Desperate Housewives... Hating on Filipinos!

Dear Kababayan and Allies:

I heard through the grapevine about a remark made on an episode of "Desperate Housewives" last night. The scene entailed Teri Hatcher's character (Susan) at a hospital, being told by her
gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause. Susan replied, "Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the
Philippines." If you go to abc.com, you watch the full episode and witness the scene at about 18:50 minutes into the episode.
This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful, but is also unfounded,
considering the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the health care industry.
Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world.
So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant.
As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this type of hateful message
is not allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans ), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the shows' producers, the shows' actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the first time that negative remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the past.
In recent years, we've heard one too many "dogeater" comments by "comedian" Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her standup act, and I believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful speech never happens again.
Please join me in expressing your concern, disappointment, and/or disgust to the producers of ABC.com. You can sign the petition at
http://www.pet itiononline.com/FilABC/petition.html
or you can reach them directly abc7@abc.com. And please feel free to forward this widely to other Filipinos/ Filipino Americans/ Asian Americans/ and other allies.

Sincerely,

Kevin Nadal,
Filipino Performance Artist/ Activist
knadal@g mail. com

- taken from my Friendster Bulletin as sent by my cousin Dean...

A lazy weekend with Enchong Dee!

I had my laziest weekend last week! Usually, I go out to meet friends at the mall or go to the office to have Conference Calls. Last Saturday, SM Dasma went on sale and as a shopping addict, I was supposed to be there since I had gotten my salary the day before, I could have just gone shopping for more clothes! But my body and brain said, "Hell no!". I just lied in the couch and watched TV. It wasn't a waste of time at all because I learned a lot of stuff from the programs that I watched. When I felt tired of watching, I went to bed and had forty winks!
The next day, I still felt the same. I could not find any reason to go out of the house. Turned the TV on as soon as I got up. Watched programs from one channel to another until I decided to put it on Channel 2 to see what was on ASAP. I had fun watching the SUPAHDANCE Album Launch! And the album is really cool! Such a smart buy! You can't just have dance music but an instructional CD that has videos that will teach you the moves! It's really great!
I got so intrigued by the mall shows after they were announced! Heard that the Full Circle Group, Mikey and Saicy would be at Robinson's Dasma! I suddenly felt different and started telling myself that I should be there to see these people!
The show started at almost 6pm. A DJ from 101. 9FM was there to host and people crowded the entertainment area waiting for the ABS- CBN talents to come out on the stage and perform. I arrived early and made sure that I was able to shop for clothes and groceries and had them left at the counter before I watched the show...
I was thrilled to see the Full Circle talents danced before the screaming crowd! Enchong Dee was the crowd's favorite. He wasn't just an eye candy but he did his thing really well! He smiled a lot while he strut his stuff and he danced really gracefully! I couldn't afford to look at the others for I was too busy staring at Enchong! It was really a day for me! Though he was there on the stage and I was in the middle of the stinking crowd, I was happy... I saw Enchong Dee!
Mikey and Saicy did the finale! It was great and people were screaming for the both of them! Hmmm... they just did my Sunday more than complete!
Next weekend, I definitely won't be lazy again... because I don't wanna miss great things this life has for me!

Umbrella Men...

Women are known to carry umbrellas whenever they go out of the house in this modern time. They don't want their skin to be burned nor get wet when it rains. But there isn't any rule that says "only girls can carry umbrellas and walk with them to protect themselves from burning their skin", right? I, myself walk with an umbrella in sunny afternoons. At first, I was scared to do it for I thought I would get dagger looks from people who think seeing a straight guy walking with an umbrella is such a strange scene. But then, I was able to convince myself that I don't ask these people money for me to be able to buy these skin whitening products... and another thing, I am not straight! So I must walk with an umbrella!
Today is just another day when I saw some "straight" men walking with umbrellas! They seemed very comfortable walking under the shade they could get from them. No remorse nor hesitation though being looked at by people who think that men walking with umbrellas on a sunny day are committing a heinous crime!
But seeing these "straight" men with umbrellas bothers me! Sometimes, I ask myself whether the guy is really straight, not so straight or not straight at all! I wanna know the reasons why they walk with umbrellas in the middle of the day... Is it because they are vain- metrosexuals who care much about their skin? Are they users of these whitening products as well? Or perhaps it's because this is the only way they know that can help them come out in the open and tell the world that they are somewhat not very straight?

Satisfied With The Break?

