So about that ad where a Chinese-Singaporean actress does a Filipino accent…
Being of the cynical kind, Dr Mumbo is usually one to view social and moral purpose-tinged ads with a pinch of salt.
And his eyebrows certainly raised when watching the Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower advert designed to help the country’s domestic workers – or as the department puts it: “The unsung heroes of everyday life in Singapore.”
So how best to reach out to young Filipina workers? Hire a famous Chinese-Singaporean actress to do a Filipino accent of course.
The actress in question, Michelle Chong appears to be reprising a character she played in a Mediacorp programme. Fair enough.
Dr M is in a good mood today. And so he has absolutely no intention whatsoever of adding this masterful effort to the ‘Worst Singaporean Government Ads.
Consider this: If MOM has to hire a Filipina, a genuine domestic helper to do this ad, that will be against MOM’s employment pass laws. If I’m not mistaken, all those who hold employment passes (S-pass or E-pass) can legally work for only one employer, and that’s the employer who sponsored their employment pass. MOM would have violated its own employment guidelines if they had gone ahead and hired a domestic helper.
ReplyOk, So, you know what an actor does? An actor PRETENDS to be someone else. So the suggestion is not that the government try and use a real helper, but a real Filipina actor. I understand it’s a difficult concept. But together we’ll get to an understanding. Nobody gets left behind! Nobody…
ReplyI know at least one CEO who would be perfect in this role.
ReplyMike Middleton — good idea about using a Filipina actor. But I can just imagine how that will be received by locals complaining about too many foreigners here (“Why hire a foreigner when there are lots of actors here who can do it? Lots of foreigners here already!”). Can’t win.
ReplyI’m a Filipina. I actually like Michelle Cheong. She’s pretty funny in that show the few times I’ve seen it and she does get the accent right — most of the time.
What I’m disturbed about is not that she’s not Filipino or the authenticity of her accent, it’s that she portrays the character as if she’s not “all there”, as if she’s mentally challenged. I refer to how she constantly refers to herself in the third person. It’s off-putting. I’ve talked to a lot of maids and most of them are smart and savvy. They have to be, to survive.
ReplyI wonder what’s the problem with getting a real maid to do this job…and pay her well for her time! They need the cash more than some dumb mediacorp bimbo who has only one style: to always ham it up an overdo the acting bit.
ReplyThen they get pissed for something real like this:
http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/criminal-minds-beyond-borders-depiction-of-singapore-slammed-as-inaccurate?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_pulse_read%3Bnw9qJG38T5uxombSXM0kxA%3D%3D
ReplyHave your say