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Desperately Petty

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Okay okay.. I was true to my words when I said in my previous post that “I did not make a post about the Desperadas because I believe they are a waste of time for me” but I never said that I won’t write anything in reference to it. Actually, I am offended by the remark because I have been working my ass off with my pending exam and somehow the comment was a blow on us (medical practitioners). What made me decide to write this entry is not the show itself, but because of some opinions that came from my fellow bloggers. To tell you the truth, I am not guilty when someone says that the only reason why I want to go there is because of the money. Sus! if you only knew my real reason why I’m so “atat” (in Chuvaness’ words) in going there, you would somehow understand that not all nurses and doctors are coin scrappers! But the reality is this: there is no offending slur other than to hear your own fellow Pinoys dismiss the issue as something petty and babyish while you are quite bothered by the offense of a certain show. It’s like adding insult to injury.

 

 

My blog was linked by other blogs maybe because of my banner above, my satire on my sidebar and the petition of Kevin nadal which I supported, was obviously visible on my front page. I respect his or her opinion of not joining the bandwagon because everyone has a right of choice. Nevertheless, what bothers me is that some bloggers see us who reacted as some cry babies, whiners and immature, emotionally fired, war freak and crusaders who are so hungry to boycott anything and everything, anyone and everyone just to show our patriotism.

This is actually an insult to my profession and my intellect because not all people think the way they do. Worse, name calling hurled by my fellow Pinoys. We are not sensation mongers and I will never agree to that. The issue here is not about how mature people can take insults or how capable are we in laughing at some purely fictitious character.

The issue here is that the people who were offended in that form of entertainment are not just some potters, painters or carpenters who deals with art and inanimate objects. The profession that was slurred deals with life. Any doubt brewing from the patient towards his or her health care provider is a big blow on the entire health care process. In our profession, patient’s trust is a big word and credibility shields us from liabilities.

But how, may I ask, if some top-rated show would malign the nature and background of the professions of a certain ethnic group without proper basis and authority? If Burmese Monks (which I doubt you know a handful in your real life) deserve attention, does that make us less worthy of notice? If Burmese monks die in Burma, well millions of patients will die of suspicion to their own health care providers, just because a stupid TV show subconsciously suggest that every patient must first ask a diploma before they are treated, even in instances of seizures, shock, arrest or respiratory distress.

You said your piece, now let me say mine.

I am very much thankful for Kengkay, Chuva, Noemi, Shari, Mindy, Jun, Ambo, Malen, Cath, Benj and Reynz and the others for standing up for us medical professionals. There are many issues to talk about, yeah sure! That’s the reason why I never made any post which refers “directly” to the Desperate Housewives show. But this further insult to “us who reacted to the issue” prompted me to spare some time thinking and reflecting. Guess what? I will never let it pass precisely because opinion is not monopolized by the few. We respect your opinion when you say, “it’s just a show” but do not label us with derogatory epithets.

We are not in favor of boycotting the show. I hope this is clear. What we only want is pure and simple:

1. Do not repeat that instance again
2. We demand public apology (which we already got from the producers)
3. And slash and edit the part where the slur was mentioned

I think this is sound enough to be considered as a fair demand by someone who was actually offended.

Pinoy blogero said:

A waste of time? For me, boycotting Desperate Housewives would just be a waste of time.
The creators of Desperate Housewives wouldn’t really care of what we think about. They would just ignore us and continue doing the show. They’re in an industry where they are already used to getting e-mails of disagreement and even hatemails.

Racial slurs like these are nothing really new, especially on TV shows. Stand up comedians make fun of other races all the time. They do get into trouble with their remarks every once in a while, but everyone sees that it is for the sake of entertainment and comedy, then they move on.

I’m not saying that it is wrong to act against this issue, nor am I saying that we should ignore it. We can blog about this issue and cause a lot of noise, but then again, things would just go on.

For example, everyone thought the Malu Fernandez issue would go on forever, but what happened now? Malu Fernandez is back at Manila Standard and is quietly writing articles about beauty stuffs and good living. Manila Standard Today is still standing and the call for boycott was nothing but a voice that is forgotten.

There are other things that we should be concerned about, things that are in need of our great command like the Cris Mendez Issue, the violation of copyrights done by Manila Bulletin, and even the fight for the protection of our environment. Harnessing our great power for these things are worth all the time and effort.

