Filipinos Offended Over TV Show Comment

Oct. 3, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- Real-life controversy on Wysteria Lane. The "Desperate Housewives" show on ABC7 is under attack tonight because of something one of the characters said.

The remark made by Teri Hatcher's character on "Desperate Housewives" has Filipinos in the U.S. and around the globe organizing a letter writing campaign. They say their e-mail boxes are filling up with comments and clips of the show.

"Can I check your diploma because I just want to make sure they're not from som med school in the Philipines," said Susan Mayer, Teri Hatcher's character on "Desperate Housewives."

"It's very degrading," said Registered Nurse Bernadette Roco.

Bernadette Roco says her medical training in the Philippines prepared her for a smooth transition to the U.S.

"When we came here I knew what to do already," said Roco.

Her husband Dr. Carmelo Roco, studied medicine in the Philippines and today he's a primary care physician in San Francisco.

"And basically our books are patterned after the United States western medical educations," said Primary Care Physician Carmelo Roco.

He says the Philippines medical schools are accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education in Pennsylvania.

"It's not only a slur, it's an insult to the quality of Philippines education," said former Philippines President Fidel Ramos.

Former Philippines President Fidel Ramos is a West Point graduate who was visiting in San Francisco on Wednesday, says western culture and medicine are highly influential in his country.

"There are some, I"m not saying all. Just a few that are so comfortable where they are. They don't bother to know about other people. Like the Philippines which is one of the strongest allies of the U.S," said Ramos

An executive producer for "Desperate Housewives" released this apology saying: "The producers of 'Desperate Housewives' and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines.

We asked if the dialogue had been discussed prior to its airing, and how many Asian writers are on staff. The shows executive producer told us she could not answer that question.

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