By Johnny Chua

May I put my 2 cents to this issue? Many are talking about a legal remedy. Not to mention that the legal process usually takes time and costs money. At the end of the road we will get an apology and some money. The winners will definitely be the lawyers. If there will be monetary awards for the Filipino community, which group will benefit from it will be another big question.

It appears [as read from other articles] that the producers have expressed their regrets and would consider certain appropriate steps to remedy the negativity caused by this incident. Question will be how do you reverse this negative message? I hope they follow through with their expressed intention. A simple journalistic write up by the Associated Press may not have any true impact for those who follow the DH series and not the journalist's commentaries.

Someone from the Filipino community [whoever is now in dialogue with the producers/production company] may negotiate with the producers and writers of DH. Aside from an express apology, we may take this opportunity to spin a positive image of our fellow Filipinos in the Medical Profession.

The DH series story writer and script writer can spin the story to show/illustrate the positive and great contributions of Filipinos in the medical professions [nurses, Lab technicians and all aspect of medically-related fields]. This can be an enlightening opportunity for the viewers to recognize the contribution of Filipinos in the medical industries. The producers / writers will have no problem with this story "add-ons." The story line to be added is true in real-life situation anyway.

If properly followed through and negotiated, this will also open doors for possible Filipino actors to be hired for acting rolls in DH to portray the Filipinos in the medical fields. DH is viewed worldwide and this I feel will make us all Filipinos proud and bring pride to the Philippine's contribution in the medical fields with saving peoples' lives. There can be so many outstanding characters that can be projected in the story [if written with proper consultation]. Filipinos being caring, loving, warm and taking the extra miles in caring for their patients. Not to mention our "sipag" attitude/qualities. I always hear so much admiration from hospital administrators about their Filipino staffs.

(Author’s Notes: Johnny Chua is a commissioner of the City of Walnut, California. He is also the president of the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley.)