I totally agree on his dissertation on this one but I just want to clarify some things which to Pinoyblogero’s own words “Just another one of my personal thoughts”:

  • The Malu Fernandez Controversy is totally different from this issue precisely because the magazine is not distributed worldwide, did not attack any credibility of a profession that handles critical care to people’s lives and was not shown in front of international communities which most viewers also happen to be employers of the millions of medical professionals in and out of the US.
  • The mere fact that it is only a show doesn’t follow that it should not be taken seriously, hence if for example, the remark was pointed at on a Moslem community and they reacted to such slurs, no one would really contradict them and say to them “you better pay attention to your own terrorism than waste your time with the show” I doubt it if some Pinoy bloggers would courageously write about Moslems as whiners and cry babies, and I will surely bet my nosebleed on that
  • The ousted President Estrada’s grand children and children were forced to transfer from school to school because most of their classmates ridiculed them as the grandchildren and children of a plunderer. These are children who have access to TV and internet. We cannot really blame them. Hence, if some children of Fil-am doctors were subjected to the same trauma, wouldn’t he be affected by it personally and professionally?
  • Boycotting is not really the issue but these are “means” that we Pinoys show support to each other. The Malu Fernandez controversy was indeed a failure in some light, but it does not mean that all controversies should be patterned from her infamy.
  • The US Producers are not apathetic as we thought they are. To say that they don’t care on our protest is precisely an assumption because FYI, ABC has already given its apology.
  • Racial slurs that we hear everyday on TV shows are common and are part of our daily viewing pleasure. But it doesn’t mean that we will just get along with it just because it is funny as hell or it is usually seen on TV. Hence, in the spiritual parlance, may I digress a bit as I make my point, “a bad habit that is continually done and is taken for granted will morph into a sin dismissed as something moral by the offender because of the usual repetitive acts”. Thus we tend to accept racial slurs as something common even to the point of mocking us down to the dregs. Heck everybody will be given a racism spree day because “it’s okay with the show, therefore it is also okay if I do it”.
  • I know humor as it is. Take it from me; I know what it means to be funny. But not all jokes, no matter funny and hilarious it may seem to be, even on the aspect of seeing it as entertainment, have a place in what we call ethnic pride and professional credibility.

Pinoy Money Talk took the issue in a different perspective:

At worst, the remark was a jab at some schools, not just the medical schools, and diploma mills in the country that continue to produce graduates who are not skilled enough for work. Watch the video again. Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher’s character)’s line was neither a racist comment against Filipino doctors nor against Filipinos in general.

As long as we have a place called Recto where fake diplomas can easily be bought and licensure exam fiascos that undermine the credibility of our professionals, the state of Philippine education will continue to be the butt of jokes.

Hell, even we ourselves do it. Don’t we laugh so hard whenever the latest batch of school-bashing jokes are out?

How is this different? Because it was delivered by a foreign country? In that case, Indians should complain (hell, yeah, they should file a government protest!) that we continue to call them “Bumbays” (from “Bombay,” the city), and we knowingly use the term derogatorily, not even as a joke.

Had the line been mentioned matter-of-factly in a news or documentary program, our protest would have been valid. But lest we forget, Desperate Housewives is a dramedy — a drama AND a comedy. Everything said there should not be taken seriously. For one, Susan Mayer was definitely in character — insensitive, arrogant, and stupid — when she delivered the line.

Again I want to clarify some things:

  • Terri Hatcher’s line is not definitive and specific. The writer would “possibly” know about Recto but it is “remotely plausible”. The line of Ms. Hatcher is obviously pertaining to the medical education and not just diplomas, thus it is not really meant to attack Recto Mills but the academic background of Pinoy Medical practitioners.
  • I agree that Recto is problem long been born upon by the education system of our country. But to say that Recto will undermine the credibility of our professionals is very subjective. I am a college Nursing professor in a certain university known for it’s standard of education. I just recently went through a rigorous scrutiny of my credentials by the New York State Board of Education and my Visa screen requirements by the CGFNS credentials board. Least to say, I have the final say if my diploma is really looked upon as something dubious and doubtful. These highly organized US contingent of agencies are not fools. They can tell just by looking at the diplomas if they are fake or tampered. Thus, faking your diplomas and submitting it to these agencies and employers are futile. Doing so will black-list you forever and void your slot for a US visa. No Pinoy nurse or medical professional have ever done such because of the common knowledge of the risk it entails. Thus there is really no existing conclusion that “Recto undermines the credibility of our professionals” hence negating the aggregation that the slur is held towards Recto and not on medical practitioners. On the local level of agencies, the documents are also filtered if they are of vague origin or not. Suffice it to say, that a diploma will literally pass a needle hole before it is submitted to the US credentials board.
  • Whenever my friends mock me, ridicule me or make fun of me as I also make fun of them, we do not get angry because we know what each other’s meant. We are close and we know that any jokes said by the other is not intended to hurt but just to make the event happy and light. This scenario exist in all races. It’s okay for African Americans to call each other “N” because they know it has a different meaning for them. It is not insulting. Even Amish Dutch ridicule themselves because it is their way of bonding and identifying with each other’s common grounds. But if someone out of the circle ridicules a clique, do we expect that they would not react? This just shows that this is how humans operate regardless of culture, race or social standing. It’s normal. Thus there exist a double standard but actually its not hypocrisy. It is a norm. If for example I called a fellow blogger a “link baiter” well in fact we are not that close, we do not know each other nor we are friends, we will expect that he has the right to be angry precisely because we belong in a different group, clique or whatever. Same thing with us. It’s okay if we call ourselves “tamad”, “gago” and “mandaraya” because it’s us. It is our way of identifying with ourselves. But from someone who doesn’t have any tinge of Idea what Philippine Medical Practitioner’s educational backgrounds are, is totally and absolutely a different story.
  • We call Indians “Bombay” in some derogatory remarks and yes, some of us are guilty of that. But remember that these remarks are hurled on a local level, personal level and even on a day to day chat level. It is not shown worldwide. It is not released on DVDs and shown on encore, and it is not shown on a nation where most of the workers are employed in different hospitals. The comparison made by Pinoy Money Talk is true and real, but in this case, it is absolutely out of context. Hence, to generalize Filipinos and use the pronoun “we”, “us” and the word “all”, is not in itself tangent to logic because not all Filipinos are bigots and racists. If Juan is a bigot, it doesn’t follow that Pedro is a such!

