Fashion designer rapped for ‘creative outburst’

MANILA, Philippines – The employees union of the Duty Free Philippines has filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against designer Angelo "Boyet" Fajardo for his outburst inside the store’s outlet in Parañaque City last March 13. Dennis Mallari, president of the Duty Free Employees Association, added that aside from the CHR complaint, Fajardo could still face a criminal charge if cashier Marvin Fernandez decides to file one. Fernandez was the Duty Free employee who was forced to fall on his knees before Fajardo to appease the then incensed designer. “Sa criminal case aspect po ay more on the aggrieved party so kakailanganin po niya [Fernandez] ang aming suporta. Pero bilang isang union more on sa human rights [aspect kami] concerned," said Mallari. [Fernandez can file criminal charges but we, as a union, are more concerned on the human rights aspect of the incident.] Fajardo – who designs ready-to-wear (RTW) garments sold in Robinsons and Landmark – was caught by the store’s surveillance camera berating Fernandez during a transaction at the cashier. A clip of the video has already proliferated in video-sharing websites like YouTube. It turned out that the designer was supposed to pay for “around three packs of chocolates valued below $100" using an unsigned credit card. But Fernandez, following standard operating procedures, requested an identification card to verify Fajardo’s identity. Fajardo initially produced a movie pass that still did not bear his signature. When Fernandez requested for another ID, the designer took out his passport, which still didn’t bear his signature. This prompted Fernandez to call the supervisor and the store manager’s attention. Instead of being appeased, Fajardo broke into an outburst and reportedly said: “Mga leche kayo! Hindi niyo ako kilala? Ako si Boyet Fajardo! At itong p...ina na babaeng ito at ang baklang ito ay walang kuwentang mga tao! [I am Boyet Fajardo, and these people are all worthless]. I want them fired!" Mallari said the insult did not stop there. “Patuloy po sa pagmumura, panduduro, at pambabato ng passport [Fajardo shouted expletives and even threw his passport at the cashier]," he said. Mallari said Fajardo made Fernandez choose between being slapped or to kneel before him. “Iyong pagluhod na lang ang pinili kasi malaking tao si Mr Fajardo baka [nag-aalala siya] isang bigwas niya [He chose to kneel down because Fajardo was a big man]," Mallari said. Mallari assured that the management would unlikely turn against Fernandez and fire him, saying, “Okay naman po ung performance niya. Dagdag na rin yung ginawa niya yun para lang matigil na itong ganitong klseng customer. Para sa akin malaking sakripisyo po niya iyon." [He dealt with the situation well. It was an added factor that he chose to heed Fajardo’s demand to prevent the situation from getting bigger. It was a big sacrifice.] Fajardo had already apologized for the incident, with his lawyer saying that it was just a product of a “creative outburst." Fajardo majored in Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas before putting up his first shop in Quezon City in September 1980. - GMANews.TV