BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- What does the Filipino community have to say about the scene in TV's "Desperate Housewives" that slammed Philippine medical education?

ABC23 Managing Editor Nick Belardes reports that one local Filipino posted a blog on Bakotopia.com expressing his views on the matter.

Bakotopia user Mario Reyes wrote:

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.

Local Filipino, Rick Pablo, of Bakersfield said in an interview with ABC23, "It’s really degrading, putting down my nationality as a Filipino. I mean, why Filipinos? …I’m really upset."

The episode in question prompted angry calls from viewers, an online petition demanding an apology and criticism from Philippine officials.

The season premiere that aired Sunday on ABC, Teri Hatcher's character, Susan, is having a medical checkup. She’s shocked when the doctor suggests she might be going through menopause.

"Listen, Susan, I know for a lot of women the word 'menopause' has negative connotations. You hear 'aging,' 'brittle bones,' 'loss of sexual desire,'" the doctor tells her.

"OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren't, like, from some med school in the Philippines?" Susan said in return.

ABC revealed that viewers called the network to complain although numbers of complaints aren’t known. As of Friday morning, more than 86,000 names were attached to an online petition that seeks an apology from ABC and from “Desperate Housewives.”

ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Co., said it was considering editing the episode. They also offered an apology.

"The producers of 'Desperate Housewives' and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines," the statement said.

"As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs," it concluded.

When asked about the ABC apology, Pablo said, "I’m sure they got a lot of outburst fron the Filipino community. But these scripts were thought out beforehand."

Pablo said the damage to the credibility of Filipinos who are hardworking and knowledgeable at what they do will be long-lasting. "The apology is kind of late in those regards," he said. "The damage is done."

The TV episode even became an international incident, with reports on it topping Philippine news shows and drawing newspaper headlines as officials there registered their displeasure. Filipinos could judge the scene for themselves when it was posted on YouTube.

The video as of Friday had more than 57,000 views.