Last Thursday, Studio 23 (Philippines) aired the controversial "Desperate Housewives" episode. A program advisory said that it was the official international edition of the said show. The alleged "racial slur" was already omitted. I found the scene rather ordinary because it lacked the
punchline that usually bring a good laugh.
When I first heard about the alleged racial slur in the news, I, being a Filipino, sympathized with my fellow Pinoys who were offended by the controversial line of Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher). The first question that entered my mind was "why did the writer thought of the med school in the Philippines and not of those other countries?" The first answer that came to my mind was, maybe, he heard about the falsification of documents along C.M. Recto avenue. Maybe, he heard this story from his Filipino friends or acquaintances. My second theory was, perhaps, he was aware of a news item in the Philippines where a leakage in the nursing board exams was discovered.
My theory number three was that he was not fond of the Filipinos. And, my theory number four was that it never crossed his mind that such comic line would offend Filipino medical practitioners in the USA.
I didn't want to be influenced by the reactions of my fellow Filipinos. So, I prepared my mind to be open before I watched a captured video of that particular scene on YouTube. My initial reaction was that I found the scene funny. Sarcastic but funny.
I enjoy watching Desperate Housewives. I like the way the show delivers punchlines especially if after a dramatic scene. Desperate Housewives is known for funny lines that sound sarcastic and delivered exaggeratedly.
Sometimes we do a thing we have no idea that it will result to something untoward. At times, we would have the hunch that a thing may lead to something untoward, yet, we risk doing it just the same. Sometimes, we fail to be sensitive to people's feelings, beliefs, and culture. Whether it was the writer's intention or not to discredit the Philippine medical practice, it's good to hear that ABC apologized to the Filipinos.
On the other hand, Filipinos should learn how to value themselves and their work. If I were a medical practitioner, truly, I would also be offended by that funny, sarcastic line. Sad to say, however, I was not offended because I am not from a med school. What concerns me most is how we could "kill" the popularity and availability to the public of the falsification-of-documents
underground business, and the under-the-table exam-leakage trade.
Things happen for a reason. That Desperate Housewives comic line is a reminder that we should value ourselves, our work, and the community that we represent. If you have to do an action now, what would you do to elevate the prestige of our Philippine medical schools?
punchline that usually bring a good laugh.
When I first heard about the alleged racial slur in the news, I, being a Filipino, sympathized with my fellow Pinoys who were offended by the controversial line of Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher). The first question that entered my mind was "why did the writer thought of the med school in the Philippines and not of those other countries?" The first answer that came to my mind was, maybe, he heard about the falsification of documents along C.M. Recto avenue. Maybe, he heard this story from his Filipino friends or acquaintances. My second theory was, perhaps, he was aware of a news item in the Philippines where a leakage in the nursing board exams was discovered.
My theory number three was that he was not fond of the Filipinos. And, my theory number four was that it never crossed his mind that such comic line would offend Filipino medical practitioners in the USA.
I didn't want to be influenced by the reactions of my fellow Filipinos. So, I prepared my mind to be open before I watched a captured video of that particular scene on YouTube. My initial reaction was that I found the scene funny. Sarcastic but funny.
I enjoy watching Desperate Housewives. I like the way the show delivers punchlines especially if after a dramatic scene. Desperate Housewives is known for funny lines that sound sarcastic and delivered exaggeratedly.
Sometimes we do a thing we have no idea that it will result to something untoward. At times, we would have the hunch that a thing may lead to something untoward, yet, we risk doing it just the same. Sometimes, we fail to be sensitive to people's feelings, beliefs, and culture. Whether it was the writer's intention or not to discredit the Philippine medical practice, it's good to hear that ABC apologized to the Filipinos.
On the other hand, Filipinos should learn how to value themselves and their work. If I were a medical practitioner, truly, I would also be offended by that funny, sarcastic line. Sad to say, however, I was not offended because I am not from a med school. What concerns me most is how we could "kill" the popularity and availability to the public of the falsification-of-documents
underground business, and the under-the-table exam-leakage trade.
Things happen for a reason. That Desperate Housewives comic line is a reminder that we should value ourselves, our work, and the community that we represent. If you have to do an action now, what would you do to elevate the prestige of our Philippine medical schools?
Keep up the good work.
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