blackshama's commentary on Philippine issues

The Overseas Workers Welfare Admistration (OWWA) is reportedly considering requiring departing domestic worker OFWs psychiatric tests. The Inquirer reports that different migrant rights organizations are opposing the move. Obviously this is discriminatory. Why not require mandatory tests for nurses, engineers and computer programmers and other so called professionals? Shouldn't doctors and nurses be psychiatrically tested? After all that makes for good program material in Crime Scene Investigation or Discovery Channel's "The Most Evil"? Dr Harold Shipman is the world's worst physician-serial killer. And Austrian nurses were implicated in a killing spree in a hospital. The proposed directive presupposes that a person's pyschiatric disposition is the root of the problem. As the migrant organizations have put it, there are many aggravating factors that can push a person "over the edge", language, culture and of course the reality of being away from home...

Yahoo Philippines has this news bit about the DSWCD requesting MTRCB to screen TV shows that make fun of the disabled. It's about time. We really have to develop more sensitivity about discrimination. But DSWCD should go further, not only the disabled should be protected from this abuse but the beauty-challenged (ugly), the height challenged (short people) and of course people with dark complexions. This should extend to the financially challenged (poor) sector of society. Racial,economic and gender stereotyping have been the staple of Pinoy comedy. Gays have been the subject of a zillion laughs. The irony is that many of the screenwriters who write these gags are themselves gay! How can society respect gays if gays can't respect themselves? We really need an anti-discrimination law that has teeth. But if these anti-discrimination proposals become law Joey de Leon would lose his comedy show. But seriously a culturally sensitive attitude will involve a sea change for Pinoy soc...