Embassy downplays BBC 'racist' issue against OFW
MARK MERUEÑAS, GMANews.TV (watch the episode part after the article)
10/07/2008 | 05:20 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The British Broadcasting Corp’s (BBC) alleged “racist" portrayal of a Filipino worker should not sever the British government’s ties with the Philippines, the British Embassy said Tuesday.
In a statement, the British government said it was respecting the freedom of expression of BBC, which aired last September 26 an episode of its comedy show “Harry and Paul" with a segment that was perceived as a racial attack on Filipino domestic helpers.
However, it said that the image of a domestic worker as portrayed in the show does not reflect the views and opinion of its government on Filipinos.
“The BBC has editorial independence, and views expressed/portrayed by the BBC are completely independent from those of the UK government," the British Embassy said.
The British Embassy also stressed the contributions that Filipinos - living or working in the United Kingdom - have contributed to their culture, sciences, and workforce.
“Filipinos in the UK are an important part of British society, making invaluable contributions to our scientific and service sectors, and enriching UK culture," it said.
In fact, former Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister Meg Munn had spent time with the Filipino communities in UK to recognize their role in the British society.
British Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Beckingham is set to fly for the United Kingdom in March 2009 to attend a conference. He said he would use the opportunity to also meet and continue dialogues with the Filipino communities there.
“It demonstrates that we have a great deal of respect, interest and concern for the Filipino communities in Great Britain," he told reporters.
The statement came after Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to lodge a complaint against the British government and demand an apology from the BBC.
Beckingham said that the comedy show was not a government program and thus an apology should not come from government officials but from the network and the show’s producers.
“I think the apology probably correctly should come from the people who produced it," the ambassador said.
In the controversial clip that has been circulating over the Internet, especially via video-sharing website YouTube, a woman playing the character of a Filipina housemaid is seen gyrating in front of her British employer’s friend.
The Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom has already sent letters of complaint to different British government offices, including the UK regulatory industry, the Mayor of London, and the BBC itself.
The Philippine Embassy has also already shored up “concerted efforts" from the Filipino communities to denounce the portrayal by holding silent protests and vigils.
Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) had said in a statement that the comedy show’s portrayal was a “painful reminder" of the plight of Filipino migrant workers, who face racism, discrimination, and sexual harassment in their work places abroad.
For his part, Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez partly blamed some groups for the incident because their public criticisms could have “encouraged" foreigners to make fun of Filipinos.
Gonzalez however said he would gladly join groups protesting the “racial" representation of a Filipina domestic helper.
Last year, a scene in the ABC television hit series “Desperate Housewives" that put into question the credibility of medical education in the Philippines elicited angry remarks from Filipinos, and later on amassed thousands of signatures through an online petition.
Asked if the British government is prepared if ever the latest alleged “racial" slur on Filipinos triggers an outcry through online petitions or hate mails, Beckingham said, “That’s fine." - GMANews.TV
Watch the Episode part
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Controversial episode of BBC's Harry and Paul against Filipina maid
Interviewing Fr. Giancarlo Bossi
Dinatnan namin sa hardin ng PIME (Pontificio Instituto Missioni Estere) Head Office si Fr. Bossi at ang kanyang mga malalapit na kamag-anak na nagkukwentuhang may ngiti sa kanilang labi. Maayos kaming tinanggap ng pamilyang Bossi at sinalubong na parang myembro na rin ng kanilang pamilya. Noong mga araw kasi na kasalukuyang nakidnap ang pari, ilan beses namin silang nakausap sa telepono at nagkita pa kami ng pamilya nito noong pinuntahan namin sila sa kanilang bahay sa Milano para mag interview sa GMA 7, at nakita namin kung ano talaga ang kanilang naramdaman na kasakitan ng mga panahon na iyon. Subalit ang araw na ito ay ibang-iba dahil nakita ko na sa kanilang labi at nabasa ko sa kanilang mata ang tunay na kasiyahan na kanilang nararamdaman ngayon. Sa pakikipagkwentuhan namin sa buong pamilya ay di namin napag-usapan man lamang ang naganap na pagkidnap sa kanya sa mindanao maliban na lamang sa isang tanong na "babalik pa ba kayo sa Pilipinas pagkatapos ng mga pangyayari?" at matunog na "oo" ang isinagot niya sa amin at sinundan ng "kasi matigas ang ulo ko". Nakalalaki ng puso at nakabibilib lalo ng sabihin nya sa ating "Maganda ang Italya at dito ako ipinanganak ngunit ang aking puso ay nasa Pilipinas" (o diba pusong pinoy na si padre, ha ha ha). Walang paglagyan sa tuwa ang kanyang mga kamag-anak lalo na si Fr. Bossi simula ng aming pakipag-kwentuhan sa mga ito hanggang sa matapos. Naitanong ko pa nga sa pamangkin niyang si Eleonora na "kumusta ang iyong tiyo, sya ba ay di na naninigarilyo?" Habang tumatawa ay sinagot nya akong "di ko pa sya nakikita". Tinanong kami ng pari kung bakit nasama ang paninigarilyo sa usapan, lingid kasi sa kaalaman niya sya ay pinag-pupustahan ng buong pamilya kung sya ay matitigil na sa paninigarilyo dahil nung kasalukuyang nakikidnap pa ito narinig namin sa isang balita na di ito nakakatikim ng sigarilyo man lamang kaya nagsimula ang pustahan mag-mula noon at pagkarinig nya dito ang kanyang mukha ay naging seryoso at binigkas ang katagang "Ito marahil ang isang malaking bagay na nabago sa aking buhay, ang di na pagtikim ng sigarilyo". Nakatawa man kaming lahat ng oras na iyon eh alam naming seryoso sya sa kanyang sinasabi kaya naman nagsimula silang magyakapang magkakapatid hanggang sa kami ay nagpaalam na dahil meron pang ibang taong naghihintay sa kanila na nasagutan nila para sa susunod na interview. Inihatid nila kaming lahat sa pintuan ng PIME habang patuloy pa rin ang pagbibiruan ng mga ito habang kami naman ay umuwi. Ang Buong kwento ng Istoryang ito ay mapapanood nyo lamang n sa mga balita ng GMA7 at QTV 11( kung di pa nabubura ha hah ha ha).