The Sassy Lawyer however wrote:

It hurts to hear it, yes. It hurts even more when it becomes butt of jokes. But the sorry state of the education in the Philippines is true and real.

Nonetheless, I am very well aware that the topic is link bait and I wouldn’t be surprised if another boycott is called. It’s beginning to smell Malou Fernandez all over again. I’m in! I’m In. I’ve been boycotting Desperate Housewives since it came out. Go for it, people – it might even get a few of you on TV.

Again i want to clarify some things to put my point in a proper perspective:

  • Not all topics are made just to link bait. In this particular case, the topic is discussed by some bloggers because for some like “us”, this is particularly relevant. I won’t say that lawyers are hungry for TV exposure had it been that US Lawyers ridicule the Philippine based, born and educated lawyers. In this particular case, Medical Professionals were indeed maligned, not the school per-se, but the educational background vis-a-vis.
  • It is true in “some point” that the education in the Philippines is facing a difficult challenge- quality wise. but what really puzzles me is that:

1. why are US hospitals continue to choose to hire Filipino nurses while many Koreans, Indians and Chinese are already competing with the global trend of health care?

2. Why are some foreign nationals opt to study here rather than in the US orinother countries if it is in fact that our educationsystem is failing tremendously or lack of quality thereof?

3. Why is it that many Pinoy Teachers (BS Education Graduates) are preferred other than our foreign counterparts when it comes to teaching primary and secondary subjects abroad?

4. Why are thousands of US Citizens flock here in our country just to have their boobs enlarged, cellulites reduced, noses lifted and face distorted like that of Michale Jackson’s.

Is it because our education system here are flawed? I think not. “Some” may not equate to “all” and I think when other entities outside our own turf starts to question our schools, it also questions its graduates. Now then help me to piece things up: If our education system here in our country is bad, then why the heck are they getting our service if in the first place they knew that our education system here is downright poor?Pure and simple: the root of the matter of argumentation is not “primarily” on the education system but on the the credentials of the professionals. Educational background and Educational System are two different things. I should know. Though they are closely related but they are of different nature. Just like apples and oranges. Yet an attack to the former, is also an attack to the latter. Given. But purely speaking, the truth remains that one is primary and the one is secondary. A basic philosophical tenet.

I respect some of the comments made by other bloggers with regards to “us” who reacted on this issue. I totally praise their freedom of speech; here are some of their remarks, which at this point, a quote is called for:

1. (Name Withheld for Right to Confidentiality) Says: October 3rd, 2007 at 3:39 pm

Heto na ang sakit nating mga Pinoy, ang People Power syndrome. Inaakalang lahat nadadala sa pag-aklas ng masa.

Over-reaction na siguro yung pag-boycott, hindi na nararapat. Sometimes we need to find the facts first why others are saying those things to us. Alam naman siguro nating mga Pinoy na nabahiran tayo ng dumi dahil dun sa nursing board exam leakage.

Kung ganyan tayo lagi, tayo din ang magiging talo. Tuwinang kakantiin na lang ba tayong mga pinoy ay iiyak na lang ba kagad tayo? Sino ngayon ang pikon, sino ngayon ang talo? Tayo lang din ang nang-aapi sa lahi natin.

Humor can be insensitive too and that’s apparent with any comedy bars or gag shows. If we want to remove that image from others, let’s do something to correct or cover our mistakes.

Kung magpapaapekto lang tayo sa pang-iinsultong iyon, parang sinabi na rin nating totoo yun at tayo na rin ang talo.

