RP's best nurse in US says 'Desperate Housewives' should explain
10/03/2007 | 07:36 PM
Lily Maniquiz Lara, the Filipino nurse awarded as best nurse by Advance for Nurses Journal in 2006, said the people behind the American television series "Desperate Housewives" should come up with a good explanation over a remark in its Sept. 30 episode that has offended many Filipinos.
In an interview with GMANews.TV Wednesday, Lara said the show's producers should explain why they have to make the Filipino as the subject of the conversation in that particular scene.
“That is diminishing (to the Filipino medical practitioner like nurses). I’m sure the Philippine Association of Nurses in America will not let that thing pass without asking for an apology. Magre-react tiyak sila. That is not right," she said.
Lara has been the nurse manager of the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. She has been working as nurse in the US for more than 35 years. She is in the Philippines for a vacation.
The Nursing Home Care Unit 213-2, which she heads, was recognized as the Best Nursing Unit of the Advance Journal for 2007 for a program she institutionalized that resulted in the reduction of patient fall.
“Maybe the people behind that TV series are not aware of the contribution that Filipino health practitioners have to the US. Hindi rin kasi sila aware sa dami ng award na naibibigay sa Filipino health practitioners like the nurses and the doctors," she added.
“I hope may maganda silang explanation for that scene," Lara concluded.
Chen Ben Lim of Dipolog City, Philippines said the remark "is not good for us Filipinos in the (eyes) of the world." He wanted the government to protest such a discriminating remark.
George V. Nifras of Davao City, for his part, said that after the Sept. 30 episode, he has decided to stop watching "Desperate Housewives," a show aired on a local cable channel that he used to love watching.
"How can she be so naive to say those things? Imagine if all Filipinos (in) the medical profession would stop working in the US, would you think they will survive?," he asked.
"I thought she (Teri Hatcher) was that intelligent! Now she is just one of those with good looks and no brains," Nifras said in an e-mail.
On Tuesday, Filipino doctors in Australia said "Desperate Housewives" owe an explanation to the Philippine medical professionals. - GMANews.TV
In an interview with GMANews.TV Wednesday, Lara said the show's producers should explain why they have to make the Filipino as the subject of the conversation in that particular scene.
“That is diminishing (to the Filipino medical practitioner like nurses). I’m sure the Philippine Association of Nurses in America will not let that thing pass without asking for an apology. Magre-react tiyak sila. That is not right," she said.
Lara has been the nurse manager of the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. She has been working as nurse in the US for more than 35 years. She is in the Philippines for a vacation.
The Nursing Home Care Unit 213-2, which she heads, was recognized as the Best Nursing Unit of the Advance Journal for 2007 for a program she institutionalized that resulted in the reduction of patient fall.
“Maybe the people behind that TV series are not aware of the contribution that Filipino health practitioners have to the US. Hindi rin kasi sila aware sa dami ng award na naibibigay sa Filipino health practitioners like the nurses and the doctors," she added.
“I hope may maganda silang explanation for that scene," Lara concluded.
Chen Ben Lim of Dipolog City, Philippines said the remark "is not good for us Filipinos in the (eyes) of the world." He wanted the government to protest such a discriminating remark.
George V. Nifras of Davao City, for his part, said that after the Sept. 30 episode, he has decided to stop watching "Desperate Housewives," a show aired on a local cable channel that he used to love watching.
"How can she be so naive to say those things? Imagine if all Filipinos (in) the medical profession would stop working in the US, would you think they will survive?," he asked.
"I thought she (Teri Hatcher) was that intelligent! Now she is just one of those with good looks and no brains," Nifras said in an e-mail.
On Tuesday, Filipino doctors in Australia said "Desperate Housewives" owe an explanation to the Philippine medical professionals. - GMANews.TV
READER'S FEEDBACK:
From: Ric Mariano in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:22 PM
Dear Sir,
Below is a research study conducted by IBON Foundation. It speaks for
itself. We might have our best nurses abroad but look at our situation
back home? Should we prioritize cleaning our image abroad or we should
first do something for our country?
Can we blame other people to have that kind of thinking if our government is not doing something to alleviate our people from all kind of miseries?
RP AMONG WORLD'S WORST IN HEALTH SERVICES
The low priority the Arroyo government places on health has branded the Philippines among the worst in the world when it comes to providing health services to its people, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in its World Health Statistics 2007, gave the Philippines dismal rankings in various health provision indicators.
Among 192 countries the Philippines ranks 153rd in terms of government spending on health as a share of a country's total health spending. Filipinos have increasingly relied on out of pocket expenses on health, as against government allocation.
The country also ranks 156th in terms of the share of the government budget going to health.
In the proposed 2008 national budget, only 1.5% of the total budget will go to health. Total health budget for 2008 is P22.9 billion, equivalent to just 0.31% of GDP. Health budget was marginally better at 0.58% of GDP in 1997 and 0.74% in 1990.
However, health budgets still fall well below the 5% of GDP that should be committed to health spending recommended by the WHO.
IBON points out that the per capita health spending in the proposed 2008 budget is just P253 per Filipino, further highlighting how government is taking the least responsibility to meet its citizens' health needs.
