A Tragedy

The Philippine local news scene recently is full of, well, news and commentaries regarding a "racist and humiliating" portrayal of Filipino domestic helpers.

The unfortunate incident happened last September 26, 2008 when the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) aired an episode of, what one Philippine Lady Senator called a "sorry excuse for a comedy show," - Harry and Paul- wherein comedian Harry Enfield was telling a postman that he is ordering his "Filipino" maid to mate with his neighbor Paul Whitehouse. In the same episode of the supposed satirical-comedy-con-whatever skit, the same comedian kept ordering his "Filipino" maid to gyrate and dance in front of his friend and even instructed her to "hump" him. What were they thinking?!? The portrayal is not only racist and humiliating, it is downright chauvinistic! All relics from the past when women are treated as mere chattels. Even if the maid is not specifically "Filipino," this woman still finds the portrayal in poor taste.

The show is supposed to be funny but Filipinos are not laughing. What the British viewing public finds amusing (otherwise BBC will not bother putting it on air) is a painful reminder, for us Filipinos, of the fate suffered by Flor Contemplacion, Delia Maga, Sarah Balabagan and countless others, all Filipino domestic helpers, who were raped, have killed and got killed while serving their foreign employers in domestic capacities. Many of these BBC's butt of jokes came home maimed and insane due to abused suffered from the hands of their foreign employers. Yet, countless others brave the "unknown" year in year out, in their desire to put decent meals on their families table. Yes, wanting to buy food, a very basic need, drove our women to work as domestics for abusive foreigners. Not the desire to afford luxury items, taken for granted by the affluent side of the world, where members of royal families still live in castles!

If a people of a country in this civilized world think that the plight of Filipino domestic helpers is a joke, hence, funny, then, the government of that country should set aside a hefty chunk of their budget, for the collective mental sanitation and sensitivity training of its citizen or subject.

The abused suffered by Filipino migrant workers, particularly women, who face racism, discrimination and even sexual harassment in their work places abroad is no laughing matter. Filipino migrant workers do not want pity but they want dignity. They work hard to earn it. The least that some people can do is let them deserve it.

The Philippines maybe just another impoverish country from the third world but such fact does not give any citizen/subject of an affluent country, which is just materially superior, to humiliate and insult Filipinos in a most insensitive and barbaric manner. What gall! What an affront! It should not be countenanced! It should be indignantly condemned! This newbie blogger is doing exactly that.

Lastly, mention must be made that the British Ambassador to the Philippines issue some diplomatic statement to the effect that the image of a domestic worker portrayed in the show does not reflect the views and opinions of the British government on Filipinos. Well, he can speak until he is blue in the face, but the fact still is: the British Broadcasting Company is owned and operated by the British Government!