2. (Name Withheld) Says: October 3rd, 2007 at 5:34 pm

Boycott??? Pwede ba tigil-tigilan ninyo yang sobra-sobrang kaeklatan na iyan.This incident is nothing compared to what is happening with some of our OFW’s who suffered ill treatment abroad. OMG!!! Gosh….how come so few have noticed that this is a direct, blatant insult to our race!!! This is a noteworthy cause for outrage…..than this TV show “Desperate Housewives”.
To Hell with you all!!!!

2. (Name Withheld) Says: October 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 pm

agree with those who find the calls for a boycott of Desperate Housewives unnecessary, and I seriously think that this might be a case of oversensitivity. Oversensitivity that can

3. (Name Withheld) Says: October 3rd, 2007 at 11:24 pm

I think we have a serious case of false patriotism. We get easily offended when other people make fun of us as Filipinos and yet majority of us fails to value the very important symbols that make us Filipino (our flag, our national anthem, our history, our Independence Day). Before we even react violently against this comment (which, I still think, is purely taken out of context by most Filipino viewers), maybe we should first ask ourselves whether or not we have been faithfully exercising our being Filipino. Otherwise, those who only exist as Filipinos by name and not by spirit should keep their sarcasm to themselves.

4. (Name Withheld) Says: October 4th, 2007 at 2:39 am

Seriously? Racism? Hahahahaha Not. People are overreacting. Susan Mayer is a neurotic. She was just merely being in character. Again, our being oversensitive gets the better of us.

5. (Name Withheld) Says: October 4th, 2007 at 4:52 am

Sa tingin ko (okay magtatagalog ako dahil mukhang kaunti lang ang nakakaintindi) masyado lang nakikisabay ang iba o di kaya’y nakiki-sawsaw. Bakit? Imbes na pagtuunan ng pansin ang pag-gawa ng mga pekeng diploma dun sa parte ng Maynila, mga pekeng thesis at kung ano pang pag-pa-paayos sa mga marka para sa eskwelahan ay pagtutuunan na lang nila ng pansin yung palabas na sumundot sa mga kabalbalan ng ating mga kapwa Pinoy.

Sa bagay, mas madali nga namang sumulat sa America o di kaya’y maglagay ng petisyon sa internet dahil mas kaunting panahon lang ang kailangan kaysa sa burahin sa ibabaw ng lupa ang mga namemeke sa Recto. Mas sisikat pa ang mga politiko na gagawa ng paghingi ng paumanhin sa ABC.

Sa makatuwid, napaka-labo talaga ng iba nating mga kapwa Pilipino. Yung mga Muslim sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa, nakakaranas ng ganito, pero may ginawa ba ang karamihan? Yung mga bisaya na hindi makapagsalita ng tuwid na tagalog, yung mga maiitim na galing sa mga tribo, yung mga taong naninirahan sa kalsada, yung mga pusong mamon o bakla, yung mga tomboy… hindi ba’t mas malaking issue iyon kesa sa isang aktres o palabas na nagsabing “some” med school in the Philippines?

6. (Name Withheld) Says: October 4th, 2007 at 8:58 am

I dont get it, i mean im euro-asian but i’ve been living in the philippines for like a decade already. Im not being biased but i used to watch American/Western Sitcoms and shows. They always Slur/ Malign, or whatever you call it other countries like japan, china, canada especially canada sometimes even france and italy. These shows get broadcasted in other countries so for sure they get to hear things said about them but you dont see them bitching about it. Its a matter of maturity. Retaliating agaisnt the show or boycotting it…hmm…wouldn’t this prove them right? Its pretty dumb. So what if she said this line?! You should hear stuff on will and grace or friends, those are worse. Grow up y’all. And this is coming from an 18 year old.

7. (Name Withheld) Says: October 4th, 2007 at 11:00 am

Well said, .
Let’s not be so paranoid and insecure about this issue and go overboard. Sheesh. You’re just jacking up the DH show’s ratings and interest in the show, which is what any network wants. It’s not as if some silly comment on a silly tv show has any true bearing to Filipino doctors who are brilliant in their practice.

8. (Name Withheld) Says: October 4th, 2007 at 11:57 am

Bunch of whining babies.

These are the kinds of people that get giddy and over excited every time the Philippines or something Filipino is referred in a popular show, website, magazine etc. It’s like their whole purpose of existence is defined by the popular media’s acknowledgment of our race and country. Grow up. Please grow up.

A true statement of hate and intolerance does not need a campaign for every affected individual to react.

This whole brouhaha could be compared to a dumb kid calling you fat. Irregardless whether you’re fat or not will you keep whining about how a dumb kid called you fat?

Intolerance is the last defense of the insecure. Open your minds and stop reacting. Please.

