly at abc7@abc.com.

And please feel free to forward this widely to other Filipinos/Filipino Americans/ Asian Americans/ and other allies.

Sincerely,

Kevin Nadal,
Filipino Performance Artist/ Activist

I’m pretty active in media here – so far, I have not seen it nor heard about this in in Manila, on TV, online, radio or newspapers – anywhere – and ‘nandito ako Maynila.

But, I promise you, Mr. Nadal, I’ll pass your petition around.

Yet, one has to look at the whole problem. Last years medical exams fiasco has hurt the image – NOT the quality of Philippine Medical schools and institutions.

Even the DECS and CHED admit that as does the Philippine Medical Association.

The bottom line is perhaps to take up any anger with Mark Cherry who is the shows head writer – or its producer. Hatcher is what she is an actor- she reads a script- and then says it.

So after all, it’s the writer of the show the producer, the TV network – who should be told hey – thats not fair! – and should get a well deserved complaint for a bigoted racist slur- not perhaps Hatcher.

But then again I never listen to what she says on the show anyway. Although I admit I watch her… Yikes na-batukan ako ng misis ko bigla.

On complaints. you can do here : http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html

So, if someone wants to complain, lets be more intelligent than the jerk who wrote that line in the script.

Which is while perhaps seen from the Hollywood cocktail scene – witty- but as all things considered, is unfair and racist.

Subalit, after the scandal involving last years nursing exam here – one cannot be onion skinned about it.Yes, there are thousands of great nurses and doctors from the Philippines ho save countless lives all over the world.

Among them the head nurse of ABC Capitol cities – as are their accountants and comptrollers who do their payroll!

Perhaps that is where head writer Marc Cherry should feel the ‘pinch’ – the next time he gets a flu shot. Or considering his lifestyle a shot for something worse. So with Director Larry Shaw;

I’d hate to be them the next time they show up for doctors appointment or dental exam.

Considering 27% per cent of nurses in L.A. come from the Philippines.

HA-HA, eto dream na eksena, ‘Oy yung expired na novacane HA!!!’ – but Philippine Doctor’s and Nurses are more professional than that. (Pero sigue na rin!)

So yes – do complain do get upset and do remark that they should do something about it to make it up to the millions of nurses and doctors from the Philippines

Or just not watch the show- boycott it.

But this is hardly a national insult more of a call to DECS, DOH, and, Medical Schools, to awaken and be aware of the need to clarify issues past of problems.

A call to be aware of the problem which Mr. Nadal does, and make others at ABC TV aware.

It is also an image problem that needs to be addressed by CHED the DECS and others like the DOH. ‘Di po ba?

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