Filipino Architect SCAMMED 2004

I’m an architect but I’m a practicing artist. I teach painting, digital art, VR and 3d graphics. On the side I make websites and provide cheap hosting plans. Even with these qualifications, living in the Philippines never pays as much as it is in developed countries. This was why I got hooked up with Arthur Hawk.

I promised to fill you in with the full story but before everything else I wish to enumerate the cost of my services to Arthur. If in any way you feel that I was OVERCHARGING him, then please DO NOT READ ON.

US$1,070 per month buys Arthur the following:
- One full time webmaster
- One full-time graphic designer
- One part-time professional photographer
- 5 websites to manage, maintain and change every month (opaline, filipina lady, real china, see hotel and life in the philippines)
- 4 flipbooks to design and layout each month
- side orders such as the Vision book and the Marriott brochure
- One payment gateway (paypal) to coordinate each month
- Use of our computers
- Use of our utilities and home office
- Use of our cameras
- A dedicated telephone and DSL connection
- A new and dedicated Pentium 4 computer

I met Arthur on June 14, 2004. The message on my cell was: “gd pm. can u be our webmaster? opaline press pays very good. can we meet asap?” The message was from Biboy, then Arthur’s personal assistant. At that time I was just starting a small art school but after thinking about it, the offer was just too good to pass so after saying my goodbyes to my partners, I was off working with Arthur Hawk.

He said that by practice, it takes about 3 months for him to give the big salary package. The first 30 days, I logged more than 400 hours of work setting up his sites and figuring out the Flip Publisher program. By the end of June 2004, he offered $300. I felt so low but Biboy came to talk to me that it was just because Arthur is in a bit of financial problem but that it will change very fast as he was supposed to be very rich.

I stayed but when July 15 came and no salary was given. I had to sell the lipbooks everywhere to get money to Arthur so he may pay me! Those months I knew Arthur as:
- That he is a lawyer
- That he is a Vietnam War veteran
- That he owns a big publishing business in Costa Rica
- That he owns and still manages a coffee farm in Costa Rica
- That he was kidnapped and held for more than a month in Costa Rica
- That he was shot all over his body while he was being rescued but somehow survived
- That he used to drive a porche and had rolex watches but preferred not to use those anymore because of the kidnap thing
- That he owns the Flip Publisher company having a 26% share worth 4.6 million US
- That he had the XFLIP developed by his own corporate team and not giving it to the company as he was forcing them to sell him majority of the stocks
- That he is suffering because the payment gateway 2chechout.com held his money and failed to deposit his internet earnings and even failed to give the US$14,000 check due to him.
- That he wrote “Eva from Cebu” and “Leaving on a Jetplane”
- That he never pays his writers as it is his practice to only promote them through his publishing
- That it was okay to use photos taken from magazines and from the internet and to only say “sorry we didn’t know” if ever somebody complains
- That he own over 5000 domain names since he started his domain name business on the side
- Over and over he tells you to wait because his money is coming and we’re all going to be so rich we can’t imagine such.

I quit the last week of July 2004. That time, I found out some truth about Arthur Hawk: Flip Publisher is owned by Creative™ and you can buy XFLIP in the internet for $19.95

I just found out what a Filipino is in the eyes of a Canadian. I even felt lower than a dog. I even got depressed knowing the small company I started wasn’t moving anymore because of neglect.

First week of August, Arthur offered me the job again:
August 03, 2004 Dear Joel, Thank you so much for your honest and well-thought-out letter. Of course, I understand your point of view and it is indeed unfortunate that we got off on the wrong foot. Hopefully all is not lost! I certainly recognize your talent in the design area, and you also know that I am not trained in this area. It’s important for the success of this project to find a person with skills that will balance mine. There’s no doubt that you fill the qualification and then some. It has been slow going due to several setbacks that have been beyond my control but no matter what, I will continue. I know how to put the whole project together and I also know what the outcome will be. It’s vital that I surround myself with others who have the enthusiasm as well as the ability and belief to make the project succeed. Please consider the proposal below: 1. A three month commitment via contract 2. A salary of P40,000 per month ($715) 3. A 30% fee for any new design work 4. A commitment to do any and all design work and web site maintenance requested 5. And last but not least; after the three months, if you elect to stay, you will receive 25% ownership of Opaline Press Asia. This is very simple Joel. I’m looking forward to working with you and I hope you will take me up on this offer. If you choose not to, I will understand and continue on my own. Thanks for listening! -Arthur Hawk

The dog thing I mentioned a while back is evident here but I had doubts if he treated me as a dog or as a dumb dog? Or maybe he was just too desperate. I declined and made a counter proposal for more than US$2000 per month but he haggled and we settled for the $1070. He gave me $446 on Monday, August 30, 2004 at Paragon Suites and set me off to finish and start everything for a full business setup. I would regret I ever accepted that money that day. This was the part I made a mistake. Arthur just know how to talk around you and you feel the need to help.

We worked until late each night preparing everything. We made office partitions, repainting, telephone and dsl hookup, new format for all his websites, contract with the webmaster and photographer, paypal configuration, etc. This was supposed to be a contract right? With salaries right? By the 15th I asked for the next payment and he answered:

Hi Joel, Did not receive link on this address as of now. Re: salary I always forget that money is transferred on the 15th which is the 16th here. So need 2 or 3 days before catch-up. Hope you understand. This will change once I reach Canada, I will give you a debit card where you can withdraw each pay period. -Arthur

The only reason why I mentioned my data at the start is to hope that you wouldn’t treat me as Arthur Hawk did. To show you that I’m not too low a human. Yes I’m poor by most of your standards and I might remain such all my life but I have never swindled anybody nor lied my way to get the cash.

Lately I found out the following:
- That he claimed especially to that I was using him as an ATM machine
- That I was the one who lied
- That in a way, I'm cheating him
- That I'm holding up his projects
- That I caused the delay of the August issue of Life in the Philippines
- That I am charging him $1200PER BOOK--too high from the set price of $300 per book
- That he spends $200-$300 a night partying around
- That he’s looking for a tech replacement once he reaches Canada
- That he will solve the problem of me (the old fashion way)
- That he’s dumping everything regarding the book business and concentrating dental/medical tourism and the caregiving business
So where is Arthur?
I call him more than 20 times a day, text him 5 times every single day, waited for hours at the Paragon but no answer came and Arthur never showed up nor checked-out of his hotel. I am desperate because payments are due.

To anyone who can help, please do and have him pay as I am up to my neck in payments. I could never afford the dsl for a year and I have to pay my dues to my friends. I worked my ass decently and with all professionalism. Please help. Any simple way would be appreciated. Thanks.

To Arthur, I hope you do pay but if not then we will try our best to get even. I hope you burn in hell.

P.S. Other things about Arthur:
- He never had a decent internet business
- He never wrote Eva and Leaving
- All his promises of money hitting his bank through his internet sales were lies
- He never had his eyes operated
- He never had his balls operated by any doctor nor hospital (maybe some whore did it as he always brag about getting laid in his hotel room)
- He never had anything to do about Flip Publisher and XFLIP other than buy these from the internet
- He never had more than 5000 domain names (he can’t even maintain more than 30 domains! how in the world could he pay more than US$45000 for such?)

P.S.2, I’m very sorry to have bothered you in any way. I assure you that you will never receive any mail from me again. I’ll leave it to your judgment the person that is Arthur Y. Hawk