ABC Issues Apology re Desperate Housewives' gaffe, MHS calls for more accountabi

Tweet

I am sharing an email sent to me by a colleague, of a press release issued by the Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) www.migrantheritage.org (I have to type the whole thing up because I am not yet allowed to cut and paste, I think). Just FYI. Press Release Washington D.C. October 3, 2007 Reference: Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire Executive Director, Migrant Heritage Commission Migrantheritage@aol.com, www.migrantheritage.org ABC ISSUES APOLOGY: MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC) CALLS FOR MORE CONCRETE MEASURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY Washington, D.C.- ABC television network responds to the mounting pressures of protests from the Filipino American Community groups and individuals for the racial slur made by Teri Hatcher in a scene with a doctor in Sunday's episode of "Desperate Housewives" where she remarked: "Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Because I would just like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines." ABC issued a one paragraph public apology via email sent to Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Nimfa Rueda. ABC Network issued the following statement: "The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense created by the brief reference in the season premier. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines. As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs." Ms. Charissa Gilmore, SBC Studios vice president for media relations also said that this is "the only statement planned." The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) a non-profit organization committed in promoting and protecting the cultural identity and rights of Filipino migrants in the United States calls and demands for more concrete measures of accountability for the damage done not only to the reputation of the Filipino Migrant Health Care Professionals specifically our doctors but to the Filipino Nation as a whole for disparaging the Philippine Educational System. "While a simple apology has been given, ABC Network should make a categorical and unequivocal statement that, it recognizes the significant contribution of our health care professionals to the entire US Health Care System because of their competence and high quality of their skills," Valera said. "As the second largest immigrant group in the United States, we demand from ABC to address concretely the seemingly systemic racial bias embedded in the psyche of the producer and writer(s) of their episodes. As a nation of immigrants, we need to have an absolute acknowledgment that immigrants, especially health care professionals and other skilled workers from various ethnic groups, made tremendous and significant contributions economically and culturally enriching this diverse society and made it as a great nation as it is right now," Valera further said. The Migrant Heritage Commission demands that ABC Network should adopt the following measures which include, among others: 1) a complete investigation of those responsible for writing the reprehensible and racial script lines, and adopt racial sensitivity sessions and classes specifically focusing on the history and contribution of Filipino migration in the US and as well as other minority groups. The media as a whole should not (simply) pay lip service in strengthening cultural and racial diversity which is the major source of power and strength of this nation. 2) Original version of the episode should be edited and not included in the DVD set or any format for sale/rent nor reruns that will be offered to the public. 3) That they should make episodes and shows that will depict Filipino and other minority groups as prominent positive role models of the community. 4) That ABC should make a "broadcast public apology and not simply a one paragraph statement." The Migrant Heritage Commission commends the collective efforts of several immigrant groups, organizations and individuals in the US, in the Philippines, and other parts of the world who signed a one-line indignation petition which garnered more than 46,000 signatures within 48 hours when it was posted by Mr. Kevin Nadal, a Fil-Am college lecturer who lives in New York. Once again, continued and sustained vigilance, collective efforts and mobilization by a vibrant and well informed Filipino-American Community can turn the tide of racial discrimination, racial bias and profiling one episode at a time. ##################################