Jef Albea, the artist behind the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 trophies, has alleged that he was not paid for his work. In a viral Facebook post, Albea claimed the local pageant “vanished into thin air” and “refused to pay” for the trophies he crafted for the coronation night.
“I DID NOT GET PAID,” Albea wrote. He expressed his frustration, saying, “All the effort, dedication and passion I put in creating these pieces ended up ignored and disregarded when payment was due.”
Albea stated he would no longer accept money from the Miss Universe Philippines organization but called for respect for himself and his fellow artists. “We pour our hearts and souls into our creations. Our ideas don’t just appear from thin air just to work for an x-deal,” he said, adding that his work is a result of “intense thought, deep emotions, and sleepless nights.”
Miss Universe Philippines Project Head Borg Roxas responded to the allegations on Facebook, stating they were surprised by Albea’s post. Roxas claimed Albea was paid P150,000 at the 2023 finals but did not issue an official receipt.
Roxas explained the backstage chaos during the event and mentioned that they were still in communication with Albea. He noted the need for proper documentation, such as billing statements, which Albea allegedly did not provide before the cut-off.
“It’s sad that he posted immediately when he was still in communication with our staff,” Roxas said. He emphasized that the production team did not vanish and that all suppliers who submitted their paperwork were paid on time.
Roxas concluded by highlighting their support for Albea, stating, “With Sir Jef, aside from paying him, we are also promoting him. We never promoted any other suppliers because we were pleased with his willingness to elevate the gifts for the winners.”
Chelsea Manalo, a beauty queen from Bulacan, was crowned the new Miss Universe Philippines and will compete in the upcoming international pageant in Mexico. Other crowned queens include Alexie Brooks, Ahtisa Manalo, Tarah Valencia, and Cyrille Payumo.