9. (Name Withheld) Says: October 4th, 2007 at 12:39 pm

mga tol mga patay na patay kayo sa mga american shows na yan na kahit siraan na tayo no boycot pa rin… mga uto uto… someone above said..”maybe we should clean up our image” pag sinabi ba sa yo ng amerikano pangit ilong mo papabago mo na.. pag sinabi pangit mata mo papabago mo rin? uto uto pala kayo

Though I understand that the comments of these people are not intended for a particular person or group and just sending the message towards the general pinoy public who reacted on this issue, yet I feel I have to say my piece because I am included in those who are reacting to this issue, because, as a registered nurse, I am also offended by the show’s remarks. I fully accept and respect their opinion of what we are in their very own eyes (and let me enumerate)”

1. Over-reacting
2. To Hell with us
3. oversensitive
4. People power syndrome-stricken
5. false patriots
6. Filipino by name
7. ride-along
8. immature who needs to grow up
9. paranoid
10. insecure
11. whining babies
12. uto-uto
13. and a litany of name calling

Just a piece of wisdom for these people from Shari which I agree and quote:

Some people don’t care only because they’re not directly affected since they’re pretty well-off anyway. But some people let things like this pass because honesty, they don’t care.

But I won’t retaliate the words of my fellow Pinoys via my own. Instead, I will quote some comments made by some foreigners on Michelle Malkin’s blog re this issue. Read again: THE COMMENTERS ARE FOREIGNERS

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I really don’t care if many people doesn’t agree with my opinion or on my principle for that matter simply because everyone has the freedom of choice and a right to be heard (I have reiterated this many times in this blog and it’s really getting old). But it is really so sad that even foreigners (who could all have been my fellow pinoys) felt that the remark by the show was not at all petty. The least they can do is simply symphatize, or better yet emphatize on those who were offended. Is that really a rare commodity these days? Well I can’t blame theme because “we” in the allied medical profession were trained to always put on others shoes before we make fun of other’s pain.

And since “we”, who reacted to this issue were regarded as “onion-skinned” and “whining babies”, I think I really need to name some few people who also fit into that derogatory labels:

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Now I ask: Who is onion skinned now?

I want to leave you some words from these bloggers who I think summed up all of the points I laid on this post:

From Mindy:

mindy

From Benj:

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From Reyna:

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from Cath:

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And from a certain Filipina Mother in the US who have no medical background of whatsoever:

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I never link bait, I don’t need traffic because this is not a money making blog, but rather a passion to satirically correct some twisted prevailing social standards, sadly, even here in the pinoy blogosphere. I don’t link bait, only now because, I want my point to be taken seriously and heard, not as a blogger, but as a Philippine trained medical professional.

At this point, I am asking you right now: is it just me or the whole Pinoy medical professionals all over the world who are DESPERATELY PETTY?

I just wish that one day, an American celebrity, politician or whatsoever would belittle the capacity and potentials of Pinoy bloggers in our country, then we would watch every Pinoy blogger’s reaction from a certain perspective and say: “Over sensitive cry babies!”

My take: Try nyo mag-aral sa medical field, then kumuha kayo ng mahigit sa tatlong professional exams, then maghugas kayo ng pwet ng di nyo ka-ano-ano, o kahit hindi na maghugas ng pwet, humarap na lang kayo sa sandamakmak na tibihin at bunihin sa ospital, o di kaya’y manglekta ng baso basong kalaghara at ihi, considering na you did well on your Philippine education, saka nyo sabihin sa amin na “you’re all just a bunch of whining babies: insecure and paranoid”, and then we’ll talk: Can I check your diplomas?

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If you want to know what other bloggers think about this issue, feel free to bloghop courtesy of Pinoy Blogero’s links:

References:
Inquirer.Net
ABS-CBN Interactive
GMA News TV
Associated Press







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  1. 44 Comment(s)

  2. MyAvatars 0.2
  3. By chuvaness on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    *delirious mode*

    WHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAH =D

    hanep, MAJOR RESEARCH-RANTING-CHENES-TO-THE-INFITE-LEVEL!!!!!!!

    di ka nakatulog kagabi no kakaisip kay bluejaneet??

    [Reply]

  4. MyAvatars 0.2
  5. By K on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Ayan at least nailabas mo na. I can’t add anything more. The DH has already made an apology accdg to abs-cbn news. Sa araw-araw ko dito sa HK, mas marami pang mas grabe dyan.

    Just take it easy, blue. Muntik ko ng mabuhusan ng kape ang keyboard ko sa post na to.

    [Reply]

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  7. By malinesky on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    the best blog I have read about the issue, and if not the best site with nice music! Keep it up!
    When I was about to enrol nursing in college few years back, I backed out and enrolled to chemical engineering instead because I realized how hard to be working in a medical profession.

    I salute all those Filipino medical professionals!!!Even in Australia, where I lived for two years, most of the best nurses are Filipinos! My husband who’s currently working as a caregiver there treat the elders in the nursing home as if his own. They made pun about the integrity of our medical schools, but they can never ever downgrade all the people these schools produce.

