BBC Harry & Paul comedy against Filipina maid
Is it racist? hilarious? or are we just onion skin or what?
In the first place, if the girl who appeared in the show as a Filipina Maid shouldn’t allow this thing to happen or shouldn’t allow herself to be a part of the show or maybe that this girl is not a Filipina. On the second thought, majority of our overseas filipino workers are domestic helpers so on that note we do not blame the world for that or BBC but our government.
But on this case yelling to a maid and calling her this filipina maid and make her a sex symbol is not funny at all.. I think the government should do something about this and FILIPINOS deserve an apology from BBC.
If you want justice for our maids and OFW as a whole, go sign the petition.
UPDATE: BBC SAYS SORRY! October 16, 2008
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has issued an apology for airing a comedy sketch that portrayed a Filipino woman in a very demeaning manner.
“Firstly, we’re sorry if you were in any way offended by the program as this wasn’t our intention,” the BBC’s Complaints Division stated.
The complaints division of the network described ‘Harry & Paul’ as a “post-watershed comedy sketch show well-known for its exaggerated humour and absurd characters.”
“It in no way represents real people and was never intended to offend or demean any viewer,” it added.
An official complaint was emailed to the network following the airing of the show on September 26. The show outraged many Filipinos, women’s groups and even lawmakers prompting the Philippine government to direct the foreign affairs department to act on the issue.
“We recognize that you were personally offended by the sketch and would like to assure you that your complaint has been registered on our audience log,” the complaints division stated.
It said that audience feedback also reaches BBC’s executive board, channel controllers, senior managers and staff.
The letter explained that the offending sketch is from a series known as “Northern Monkey” which is “featured strongly in both series of the program over the last two years.”
Source: ABS-CBN
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October 7th, 2008 at 2:09 am
hmm i don’t find it offensive, comedies are not supposed to be taken seriously, they’re just humorous or at times stupid aspect of a situation…
i think it’s just tasting our own pill, pinoy tv too always have dire titles and images against bumbays, chinese, japs etc.
pinoys = ANG DAMING BAGGAGE!
October 7th, 2008 at 3:15 am
its been all over the news now.. most Pinoy are hurt about the issue more than the medical practioners issue before..
October 7th, 2008 at 3:25 am
napanood ko to kagabi sa news. grabe talaga. kawawa tayong mga Pinoy. lagi na lang tyo dinidiscriminate. kawawa lahi natin.
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October 7th, 2008 at 3:37 am
oo nga e.. bakait kaya?
October 7th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Like I said in my blog, though I find the whole thing distasteful, I don’t think we should take it seriously. After all, it’s a comedy sketch.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:10 am
yes but the question is why put the word filipina? that situation can be funny even w/o the word filipina? or does including the word filipina on that kinda of situation is something to be proud of?
joanjoyce’s last blog post..I found a local online store for Plus Size like me!
October 7th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I just hate whenever a woman is disrespected. lalo na kung may nationality pang involve. Anyway, what else is new? sa desperate housewives nga inapi rin tayo…
October 7th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I just hate it whenever a woman is disrespected at lalo na kung may nationality pang involve. Anyway, what else is new? sa desperate housewives nga inapi rin tayo…
October 7th, 2008 at 11:20 am
oo nga e wala namang difference sa comic act if di nilagyan ng filipina e.. kaya nga ang question lang jan e y filipina diba? dahil ba marami tayong maid kaya ganon haaaaayzzzz
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October 7th, 2008 at 11:21 am
lagi na nga lang pinoy e.. cguro kasi sisikat pa lalo sila kasi for sure mag rereact tayo
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October 7th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Funny how there is no mention of the fact that the person in pyjamas is a ‘northerner’ that is kept as a pet by the family.
Surely this is as, if not more, degrading than the reference to the filipina girl.
British comedy is, has, and always will be ‘close to the mark’ which is why it is the best and why it is so succesful. Look at ‘Little Britain’ for example.
Come on, stop taking everything so seriously. The actress obviously did not mind and had a sense of humour.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
fuck holes ang writer ng Harry & Paul!
binibigyan nila ng masamang imahe ang nga bago nating mga bayani!
October 7th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Hi, I’m English and know of this program.
The problem is that you haven’t got the joke. I appreciate that British humour can be hard to grasp for people not from the UK.
The target of the joke is the middle class white guy, the scenario highlights his naive ignorance and inherent racism. The main candidate for the racism is actually the Northern guy _not_ the Filipino maid, she could easily be replaced by any other nationality, she isn’t the point.
The joke is that the middle class white guy is treating his northerner as his pet and doesn’t realise how terrible his actions are.
Note that British humour inherently pokes fun out of British people themselves. I encourage you to watch things like The Office, Brass Eye and Peep Show. The point of these shows is to follow an inherently flawed character and to laugh at them.
