Desperate "Hate"-wives

Yes, I am referring to ABC's popular TV show, Desperate Housewives. This show has recently made headlines here in my country and has elicited a lot of angry reactions. Apparently on its premier episode on 9/30/07, a racial slur was said against the Filipino medical doctors. In the scene, Susan (Teri Hatcher) was told by her doctor that she might be hitting the menopausal stage, to which she replied " wait, before we proceed, let me take a look at those diplomas. I just want to make sure that it doesn't come from med schools like, the Philippines!"

Wow, what a totally inconsiderate, ignorant, hateful, racially discriminating remark! And with the media coverage that Isaiah Washington got when he said something about gays, Michael Richards against the African-Americans, and Rosie O'Donnell saying something stupid about the Asian-Americans (Chinese, to be specific), I am surprised that this type of derogatory remark has made it through the screenwriters, producers, actors and ABC's management itself!

Whoever wrote the script, wrote it in IGNORANCE. And Teri Hatcher is equally stupid for saying those lines. For those who are unaware, let me share some information with you concering the Filipino health care providers in the U.S.:

1) Filipinos, I believe, are the 2nd largest ethnic group in the U.S. Many of those entering the U.S. are making it as nurses, doctors and medical technicians.

2) Filipinos are able to work in the U.S. medical field because they all passed the U.S. board licensing exams, which I heard is NO piece of cake. So, that means that they are QUALIFIED to work here and have passed the U.S. standards -- their exam results say so... So they are not in the least stupid.

3) The Philippines is the largest Nurse producer in the whole wide world, especially in the U.S. I am sure that many major hospitals all over the U.S. will not be able to operate WITHOUT their Filipino nurses, doctors and medical staff.

4) We have been providing the U.S. with our BEST, to the point of compromising our own local health care system.

Regardless of their motivation, it is undeniable that Filipino nurses, doctors and medical technicians work very hard here in the U.S. That's why I strongly feel that this remark is totally uncalled for and is highly disrespectful of the race that has contributed significantly to the health care industry of this country.

If ABC claims that this comment was done in order to add humor to the show, then it has greatly failed because the statement is neither funny nor smart. We, Filipinos have done nothing to deserve the devaluation of our services in this nation.

So, I am banding together with the U.S. Filipino community in demanding an apology from ABC, and for them to edit/remove this racially biased remark. Such messages should not be permitted both on TV and in the airwaves.

While I love the U.S. and value everything that it is for me and my family, the blood that runs in my veins are still that of a pure-bred Filipino.

And I am very proud to be one!