    [Reply]

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  9. By reyna elena on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    bluep,

    DA HECK! hahaha! I was very angry actually! I can’t believe you have this post and guess what my post is - although it’s just one comma compared to your almost Journal of Medicine! I honestly finished only 25% but will continue to read.

    I was going to comment the same thing that I wrote over at another blog but you posted it already. My point being - some of these pinoy bloggers who were very harsh to me or to those who happen to have the same opinion as mine HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE US nor ever EXPERIENCED WORKING HERE FOR A LONG TIME to experience just what it is in here or even have a taste of how it feels to be discriminated. That’s what pisses me off!

    [Reply]

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  11. By The Ca t on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Wow, very comprehensive and well researched. The presentation is also balanced. Those who were offended and those who were not.

    [Reply]

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  13. By Ambo on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Blue reading to the max eto! and tindi mo talaga sa research. Well, sa dinami dami ng mga nag-react sa issue, ikaw lang ang pang Famas brother! Yung kape ko nakalimutan ko, sumobra ang lamig tuloy! Congrats nice nice…….

    [Reply]

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  15. By Jon Limjap on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Dude,

    Very comprehensive post and analysis on the aftermath of the issue.

    For the record, I’m not sure why you removed my blog name from the trackback that said that people are getting oversensitive. I don’t mind if you point out that it’s me, I can defend what I said. :wink:

    Also, it’s better if you will use actual trackbacks and quotes rather than screenshots for presenting the quoted text. Screenshot contents can’t be read by search engine spiders, and takes up way way more disk space (and bandwidth) than simply highlighting them and enclosing them in quotes. Unsolicited advice lang. :D

    [Reply]

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  17. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Malen - ayan na nga po nang-alaska na ang balunguyngoy haha.. Oist seryos tong entry na to. seryoso ako this time

    [Reply]

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  19. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @K - hahaha sumabog ba brods? sensya na sa kape mo, nasira ko ata breakfast mo haha.

    [Reply]

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  21. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Malinesky - at first I was just letting things slip pass my ears and eyes because I really dont want to argue about the issue. i was enough for me that in my own blog I have raised my sentiments via my sidebar satire and my banner. but you know, when I talked to my sister and cousins in the US about their thoughts on this issue (who happens to be in the medical profession), I really felt their disappointment and pain. i don’t know if other bloggers would understand it. but i think its a family stuff (the feeling). they were angry not because it was a TV show, but because they new that some Americans are dumb enough to believe in what they see on TV. And then left and right ang tirada ng iba sa aming mga nagreact. okay lang naman sana kung ganon ang tingin nila pero sana may kaunting simpatya and sympathy comes in silence.. not in words.. kahit sa lamayan lahat ng nakikiramay ay tahimik. that i think is the best act a “fellow pinoy” can share to his already offended kababayan no matter how childish and petty the issue may seem to be. para kasi yang “Pain”. pain is very subjective diba. pero once a patient complains of pain, you can never ever say that he/she is just over reacting simply because she is the one who is experiencing it. same as this. thanks for dropping by :wink:

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  23. By Maying on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Hi! Well done, well said! I couldn’t agree with you more. Actually, the worst thing I heard about was that “link baiting” bit…tsk…tsk..tsk…Is it any blogger’s fault if he/she blogs about it and get traffic for it?

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  25. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Reynz - I think what you said is true. One should really experience being a medical professional and being there abroad. In my case I experienced being a nurse first hand. It somehow offends me when people questions my background just on the basis of my alma mater. I thinks it is not really fair. during our affiliation in Manila (yeah I’m proud to be promdi) i met a lot of fellow nurses who graduated from Universities, in fairness I already mentioned here that I’m atenean and thomasian by heart, but the truth is, some nurses are only good when it comes to theories. theories and RLE iare two different things and some nurses would agree with me on this. my point is the school is not the basis of excellence but the person itself. though credentials are taken from the school yet it is really unfair to question the background of a medical practitioner, or the school for that matter because he/she wouldn’t be in that area or work if he/she is not qualified in the first place.

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  27. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Cat - the tipping of the balance scale hehe

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  29. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Ambo - pare ward award na naman yan hahaha… research? sa recto lang to galing hahaha.. have a very good morning!

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  31. By selvo on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    awww medyo may kahabaan itong post ha. bilib ako sa tiyaga mong umikot sa iba’t-ibang blogs on this issue. many things in life are relative, what we see as insulting and not included. one cannot really debate with feelings - we cannot say that the feeling of being insulted that a person feels is wrong - kahit pa tingin natin ay mali ang kanyang rason. the fact remains the person felt slighted there is no debating that. the least that others can do is respect that feeling.

    there are good doctors and lousy doctors everywhere in this planet. the same is true with medical schools. why pick on the philippines? is it wrong for filippinos (and non-pinoys) especially those in the medical field to be insulted and react? they felt insulted period and they have every right to react just as the producers of the show had the right to air that particular scene in their show.