Part of my dream is to have my own show on TV. Since I was young, I had been dreaming of being on TV or on the big screen. I think, I had tried to come up with ways to realize this dream of mine but it seemed that it was really far- fetched. There were many reasons- one, I didn't have that "star factor"; two, I think I was not that exposed... though I performed a lot on stage from elementary to college but there wasn't any scout to spot me, give me an offer and help me to be on TV; third, I wasn't confident enough to audition because I always thought that others could do better and it would be a waste of everything trying; fourth, my family wasn't supportive enough; fifth, I could go on and on forever with reasons why the hell I hadn't been on TV!
But things went kind of different after college. Leaving the university and the guild gave me bravery and opened my eyes to countless possibilities and chances. First, I became one of the extras along with Toni Gonzaga, Luis Alandy, Trina Zuñiga in a comedy flick, "Da Sisters" that was starred by Vic Sotto and Michael V in 1998 and was shown on the big screen for MMFF and aired several times on TV. Second, I was lucky enough to be at Hot Stuff on Channel 13 as an extra again for Ato Agustin's interview and it was aired twice, one was on the program's regular time slot and the other was during PBA Halftime.
Year 2003 was the year when I was able to be at Search for a Star's final audition. Months later, I auditioned for Star In A Million twice, but I did not make myself to be on national TV.
It was just last year when I was offered to be the writer and the host of an online English talk show for Hae Yeon International English Center. I was really thrilled because I think it was really a "break"! Several episodes were uploaded in 2 Korean websites and watched by thousands of Koreans particularly the members of an English organization, Young Au San Check. These days, the show can be seen through 4 Korean sites and linked to 1 Japanese and 1 Chinese sites!
Do you think I am happy with this? Yes, I am but not yet contented with it... Just like common people... I am never satisfied! And the thing is, "The Chester Show" isn't on TV, it's on the net!

Life and Satisfaction...

Who says that life is an easy game? Is living a piece of cake? A bowl of cherries? No, it is absolutely not!

But is there any way for life to be easy? Yes, in fact, there are many ways...
Life can be easy if you can find ways to be satisfied with it... Being thankful with what you have is a way for us to feel that living is not difficult at all.
But the thing is... will your life develop if you are always trying to satisfy yourself with what you have in your hands? Won't you ask for something more?
Will you just stay in a place and keep on repeating the sentence, "I need nothing, I satisfied and thankful!" Well, being in this situation is an option. You may choose to be challenged and refrain from saying that you are "satisfied" with your life... Or you may prefer to put yourself in difficult situations thinking that you will get something better at the end of your struggles.
We are given the ability to make plans and dream of a better life. You may be thankful with the simple food you have on the table but won't you wish it would not be simple but something "better"? You may say you are "through" once you have enough money in your bank account but won't you want to have much... enough money to spend on you needs, your loved ones', and with extra dough that you can use in the future?
Life becomes a struggle when you choose it to be one. When you start asking for more and stop telling yourself that you are content with what you have. Keeping yourself challenged, yearning for better things in life and developing yourself and your lifestyle only mean that your life is evolving. When life evolves, it isn't stagnant... because when life is stagnant, it's dead.
While we are still young, we have to continuously work and develop our abilities. Save whatever is needed for the future. Time will come when we have to cease... that must be the period you utter the words, "I am satisfied." Because by then, you know that you have done everything necessary to give yourself not a good life but a better one, not overcome struggles but won them, and not just made plans but accomplished them!

The Devil Wears Prada- A Novel by Lauren Weisberger

A very interesting and inspiring story of the assistant (Andrea Sachs) of the ever- famous Runway magazine's Editor- in- Chief, Miranda Priestly. There are many characters and situations that are mentioned in the book but not in the movie. But the fashionable clothes, accessories, Manolos, Jimmy Choos, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Dolce and Gabbana and the like are of course, never forgotten in both the flick and the novel. Not to mention, Miranda Priestly's demeanor and British accent that seem very irritating to Andrea's senses! Watching the flick, The Devil... may be fun but reading the novel can give you more ideas about how Andrea's life with Miranda really was. How Andrea tried to get even with Miranda... her transformation, from a sloppy dresser to a fashionable head- turner!
Both the movie and the novel, "The Devil Wears Prada" prove that it is so true, what Anne Landers said that I quote, "Everything has a price and we must sacrifice something precious to gain something else."...telling us that our success depends on how much sacrifice we make, how important the things we give up are just to get something better. Andrea Sachs gave up many things for her job and her dream of becoming a writer. Though, her boss was with this devilish character, she always tried to put up with her because she focused more on the outcome of her hardships. And at the end, even though she left Runway, she was never a loser. Everything she had and experienced from working with Miranda and Runway just made her a better person with bigger dreams and stronger determination in achieving all her aspirations as a writer, a person of inspiration not just to the readers of her work but to the people who are close to her heart... Her experiences made her ready to face more difficult challenges ahead of her. And Miranda, was someone who Andrea did not consider an enemy, but a mentor. She was a brilliant person with amazing passion for her work which made herself and Runway Magazine fashion legends!