From: Carlo Raphael Diokno in Cauayan, Isabela, Phils
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 1:28 AM
Kailangan din ata humingi ni Mrs. (Cory) Aquino ng apology from the Americans. hehe
Gud day,
Nanood ako minsan ng isang comedy show sa CNN entitled, "The Daily Show" and I was surprised after watching one episode.
Ang topic kasi eh "Is America Ready for a Woman President?" Sa isang part sa comedic documentary na ito, they tagged Corazon Aquino's picture with a word "SLut". Funny 'yung documentary pero I guess our former president needs an apology.
Isinama ko na rin 'yung address ng youtube site for your ready reference. Thank you, No. 1 Kapuso!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jc4RhBBw0b8
From: Dennis D. Mauricio, MD (dennisdmauricio@yahoo.com) in Buffalo, New York, USA
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 3:26 AM
Dear Editors:
My wife and I are somewhat directly hit by this issue, by virtue of the medical specialty depicted in the show.
I am presently the Administrative and Academic Chief Resident of the largest residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the whole state of New York. And both of
us are Filipinos, and received our medical degree in the Philippines.
To attest to our contributions here, my wife and I have been given the Chairman's Award for Clinical Excellence. And I am the Vice-chair (2007) and future Chair (2008) for all the residents in New York state to the largest association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the US, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
This is only to mention a few of what Filipino doctors have done and are doing here. And I strongly believe there are tens of thousands more Filipinos who are excellent in their work, with or without awards. We continue to be superb.
Sincerely,
Dennis D. Mauricio, MD
Arminda Mauricio, MD
From: Aarnel Soller in Trinidad and Tobago
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:54 AM
The Desperate Housewives writers probably think that most graduates of Philippine med schools choose to eventually become nurses to work in the States. Reality hurts...still, it's not proper to say it in a top rated TV program.
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 8:22 PM
Dear Sir,
Below is a research study conducted by IBON Foundation. It speaks for
itself. We might have our best nurses abroad but look at our situation
back home? Should we prioritize cleaning our image abroad or we should
first do something for our country?
Can we blame other people to have that kind of thinking if our government is not doing something to alleviate our people from all kind of miseries?
RP AMONG WORLD'S WORST IN HEALTH SERVICES
The low priority the Arroyo government places on health has branded the Philippines among the worst in the world when it comes to providing health services to its people, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in its World Health Statistics 2007, gave the Philippines dismal rankings in various health provision indicators.
Among 192 countries the Philippines ranks 153rd in terms of government spending on health as a share of a country's total health spending. Filipinos have increasingly relied on out of pocket expenses on health, as against government allocation.
The country also ranks 156th in terms of the share of the government budget going to health.
In the proposed 2008 national budget, only 1.5% of the total budget will go to health. Total health budget for 2008 is P22.9 billion, equivalent to just 0.31% of GDP. Health budget was marginally better at 0.58% of GDP in 1997 and 0.74% in 1990.
However, health budgets still fall well below the 5% of GDP that should be committed to health spending recommended by the WHO.
IBON points out that the per capita health spending in the proposed 2008 budget is just P253 per Filipino, further highlighting how government is taking the least responsibility to meet its citizens' health needs.
From: Carlo Raphael Diokno in Cauayan, Isabela, Phils
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 1:28 AM
Kailangan din ata humingi ni Mrs. (Cory) Aquino ng apology from the Americans. hehe
Gud day,
Nanood ako minsan ng isang comedy show sa CNN entitled, "The Daily Show" and I was surprised after watching one episode.
Ang topic kasi eh "Is America Ready for a Woman President?" Sa isang part sa comedic documentary na ito, they tagged Corazon Aquino's picture with a word "SLut". Funny 'yung documentary pero I guess our former president needs an apology.
Isinama ko na rin 'yung address ng youtube site for your ready reference. Thank you, No. 1 Kapuso!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jc4RhBBw0b8
From: Dennis D. Mauricio, MD (dennisdmauricio@yahoo.com) in Buffalo, New York, USA
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 3:26 AM
Dear Editors:
My wife and I are somewhat directly hit by this issue, by virtue of the medical specialty depicted in the show.
I am presently the Administrative and Academic Chief Resident of the largest residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the whole state of New York. And both of
us are Filipinos, and received our medical degree in the Philippines.
To attest to our contributions here, my wife and I have been given the Chairman's Award for Clinical Excellence. And I am the Vice-chair (2007) and future Chair (2008) for all the residents in New York state to the largest association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the US, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
This is only to mention a few of what Filipino doctors have done and are doing here. And I strongly believe there are tens of thousands more Filipinos who are excellent in their work, with or without awards. We continue to be superb.
Sincerely,
Dennis D. Mauricio, MD
Arminda Mauricio, MD
From: Aarnel Soller in Trinidad and Tobago
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:54 AM
The Desperate Housewives writers probably think that most graduates of Philippine med schools choose to eventually become nurses to work in the States. Reality hurts...still, it's not proper to say it in a top rated TV program.
