Filipinos Goes Desperate?
October 4, 2007 · Filed Under All Entries, Socio Political
Once again, the Filipino Blogosphere is in an uproar as another “attack” was launched against the Philippines. This time, against our medical schools. Susan Mayer, played by Teri Hatcher in Desperate Housewives, said to her doctor following a seemingly impossible diagnosis:
“… before we go any further, can I check those diplomas because I just wanna make sure that they’re not from some med school in the Philippines.”
I never was a fan of Desperate Housewives and I am not a graduate of any med school in the Philippines either. Those are probably the reasons why I didn’t twitch a bit in the remark. 
Kidding aside, I am not easily enraged by verbal attacks against us Filipinos or anything against the Philippines. What saddens me is how some Filipinos violently reacts to these comments to the point of name calling and malicious intents. Surely, launching a barbaric attack will not help improve bad perceptions against us. It will only worsen it.
I try to think things over before reacting to issues as some are rightfully observed while others are said out of ignorance. I say we should correct those that are true and combat ignorance by promoting the right information. Boycott should be the last option… not the first.
In this case, our med schools may not be the best in the world, but it is definitely not the worst. However, I have previously expressed my disappointment on how inadequate education, in general, is in our country. We can launch our rebuttals, but unless concrete steps are made to improve it, another Susan Mayer will come throwing nasty remarks against… say, our engineering schools.
More on this issue:
The Sassy Lawyer made an objective and contextual deduction on this.
Sonnie’s Porch thinks we suffer from a poor packaging of ourselves.
zerovoltage on Thu, 4th Oct 2007 4:36 AM
I really think the writers took reference of the nursing exam scandal, they should have just went with a fictitious country.
Btw, it’s on the news. Saw this article at inquirer.net, the DFA is protesting.
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Ely on Thu, 4th Oct 2007 5:14 AM
We definitely have an image problem. Truth hurts.
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Personal Branding at Sonnie’s Porch on Thu, 4th Oct 2007 9:40 AM
[...] Set No Corner [...]
Video: Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist | Basapa on Thu, 4th Oct 2007 11:44 AM
[...] ironnie: I am not easily enraged by verbal attacks against us Filipinos or anything against the Philippines. [...]
iRonnie on Thu, 4th Oct 2007 12:18 PM
ZERO,
i really do not mind it much since it just came from a desperate housewife. now if it came from a news magazine program, now that’s another case.
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iRonnie on Thu, 4th Oct 2007 12:23 PM
ELY,
i guess we do. now the question is, who’s to blame? if we filipinos only took pride in our professionals in the same way we celebrate that of manny pacquiao’s, things might have been a little different.
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zerovoltage on Fri, 5th Oct 2007 12:08 AM
i wasn’t really that offended, i cringed but that was it … it’s true that it isn’t a serious show anyway.
rob schneider who is half pinoy and even visited here did some filipino references which were somewhat degrading in his movies and no body really reacted this big. i guess it’s the popularity of the show (which i’m not really into that much ;P).
ABC apologized but some people wouldn’t accept just an apology (i.e., Miriam Santiago) … hay naku …
ulk! … binalik mo pala sa display instead of audio anti-spam …
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Jon on Fri, 5th Oct 2007 4:45 AM
There’s not a single ethnic group that Hollywood hasn’t stereotyped against. unfortunately, it’s Standard Operating Procedure over here.
I disagree with Ely. Just because Hollywood says it, doesn’t mean that it’s the truth. The truth is, that Filipinos who serve in the medical profession here are held in high regard. They were talking about that on talk radio here today.
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MyGoodFinds on Fri, 5th Oct 2007 7:57 AM
The fact that I graduated from a Philippine school made me react, it’s a remark that is really uncalled for and I consider it an insult. Although I am not from a medical school, my older sister is a medical doctor. The fact that the education from my mother country has been belittled is enough to make my ears grow red. I am an American but I fiercely defend my race or heritage and my education is part of me. I have been imported by USA because they are lacking of brains for IT and the sad fact is that it’s because alot of people around here are too busy watching shallow stupid shows such as DH, they don’t have time to consider school. You wouldn’t believe how many people can be so dumb. But the worst thing is apathy. When people just don’t care because they are not directly affected. The world is going to be much better if we cared a little bit.
Medical people from the Philippines go through alot of rigorous testing before they can step foot to practice here and they deserve every bit of respect as an American born and educated individual.
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Thess on Fri, 5th Oct 2007 2:25 PM
ay late na ako sa balita…anyway, pinapansin ba ganyan?
am i hurt by it? (under medical branch ang diploma ko) answer is NO. pansinin ba ganyan, sayang ang oras at pagmumulan lang ng away…sobrang gulo na ng mundo dadagdagan pa ba?
sabi nga ng lolo ko..’magpara-anan na lang’
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 12:30 AM
ZERO,
same here bro! apir! di ako masyadong affected not because i dont care, but because i just think a battle against DH is not worth the time and effort. if it would have been CNN now that’s a different story (lumalabas na din ang discriminatory nature ko hahaha!).
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 12:37 AM
JON,
the important thing is that an individual knows his worth. it’s simply wrong to generalize. it is not right to say that philippine med schools are not good but it will also be incorrect to say that philippine med schools are all good.