I also encourage you to visit the UK, we have one of the most multi-cultural capitals and aside from the odd ignorant bastard we are very ANTI-racism. Racism is actually a bit of a public taboo in the UK these days, being racist is utterly unacceptable in most social circles here.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
It’s a sad but true reflection on how the rest of the world perceives Filipinas. Our present corruption, poverty and our poor state of government are the main reasons why we have Filipinas working as maids overseas.
The a renewed web campaign on the term Filipina can be a more constructive way of dealing with this, what do you guys think?
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October 7th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
This sketch wasn’t just offensive to Philapinos, it’s offensive to women and to domestic workers. They were essentially treating workers like dogs, making bets on their ability to mate, and then shooing them off like a nuisance. Darned right it’s offensive, and all of the above groups should receive an apology.
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October 7th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I’m filipina too and I think its being taken too seriously – the show is meant to be a comedy right? I think I’d take more offense if it was a show that was trying to depict the truth, but when its a satirical show you have to take the jokes with a grain of salt.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t be upset… I’m just explaining why I’m not upset over it. =D
October 8th, 2008 at 12:21 am
yeah there are an existing dictionary that the word filipina is defined as a maid…
joanjoyce’s last blog post..Philippine Dog Show Schedule for October 2008 by PCCI
October 8th, 2008 at 12:30 am
yes I understand.. but you cannot deny the fact that anyone who didn’t knew what a filipina maid is or the filipinos in general might think that we are all like that, can be treated like that and alike.. and we do not want that to happen.. because most of the pinoys in UK are professionals.. based on the petition only 10% of the pinoys in UK are DH and 65% are professionals.. so maybe they are just preventing the fact that when a foreigner sees a filipina they would tagged you as a maid (even if your not) who grinds for your boss or bosses friend
joanjoyce’s last blog post..I found a local online store for Plus Size like me!
October 8th, 2008 at 12:49 am
it is really to each is own.. if the northener’s countymen didn’t mind then its their prerogative not too..
October 8th, 2008 at 12:50 am
kaka hurt diba?
October 8th, 2008 at 12:53 am
the point is she was tagged as a filipina maid who grinds and be yelled and all.. if the northern man’s country didn’t mind then it ok.. but i am happy to know that UK is anti racist..
jokes can also be hurtful at times
October 8th, 2008 at 12:55 am
thank for you support and understanding Maritzia.. domestic helpers need to be respected too..
October 8th, 2008 at 1:26 am
The FILIPINOS are not worth laughing at and be the center of such stupid comic shows… whatever… as one Filipino Hero said… We FILIPINOS are worth dying for…
October 8th, 2008 at 2:21 am
i believe thats Ninoy
October 8th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Filipinos are worth dying for alright, but when push comes to shove and we’re in a state of war, I’d rather let that bloody %$#@R$$@! die for his own country.
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October 8th, 2008 at 11:36 am
di ako apektado nito dahil sabi ko nga sa blog ni ambo, si juan ay di kagaya ni pedro. di na tayo bata para maniwala sa tukso ng isang palabas. makijoke na lang din tayo.
itot’s last blog post..Please Watch And Help Me Win!
October 8th, 2008 at 11:37 am
boto niyo video ko.click lang last post ko. thanks!
itot’s last blog post..Please Watch And Help Me Win!
October 8th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
pero xempre diba di naman lahat e kayang intindihin ang naintindihan ni juan, hehehe ang gulo
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October 8th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
check ko nga if jan na bunso mo
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October 8th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
marami akong kamag-anak sa UK pero kahit sila they don’t find the sketch offensive. ang explanation ng pinsan ko sakin, ang talagang tinitira daw dun sa sketch eh yung northerner at hindi yung Pinay (na obviously ay hindi naman Pinay). natatawa lang sila sa mga news na nababasa nila sa internet.
i don’t find the video offensive at all. yung friend ko naman hindi gets yung humor ng mga Briton pero hindi rin sya na-offend. sure degrading yung mga pinagawa nya dun sa “Filipina maid” but it is a comedy show. comedy shows are supposed to be racist dahil nagbibigay sila ng exagerrated comedy. take for example MAD TV or SNL, most sketches are degrading kung seseryosohin ng isang tao pero nakakatawa kung ang iisipin mo lang ay yung comedy. as i’ve said in my blog if there is going to be a protest about comedy shows like these wala tayong karapatang mag-react ng sobra sobra dahil aside from that Desperate Housewives incident last year (which is more upsetting than this) this is the first time (as far as i can remember) na mapaglaruan tayo sa isang comedy show. mas may karapatang manghingi ng aplogy ang mga Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indians, Irish, Mexicans, at lalong lalo na ang mga Middle Easterns dahil sila ang laging “naiinsulto” sa TV man o sa movies at hindi tayo.
feeling ko lang kung may nakapanood din ng sketch ni Bobby Lee noon sa MAD TV – he played a Filipino retard – siguro nagkagulo na sa America dahil sa protesta, pasalamat nalang ako at walang nag-react.
comedy ito people, hindi dapat sineseryoso. at utang na loob wag na nating paabutin pa to sa senado dahil lalo lang tayong lalabas na nakakahiya. mas marami tayong problema sa bansa natin at sa tingin ko mas magandang unahin natin ang mga seryosong problema kesa sa pagpansin sa isang sketch ng isang comedy show.
chorva’s last blog post..Was that Harry and Paul Sketch Really Insulting?