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  33. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Jun - hey bro welcome to my blog:

    Oh that? I have my reasons bro:

    1. Nothing personal really. I don’t want to put others in a bad light, since I am against their opinion, i try to avoid in making them look like villains etc. I felt that it would be wrong to put their names there just to respect their rights since I’m totally against their opinions. I don’t know,just being prudent here, enough to protect the accused till proven guilty in the spirit of fairplay (thats on my part).

    2. it was convenient for me just to screen cap and upload everything because of the a) aesthetic value b)to capture the genuine comments and news made

    3. I have astigmatism and my keyboard is sooo moody. sometimes i overlook lines and sentences. to copy them verbatim here would be futile on my part because I might delete some words or phrases. So I thought it was prudent enough to screen cap everything so that I may quote them as it is. It is very evident on my posts that there is always a wrong spelling or misplaced commas etc.

    4. Time constraints. I have limited time due to my sked, and editing it in photoshop is much faster than typing all of them. Plus it looks good on my blog LOL

    Oh i never knew that. honestly i dont. though i know that there are technorati links, but I thought of just linking everyone (at the end of the post) is enough to get everybody’s attention (at least those who are concerned). Next time bro i would do that. Tamad lang ako talaga mag type ng kinokopya. I usually just type what comes into my mind and not comfortable of copying everything or copy paste for the matter. Madali ako malito in all honesty.

    No its okay bro. I know you can defend what you said because I always read your blog (i’m a fan actually). but this is the point where objective and professional discussion of opinion comes into place and I welcome all your opinions for that matter. cheers bro. its an honor having you here for the first time.

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  35. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Maying - thanks. actually the link bait thing was a joke but it was not funny, at least for me. Some people kasi has this High and Mighty mentality and IM SAYING THIS ALOUD. content does not belong to them. No matter what social status you are in or profession you have, still even a janitor can post his own opinion about this issue kahit pa mali mali english nya. iba kasi nakakalimot na not all blogs are money makers. there are blogs out there that caters to human and social awareness without any renumeration of any kind… free of charge.. sorry im not ranting im just telling the truth. I know some of them will be irked by my statements but heck,we all sit in the same type of toilet bowl. and theres no such thing as “mas mataas ang ihi”. as we say in the nursing profession “same stool comes out from our anus”.

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  37. By Jon Limjap on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    bluep,

    Points well taken dude, no problem, just sharing how I would’ve done it. :)

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  39. By bluepanjeet on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    @Selvo - yo my man I watched you on ANC with benj and both of you rock!!! FYI to the newbies, this guy started the whole Malu Fernandez hoopla haha. Its an honor sir. I’m a fan.!

    an yes you are right bro. I just dont get it why they consider “us” onion-skinned. Injured ka na nga, insultuhin ka pa. though wala naman particular na pinatataman pero it’s a no brainer kung sino sinasabihan nila. I was not supposed to react because I have some posts lined up for my 100th post brouhaha, pero i think they should hear from someone kahit isa lang. I dont intend to argue or pick a fight. ang akin lang eh, they said their piece from blog to blog, then let me say mine. no matter how insignificant I am to them.

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  41. By jun.anteola on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    bwakakak… obviously, we’ve been to the same sites. :lol:

    i meant to write another entry about how i find it so appalling that people are quick to judge those who got offended. i was blog hopping, in hopes that i’d find consolation and enlightenment from getting other people’s perspective of it, hoping that my subjective reaction to it could benefit from other people’s points of view. a lot of posts and comments against us posed as detached, objective assessments but are just opinionated, actually, not necessarily correct. many sounded smart and sweet to the ears/eyes, but got off tangent.

    i never could have said my sentiments better.

    thanks for linking back to my post. oh ayan, linky linky na naman… baka sabihin link baiting tayo? :razz:

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  43. By jun.anteola on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    maybe people will care if they’re directly hit. :neutral:

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  45. By yatot on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    i actually read this entry from the beginning up to the end… and all i can say is that this is a very comprehensive research… worthy of my 15 minutes… medyo mabagal kasi akong magbasa… almost all of nakita ko na at nabasa… thank you for enlightening me not regarding the issue on DH but the issue on slurring medical practitioners…