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 1:04 AM
MY GOOD FINDS,
i am not affected not because i do not care but because i recognize that there is a problem, not just with med schools, in our country’s education system. there are good med schools in the philippines but i am not discounting the fact that there are poor ones as well. it is just sad that DH chose to state the bad side of the equation and i hold no hope for people who will take DH’s words for it.
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 1:06 AM
THESS,
korek! let us promote world peace!
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MyGoodFinds on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 1:19 AM
Hi Ironnie,
Thanks for the reply. It’s just that when I was growing up here’s what I learned:
Even if my siblings and I would have our own squabbles at home, when we get out of the house if someone picks on my brothers or sisters we stand a united front forming a stronger force against the opponent. Who else will help to uplift the Filipino people if not the Filipino people themselves?
Peace!
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bluepanjeet on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 8:50 AM
tama ka pards di na talaga ako nakatiis hahaha.
pero I have my stand specifically because years from now I will be working there and I have lots cousins, relatives, siblings who are nurse and doctors who works there, and they themselves did not take everything lightly. Basta ako nailabas ko na sentimyento ko ayos na yun. sana na lang matapos na issue ng makapagfocus na ang readers sa 100th post ko hahahaha.
World Peace! LOL
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 8:57 AM
MY GOOD FINDS,
yah you’re right. anyway, let me just clarify that i am not maligning those standing up against the issue, im just hoping that counter offensives be done appropriately. we fight to correct the filipinos’ image that was put in to bad light but violent/inappropriate remarks will just worsen it just the same.
what is important here is that one should stand up to what he believes is right. in my case, though i believe in defending our “kapamilya’s” honor, i just don’t see DH as a worthy opponent. :p
happy weekend!
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Dariyan on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 10:27 AM
I think its more offensive what this person had to say in their first sentance in defending filipinos. http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/15984896.html
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evtbMD on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 2:59 PM
It’s a fictional degradation of my profession, and fictional or not, when you are in the US, it’s hard not to get hurt…because the mere fact that WE ARE PHILIPPINE GRADUATES of some medical schools made us feel that it is what they thought of the Philippine Medical graduates. What others don’t know, we give our sweat and tears to be in the mainstream, head to head with our American colleagues. It’s not about NOTHING, it was an INSULT to us medical professionals…..We Filipinos, just like other immigrants always have to prove ourselves in America, and we are not going to allow the ABC, the ignorant writers and Teri Hatcher to make fun of us who worked so hard to be where we are right now. People have to respect the 917,000 people who signed the petitions. FYI: in the first place, the writer was not informed on how a physician is able to practice in the USA. First, the foreign educated docs need to pass their countries’ board exam. Then they go to their countries’ residency program, Then, apply to the US to get to residency matching program, then if accepted, would have to pass the FMG’s exam. Then these docs will go to internship and 3-4 years of residency AGAIN. Then will take the US grueling board exams. It’s not about Diploma, you can have as many diplomas as you want, but if you are not SMART enough to go through above….you’re not practicing in the USA. It’s a lot of work to be able to practice Medicine in the US, Now guys…do you now get it? WHY WE ARE FURIOUS??? so what are they trying to say about “diplomas from some med schools in the Philippines”..
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 5:54 PM
BLUE,
nasira tuloy ang program mo for your 100th post no? hahaha! grabe din itong issue na ito since pinoys are now having friction against each other dahil dito.
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bluepanjeet on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 6:59 PM
@IRonnie – oo nga kapatid… di tuloy tayo nakapag praktis ng ating production number.
Just a reflection which I thought just now: sana lahat ng blogger pare tulad mo na kahit iba ang opinion sa kaibigan nya still you maintain your objectivity of not calling others names and labels. alam mo brods kaya labs na labs ko kayo e hahaha. kahit magkaiba tayo ng opinion di nasisira camaraderie natin by hurling stupid labels.
Ohh how i just wish some people were like you who are so prudent and sensitive. wala sanang blog war and name calling. pwede naman iwasan ang name calling eh.
BTW isang buwan na ang mukha don ni DOM kelan mo papalitan? naghihitay ako ng silhouette mo hahaha.
@evtbMD – Doc I couldn’t agree with you more. point well taken and I emphatize because my relatives are also like you in the US (medical workers)
Me and my blog fully supports your cause. Mabuhay po ang mga Pilipinong Doktor at Narses
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 8:03 PM
evtbMD,
wow! that was like taking up med school all over again. i cheer for all hard working pinoy med graduates who are able to pass through that obstacles you have just said. you are all truly one of a kind! promote the filipino pride through your professionalism and hardwork. i hope in the future, US will no longer require pinoy doctors to go through that same predicament before they could practice their profession.
have a great weekend despite the DH incident.
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iRonnie on Sat, 6th Oct 2007 8:11 PM
BLUE,
naku naman, ang boring ng buhay if everyone will have the same opinion as mine. hahaha!
though nakakalimot din ako minsan, i try to be always reminded na my opinion is not absolute. i may be doing what i think is right but it does not follow that those who differs with me are wrong. kanya kanya lang yan!
what is important is that we are able to value the person beyond the difference of opinion.
hmm.. sige i’ll try to capture that silhouette. hehehe.
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