October 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
ako lang bida jan. di din BBC ang ngproduce niyan.ahehehe
itot’s last blog post..Please Watch And Help Me Win!
October 8th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I think we Filipinos tend to be onion-skinned and too easily offended sometimes. The thing with this sketch is that the Filipina was not the target of the joke.
In fact, it actually mocking how certain types of English people see themselves as superior to all those outside their social class. In this case, we are supposed to be laughing at the middle-class English guy who reveals his own stupidity by the way he treats others. The sketch is an exaggeration to show viewers the ignorance of that Englishman’s way of thinking.
This type of ‘flawed character’ sketch is a popular theme in British comedies.
If you’re interested, I’ve explained this in a little more detail in my own post about the Filipino community’s petition against the Harry and Paul show
October 9th, 2008 at 12:52 am
mukhang DFA lang ang nag aasikaso and BBC said they will investigate.. cguro sis ang nangyare lang e parang sa pain iba iba ang threshold natin jan meron madaling masaktan merong hindi.. hehehe..
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October 9th, 2008 at 2:16 am
most of us are onion skinned talaga.. maybe
October 9th, 2008 at 6:32 am
@joanjoyce – tama ka, iba-iba lang talaga tayo mag react
chorva’s last blog post..Was that Harry and Paul Sketch Really Insulting?
October 10th, 2008 at 12:50 am
oo kaso si YU-Kaye ayaw daw mag sorry kasi joke lang daw yun kaya ang Malacanang nagagalit hehehe..
October 10th, 2008 at 7:48 am
[...] first saw this in joanjoyce’s blog and i was, still am, insulted by it. I immediately signed the petition to seek justice against the [...]
October 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
it’s just right that we express our indignation.
it’s our way of telling the world that ‘it’s not ok with us’ and in doing so make them think twice before they drag the word ‘filipino’ into anything else that tends to demean our character.
between being vigilant and cavalier about this issue, i’d rather be vigilant.
and to those who were not offended, just be mindful that there are those whose situation in life prevents them from finding the humor in that sketch. mga kababayan nyo yung nakaramdam ng matinding hiya sa nakita nila. if you don’t agree with them then just let them vent their grief and not ridicule them for expressing their pain.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Just to let you know, I am the British guy who was quoted as saying that the Harry and Paul sketch was “sexist, racist and immoral” see below:
Loline Reed moved to the UK from the Philippines in 1978 and is currently chairwoman of the Overseas Women’s Club.
She said that she knew of two Filipina maids who committed suicide after being abused and the issue should not be the subject of comedy.
Mrs Reed said: “I found it very offensive, we have a problem with sexual abuse in domestic work and because of the stigma involved the victims do not say anything.
“We are asking the BBC to apologise for allowing the programme to happen.”
She added: “We are all very upset and offended by the sketch.
“Our overseas domestic workers are heroes in the Philippines, without them sending money home our economy would suffer. The programme really showed disrespect for maids and our community.”
Malcolm Conlan, a 37-year-old first aid trainer, is married to a Filipina and his children are half Filipino.
He said: “My family have been insulted and I am disgusted. The BBC have gone too far, they were trying to reinforce a stereotype of Filipina women.”
Asked if he thought the sketch was racist, he replied: “It was sexist, racist and immoral.”
Around 25 people gathered to protest outside the BBC in White City.
A simultaneous demonstration was planned to take place at Tiger Aspect Productions, which makes the show, outside its office in Soho, central London.
My point is that I have had racist remarks left for me on the internet over this and standing up for my Filipino family, for this reason we cant just leave this alone.
There are a great many British people who are both racist and sexist and we need to support the Filipino community in ensuring that this cannot continue.
Generally many filipina’s working as DH in the UK and abroad keep quiet while they are being mistreated and abused, this behaviour by the people employing them cannot continue.
Racism and sexism must stop, thats why I am making a stand. We cannot therefore ignore this issue…
kind regards
malcolm conlan
October 25th, 2008 at 3:30 am
[...] on BBC 2? I don’t but last September 26, which will be September 29 here, an episode about a Filipino domestic helper was shown gyrating in front of her British employers. Members of the 200,000-strong Filipino community in the United Kingdom protested, saying [...]
May 21st, 2009 at 11:13 pm
kaya pala galit si pacman sa english (hatton)people,,buti nga sa inyo,,,walang maisip na katatawanan. kaya hde inabutan ng kamay ni pacman nun bumaligtad sa ring eh,,,,sakit sguro ng face nya,,he,he,he,