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  47. By MikeinManila on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Hi Doc,
    Perhaps, I might know first hand all about Philippine doctors, the medical system and everything else of importance about medical schools - for the last ten months or so.
    My mom who recently passed away from complications due to Nasopharyngeal carcinoma,
    So I think I’ve seen nearly all extent medical care, while being the designated ‘bantay,’ while she was in Hospital care.
    My Mom, was feisty lovable doting mestiza grandmother to my kids, she loved her country, she could have taken US citizenship a dozen times.
    But, turned it down, because she remembered her father, a Russian refugee, a son of a Count or Baron or something else like that who settled in Mindanao. He was geologist, engineer, and, trained Czarist army military officer, And, became a naturalized Filipino. Fought in WW2, and served proudly in the USAFFE.
    My mom’s pinoy bloodline comes from the Yakans of Basilan, though my great grandmother who hails from the Kniazeff, Cuevas, and, Winters clan.
    Anyhow, if anyone might take up the need to defend the honor of Philippine doctors and nurses. It is I, because I saw the love, care,and long patient hours of trying their best to make my mom live a little longer, make her give a pat of the head or kiss or hug to grandchildren, a kind word a wise piece of advice here and there available to me a little bit longer.
    I miss her so.
    I could be bitter and blame the entire medical profession, but, I know they did their best.
    Sadly, the Philippine medical system uses the American system of hospital billings, which has left me mountain of bills still pending to pay off.
    But, aside from just one Doctor, who shall remain nameless who over-billed us, even when the care wasn’t needed we found out later from his fellow dos. By and large all the others did their best, tried their hardest.
    Then there were nurses who helped me keep sane, when as most people who know they are dying and in extreme pain, scream and say things they don’t mean, they taught me how along with my family to meet her needs when we could no longer afford to the prolonged hospital care, and had to take care of her ourselves at home.
    Yet, anytime we needed them, day or night, these Philippine educated medical professionals were not just doctors or nurse to us, but Ate and Kuya and Manongs and in a way our extended Kapamilya during my familys time of need.
    My mom passed away from pneumonia, with her grandkids nearby, sleeping going away without a sound, In her own bed, in her own room, with love and care of her Fil-am family around her.
    At no point, did I ever think of questioning, could the doctors have done this or that? Could her life have lasted longer, in the end, she passed saying she just wanted to go home, and she was home, is home, perhaps now playing in a Basilan of her youth in heaven, when there was peace, and battles and warfare between Christians and Muslims Filipinos, were put aside to fight the Japanese, my mom was of both faiths, my great grandparents were of the faith of Islam, my mom raised me a catholic, and I have Jewish last name.
    I look Kano to the bones, but am proudly Philippine made.
    A part of me is a partly you, I am fil-am, I am also sad, that being of both cultures, such discrimination takes place. By and large for the most part even growing up as a minority here in manila. The life of a Caucasian pinoy, can be hard at times, easy at others, people always assume your not from here, and then laugh when you speak perfect tagalog and english.
    Working in Television as long as I did, getting good ratings and allowing my employers to earn millions over the years from the small segments of news I produced. Were often jokingly refered to my producer friends as the work of the ‘House or White N-word,’ the token tisoy or white guy, All said to my face; Bu never with any real hatred, except in a few cases of those xenophobic ultra-nationalists who now control and use the network for their propaganda and causes, hey, its their freedom of speech and I respect that.
    Sometimes even inside ABS-CBN’s when i worked there seeing and getting first hand the snide comments, Hoy T’soy, saan na script mo… Or Kano, or worse Amerikanong hilaw, Pekeng Kano, or some words i choose not write about, you’ll not find name on the glorified history of ABS-CBN, nor my fathers, also a Russian refugee who worked hand in hand with D’ Kapitan, my Dad ran the gallup poll here in Asia, and helped him and ABS founder JIm Lindenburg and also GMA’s Bob Stewart work to build early Philippine TV scientifically based on surveys and ratings.
    My dad went to Harvard where he got his MBA, but was a green a gold La Salista first and foremost. As did my elder brother go to La Salle, I on the other hand started my early schooling at Collegio San Juan de Letran, as my father and mother found the schools history amazing.
    As are the history of dozens of other philippine schools, UST was printing books, before harvard and yale or columbia existed. small caps my emphasis.
    And, Housewives the show forgets, that the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal, often thought of for his patriotic novels, his non-violent struggle for freedom from Spanish rule, but, first and foremost also for the love and care he nurtured for those in need as a doctor.
    Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, his first name after all is Doctor.

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  49. By Ambo on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Parang dapat yata ikaw na ang kasunod ni kuya selvo sa featurd blogger sa wpp bro. galing mo mamboladas ng readers hehehehe. Blue you’ve got the talents sa pagsusulat. Promil kid ka yata! haha

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  51. By Rob on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Grabe walang tulogan ito… I salute for the good research… :grin:

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  53. By Rob on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    Grabe akong singot oi… taas kaayo nga post hurot gud nako ug basa… wehehehe…

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  55. By MikeinManila on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    my earlier reply was full of grammar errors and spelling problems- please forgive me ha..
    emotional .. plus I always forget to wear my glasses! hehehe

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  57. By Prudence on Oct 5, 2007 | Reply

    As to this issue, I’ve got