Campaign Launched to Get BBC Apology

Our Pilipino family "across the pond" in the United Kingdom also experiences prejudice and stereotyping in popular entertainment like we do in the United States. (Remember Desperate Housewives and its comment about the quality of Pilipino healthcare workers?) Check out this release about a UK show that plays off the stereotypes of Pilipina women.  Let us know what you think of the issue.

Campaign Launched to Get BBC Apology [Inquirer]

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net

Posted date: October 07, 2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino and women's organizations in the United Kingdom are campaigning against the British Broadcasting Co. comedy "Harry and Paul Show" for degrading Filipino women and domestic workers in its September 29 episode.

In an exchange of e-mail with INQUIRER.net, Loline Lualhati Reed, who heads the Overseas Women's Club, and Michael Duque, who heads the Philippine Nurses Association in UK, are campaigning to get the BBC to issue a public apology.

"I have been sending e-mails to all the eminent people I know from the House of Lords, Parliament, the Women's National Commission, etc.," Reed said.

She said other Filipino leaders there have joined the campaign and Philippine Ambassador to UK Edgardo Espiritu and his staff are also doing their own campaigning.

Reed is also asking everyone concerned to put pressure on the British Embassy in Manila, especially Ambassador Peter Beckingham, "to ask the BBC to apologize to the Filipinos for promoting 'sexual slavery' as shown on the show."

"It is the most disgusting presentation of an insult to our women and of our domestic workers," she said.

Duque's group, on the other hand, has put up an online petition for the dignity and respect for the Filipino worker at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/dignity-and-respect-for-the-filipino-worker.html.

The sketch "directly insulted the Filipino people with its tactless and insensitive behavior through its disgusting gutter humor.

We have now started an online petition to show the broadcast industry that such behaviors will not go unnoticed and unchallenged," Duque said.

Reed said the British ambassador here may be able to let BBC executives become aware of the strong feelings Filipinos in the UK hold about the "lascivious sketch in which our Filipina maid was shown in the Harry and Paul Show."

Reed, who was born a Filipino, said her organization has worked very hard for more than 20 years to improve the image of Filipinos, especially Filipino women.

"We are not just angry but we are also sad. Is the Filipina an easy target for a degrading insult such as that shown in that sketch? ...The sketch was meant to be comedy, but at our expense?" she asked.