Gregory John Smith, owner of stolen photo, speaks out
(NOTE: Gregory John Smith sent the following via Facebook in response to a query from The Filipino Scribe. He is the owner of the image that Mark Joseph Solis, a graduate student from the University of the Philippines, used in winning a photo competition organized by the Embassy of Chile last week.)
Please tell us about your background
I am a social entrepreneur of the Global Network of Social Entrepreneurs of ASHOKA, highly respected for their ethical practice and innovative actions to change the world. I founded the Children At Risk Foundation – CARF 20 years ago to help street children in Brazil and other parts of the world, including the Philippines. My project today helps almost 2000 children at risk in Brazil.
What is the photo all about?
The child depicted in the winning image is one of my kids. The photo was actually taken by me in Brazil in 2006, whilst on Christmas holidays at the coast together with four brothers from the same poverty stricken family in Brasil, who were supported by our programme at the time. The photo was taken on a beach in Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, whilst the kids were having fun chucking seaweed at each other. The original image can be found on my Flickr Gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/83883888/.
How did you know that your photo was used by Solis without your permission?
I have been flowing over with letters of support from many Filipino friends who found the idea of an imposter entering my photo into such a respected contest as rather disgusting, also letters of support from many other citizens around the world. I obviously have many international followers on Flickr, where the many portraits of my children have had more than 10 million views according to Flickr Stats.
Do you plan to pursue charges against Solis?
As I myself have already planned a visit to Manila and New Smokey Mountain at the beginning of 2014, together with some of the young people from my social development programme in Brazil, to visit a partnership programme that we support in a small way there called Young Warriors (I recommend that you all try to support those kids in some way).
I found this was a nice opportunity to suggest to the organizers of this contest that they revert the prize money to my foundation, also the travel prize, which we would make really good use of to help pay the trip for our own Young Warriors who will be going for the visit and who need all the support they can get, coming from poverty stricken families here in Brazil, instead of offering such a round-trip to Brazil and Chile to an imposter.
I think my suggestion is much more in line with the thoughts behind the contest. So I have commented to the contest organizers explaining the situation, also sent an e-mail to the chairman of the Jury, Mr. Oscar Lopez, a well-known Filipino businessman, as I am sure that being involved in such an episode plays havoc with his own integrity as a successful business entrepreneur.
I have also commented about the situation to the Chilean Ambassador to Manila, Roberto Mayorga, who conceptualized the contest. Unfortunately I do not have the time to hunt down personal contact information for these important people to make direct contact with them, so I am relying on the internet connections to do the job for me. So far I have heard nothing, but then again, it is the weekend, so maybe on Monday I shall get an answer from someone.
I really would love to see this unfortunate situation turned around into something really positive, seeing as we already have this inter-cultural exchange that we will be doing between the underprivileged Young Warriors of New Smokey Mountain and the underprivileged Young Warriors from my own programme in Brazil. I think that would bring more dignity to an otherwise rather embarrassing situation for the contest organizers.
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Related article
- Marco Joseph Tajo Solis’ ‘stolen shots’ (filipinoscribe.com)
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is it just me or Mr. Solis looks like gloria arroyo in this photo..lol
bagaag nawong uy. paka uwaw ra na’s ngan sa UP. Pol Sci pa jud.
This is a DISGRACE not only to the UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES but to our country– the Philippines. This should not be tolerated. He should be punished for his illegal actions- that is stealing ones work. Firstly, he joined the contest, and knew what are the rules and regulation a like— He knew what can be the consequences of his actions. He should be disqualified. Winning a Contest without any form hard work and cheating is a sign of corruption and should never be tolerated and followed as a role model. P%T*NG INA M# KA— Nilaglag mo kame okay lang sana kung ikaw pero pangalan Pilipinas sa International Community.
Sinoto / Nangsoto yung artwork ng iba! Shame on you! ^___^
This guy should be punished for the shame he gave our country, and for the disrespect he committed against Mr. Smith. I am so embarrassed by what he did.
Since we’re citing photos to their proper owner, the photo above is by Philippine Star photographer Mike Amoroso.
taena mo bugok!
dapat sa kanya parusahan!
Mukhang proud na proud sa pagtangap ng award ! pwe ……
really sad, tas galing pa sya sa respetadong unibersidad.
Tsk tsk! Malagyan nga ng watermark mga selfie ko. Baka isali ni solis sa pagwapuhan photo competition.
Wat a lowlife… His actions is as repulsive as his hair style… deuche!!!
baka na crush niya yung bata
Hi Mr. Madrona!
Greetings, sir! I’m KARL R. De MESA, the consulting editor for GMA News Online’s Opinion Section. Our site clocks in an approximate of 1 million hits per day.
We’re very interested to re-post your blog entry “Gregory John Smith. . .speaks Out” (https://www.filipinoscribe.com/2013/09/23/gregory-john-smith-owner-of-stolen-photo-speaks-out/). It’s quite relevant in light of recent events.
In lieu of this, we’d love to post it in our Opinion section (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/opinion) if you’ll give us permission? I hope it has only appeared in your FB and not in any other media outlet?
We can provide a short introductory paragraph for context, a link back to the original URL of the post, credit you aptly, and provide a short, two sentence biography at the end.
You may send me an email at karl.demesa@gmail.con or contact me at 0919-6927048.
Kindly also provide us a profile pic of yours we can use to accompany the post. Hoping for your positive response.
Thank you very much!
KARL R. De MESA
Consulting Editor
GMA News Online
Hi Mr. Madrona!
Greetings, sir! I’m KARL R. De MESA, the consulting editor for GMA News Online’s Opinion Section. Our site clocks in an approximate of 1 million hits per day.
We’re very interested to re-post your blog entry “Gregory John Smith. . .speaks Out” (https://www.filipinoscribe.com/2013/09/23/gregory-john-smith-owner-of-stolen-photo-speaks-out/). It’s quite relevant in light of recent events.
In lieu of this, we’d love to post it in our Opinion section (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/opinion) if you’ll give us permission? I hope it has only appeared in your FB and not in any other media outlet?
We can provide a short introductory paragraph for context, a link back to the original URL of the post, credit you aptly, and provide a short, two sentence biography at the end.
You may send me an email at karl.demesa@gmail.con or contact me at 0919-6927048.
Kindly also provide us a profile pic of yours we can use to accompany the post. Hoping for your positive response.
Thank you very much!
KARL R. De MESA
Consulting Editor
GMA News Online
Opinion Section