Hindi pa naglalabas ng opisyal na pahayag ang Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) Organization tungkol sa paratang ng visual artist na si Jef Albea na hindi binayaran ang mga trophy na ipinagawa sa kanya para sa Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
Si Chelsea Manalo ng Bulacan ang kinoronahang Miss Universe Philippines 2024 sa grand coronation na ginanap sa Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City, noong Mayo 22, 2024.
Read: Chelsea Manalo wins Miss Universe Philippines 2024
JEF ALBEA: "I DID NOT GET PAID."
Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Facebook page kahapon, Hunyo 12, inihayag ni Albea ang diumano’y karanasan niya sa MUPH.
Deklarasyon ng visual artist: “I DID NOT GET PAID.
“MISS UNIVERSE phils vanished into thin air. They refused to pay me for the trophies I designed and crafted for the coronation night.
"All the effort, dedication and passion I put in creating these pieces, ended up ignored and disregarded when payment was due."
Pero hindi na raw tatanggap si Albea ni isang sentimo mula sa MUPH. Ang kailangan daw niya ay matuto ang mga tagapamuno ng organisasyon na respetuhin ang kagaya niyang artist.
Pahayag niya: “I do not need nor will I accept a single centavo from the organization anymore. What I need now is for them to learn that ARTISTS DESERVE RESPECT.
"We pour our hearts and souls into our creations. Our ideas don’t just appear from thin air just to work for an xdeal. They are the result of intense thought, deep emotions, and sleepless nights. Not to mention, opportunities missed, money and years spent honing our craft."
May panawagan din si Albea sa mga kapwa niya artists.
“I fiercely advocate for my fellow artists with unwavering passion, not all artists can take and afford this mistreatment.
“PLEASE, DO NOT LET OUR WORK BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.”
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MUPH HEAD OF PRODUCTION ANSWERS ALBEA'S ALLEGATION
Kaagad namang sinagot ng head of production ng Miss Universe Philippines 2024 na si Borg Roxas ang mga paratang ni Albea.
Sa kanyang Facebook post nitong Huwebes ng madaling-araw, Hunyo 13, nilinaw ni Roxas na walang kinalaman ang MUPH sa reklamo ni Albea.
Kailangan lamang daw nila ng "proper documentation" gaya ng billing para sa mga papeles na kailangan upang mai-release ang kabayaran sa visual artist.
Saad niya: “As head of production we were surprised sa post ni Mr Jef Albea. Let me address this issue.
“First, last year at The Miss Philippines finals, we paid him 150,000 pesos without any OR [official receipt].
"Naisip namin na magandang gift sya sa mga winners para hindi lang yung crystal trophy na mura lang ang souvenir items ng mga winners. Nagbayad naman ang production agad kasi konti lang suppliers.
“During the MUPh finals, magulo na lahat sa backstage. I admit na kausap namin si Sir Jef. Pero on the day of the finals pinadala yung mga artwork, and on that day din namin nalaman through his asst na need magbayad ng 75,000 pesos.
“Magulo na lahat backstage and wala naman may hawak ng cash. So sinabi namin na kailangan proper documentation like billing etc.
“Kausap din nila ang staff namin even until yesterday June 12 na inaayos lang for billing kasi ang daming suppliers sa production from artists to technicals etc.
“Lahat ng suppliers nagpapadala ng billing statement at invoice prior to May 22 para aligned na lahat. Nauuna nabayaran yung nagpapadala agad kasi may paperwork.
"With Sir Jef, aside from we are paying him, we are also promoting him. We never promoted any other suppliers kasi natuwa kami na he was willing to help elevate the gifts for the winners."
Read: Miss Universe PH 2024 Chelsea Manalo, nag-react sa memes
Ikinalungkot daw nila na nag-post si Albea sa Facebook ng kanyang hinaing samantalang kausap naman nito ang MUPH staff.
Paliwanag pa ni Roxas: “Nakakalungkot lang na nagpo-post na agad sya na magkausap naman sila ng staff.
"Hindi sya nakasama sa May 30 cut off kasi walang papers. Kaya sa June 15 cut off sya nakasama kasi magkausap sila ng staff.
“Kailangan din namin sa production magsubmit ng tamang papeles kasi walang kasulatan with Sir Jef sa terms. Pero kahit ganun man, wala naman TINATAKASAN.
“Pero yung tatakasan ang 75k, bakit namin gagawin yun eh last October binayaran namin sya. Pero since malaki MUPh need namin ng proper documentation.
“Again, hindi ang MUPh ang nagkamali dito. Sa production side, kailangan namin i-defend sa management kahit walang billing or invoice. Nag-yes naman agad management sa amin.
"Pero sa usual na may billing and proper documentation lang para pag dating sa filing ng taxes, madefend namin ang expenses. Lahat naman mababayaran."