Desperate Housewives Update: Help Find 50 Filipino Doctors
by Baylan Megino
October 15, 2007
Attorneys in San Francisco are seeking at least 50 doctors to join the $500 million class action defamation lawsuit being prepared against ABC.
The not-so-veiled bigotry against Filipinos voiced in the September 30th “Desperate Housewives” episode has sparked worldwide outrage at the slur against doctors educated in the Philippines.
On Saturday, San Francisco Filipinos joined others who already had picketed in Burbank, New York, and Washington, D.C. The Filipino Anti-Defamation Coalition gathered a group of mostly Filipino physicians and nurses in front of The Disney Store to declare their outrage at Terri Hatcher’s offending remark.
Representatives included the Filipino Medical Association of Northern California, Philippine Nurses Association of Northern California, Filipino Civil Rights Advocates, National Association for Filipino Concerns, physicians from Primary Care Physicians Medical Corporation, NaFFAA Northern California Region 8, and PYDC - Pilipino Youth Development.
For almost 2 hours the more than 50 doctors, nurses, community people, social justice groups, and students carried picket signs and declared “Shame on Disney/ABC, we want more than an apology!” Leaflets explaining the issue were handed to hundreds of tourists, shoppers and Asians passing through Union Square.
Many watched quietly as the protesters exercised their freedom of speech.
One passerby who works in the industry said, “I work with DreamWorks. You’re right. Yeah, go for it!”
Another: “That’s outrageous!”
Another: “I don’t watch the show. They should do more. What are you asking for?”
In a meeting after the protest, several doctors and attorneys explained the next steps. Prominent attorney Ted Laguatan is leading preparations for the $500 million defamation lawsuit. Prior to filing, the first step is the demand for retraction and request for remedies.
Most urgently, they must get commitments from at least 50 doctors by Tuesday evening who are willing to add their name to the filing this week. Time is of the essence.
In explanation to doctors, Attorney Laguatan said, “What is important is your willingness to be a hero to your community. . . If you want things to be, you have to make it happen. This IS your responsibility. . . You’re being a hero to your community. You’re trying to change society — not only for Filipinos, but for American society. . . What we’re trying to do here is create a better world for everybody. When you correct this, you correct it not only for yourself, but also for the people in the whole society. ”
Doctors to be listed can be from any state in the U.S.
Contact Attorney Ted Laguatan’s office in California at
(650) 991-1154.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Reminder from Attorney Rodel Rodis ( Rodel50@aol.com):
To ensure that ABC follows through on its promises, continuous pressure by the Filipino community must be applied. Pickets of ABC offices and a boycott of Disney products will ensure that ABC will live up to its promises. We will not be naively fooled again.
Please send letters of protest to:
Mr. Mark Pedowitz, President
ABC Television Network
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4551;
email: abc7@abc.com )
or sign the online petition
(http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/) .