Cynthia Villar apologizes for 'insensitive remarks' against Filipino nurses

Liberal Party candidate and current Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar apologized on public specially for the Filipino nursing graduates on Monday, 4 March 2013 for here allegedly 'insensitive remarks' against nurses uttered during GMA News TV's "Pagsubok ng mga Kandidato" election special. Online outrage still received by Villar in more than a week now.

Villar has been criticized on various networking sites - Facebook, Youtube and microblogging site, Twitter on her statement on necessary qualifications for becoming Filipino nurses did not sit well with graduates with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Villar already wrote to the Philippine Nurse Association about her statement. She wrote,  “I truly am sorry for having offended the feelings of your members. It was never my intention to belittle anyone, least of all, the valiant members of the nursing.

"The 30-second limit for me to answer the question posed on the news program was too short to give the complete details surrounding the issue. I hope that this statement will clarify the issue. I am sorry if it has created confusion. Thank you."

The TV show 'Pagsubok ng mga Kandidato' aims each candidate to present a tough leadership scenario and ask to clearly identify a solution. This election speacial is hosted by Jessica Soho, Howie Severino, Kara David, Malou Mangahas, and Professor Winnie Monsod, who all throw questions to the candidates.



Here is an excerpt of the transcript of the exchange between Winnie Monsod and Cong. Cynthia Villar:

Mareng Winnie: Can you reconcile itong seeming disconnect between your desire to help the poor at pagpanig niyo sa mga may-ari ng education institution na gustong isara ng technical nursing committee at ng CHED?

Cynthia Villar: Hindi naman ganoong ang istorya noon. Ang nangyari noon ay binigyan nila ng permit 'yung mga schools to open ng CHED. Tapos gusto nilang ipasara. Nag-invest na 'yung mga may-ari ng schools sa kanilang facilities. And then, sinasabi nila na kaya nila gusto ipasara dahil walang tertiary hospital where they can train. Ang sabi naman namin noon na hindi kami kumukontra sa CHED. Ang sinasabi namin kasi tiningnan namin 'yung syllabus at courses na kukunin nila at nakita namin na after lang sa third year kailangan nila 'yung tertiary hospital so ni-request namin na hindi isara 'yung pre-nursing schools.

Mareng Winnie: Bakit bumaba pa ang nurses na na-employ sa abroad kasi hindi sila qualified? Bakit nag-resign ang Technical Education Committee after 7 months in office?

Cynthia Villar: ‘Yung pagre-resign po ni Father is a personal quarrel with the owner of the school. Medyo personal po iyon. Pero 'yung amin po, 'yung sinasabi po namin sa kanila na actually hindi naman kailangan ang nurse ay matapos ng BSN kasi itong ating mga nurses ay gusto lang nila maging room nurse, o sa Amerika o sa other countries, ay mag-aalaga lang sila. Hindi naman kailangan na ganoon sila kagaling.
Cynthia Villar on the latest SWS survey released last February 26 climbed at 8th to 9th in January to 4th place this February. Many expects that due to this defamatory incident for the nurses, her rank will statistically go down and will have major impact on her candidacy.



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