To Filipinos in Hong Kong who have attended the big outdoor events in Chater Road, Central over the years, Global Alliance Chairman Leo Selomenio, or Daddy Leo, as he is affectionately known, has been a constant fixture.

Since 2008, Leo has been organising beauty pageants, performances, and events for the Filipino community. It’s a familiar sight to see Leo running to and from the stage, booths and seating areas, making sure the performers, guests, donors, audience… basically everyone, are happy and taken care of.

Leo, who hails from Molo, Iloilo, is sometimes seen by people who don’t know him as abrupt, and perhaps a little gruff. But behind this stern façade, Leo has a big heart, and is always willing to sacrifice a lot for the sake of the community he so dearly loves. 

“Hindi ko naman hinangad ang maging famous o mayaman, ang gusto ko lang magpasaya at makatulong sa kapwa. Kahit noong may beauty pageants pa kami, it has always been for a cause,” [I never wished to be famous or rich, all I wanted was bring joy and to help my community. Even back when we used host beauty pageants, it has always been for a cause] Leo shares.

The late Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago once wrote about the Illonggos: “They are considered the friendliest people in the country, warm and welcoming, gentle and soft-spoken, who’d go out of their way to make perfect strangers feel at home. They have this sense of familiarity that it seems everybody knows one another.” Leo is every bit an Illonggo by this description.

“Minsan may biglang nateterminate na kakilala namin at nangangailangan ng matutuluyan, sa bahay na namin pansamantalang pinatuloy,” [This happened a few times where someone we knew got their contract terminated by their employer, and they needed a place to stay, so we invited them to stay at our home for the time being] says Leo. It doesn’t matter if you are a celebrity, acquaintance, government official, or friend; he treats everyone with the same warmth Illonggos are known for.

Sunday Beauty Queen

When the film Sunday Beauty Queen came out in 2016, Leo was thrust into the limelight. The film, directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, follows five Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong, including Leo, as they live their daily lives as domestic workers throughout the week – taking care of children, dog walking, dealing with money issues with their family back home etc. – and their Sunday transformation into beauty queens. 

In the case of Leo, the film tracks his transformation into Daddy Leo – inspirational emcee, event manager, Philippine Consulate volunteer, and respected community group leader. 

Sunday Beauty Queen won several awards, including London Labour Film Festival’s Best International Documentary (2017), and Metro Manila Film Festival’s Best Picture and Best Director (2016).  

In the film, Leo talks about his first employer in Hong Kong, “Sinabihan ako ng alaga kong matanda na umupo sa tabi niya sa sofa para manuod kami ng TV. Pero nang lumabas ang amo kong babae, nakita nya ako sa sofa sabay sabi, ‘Who told you to sit on my sofa? You’re not allowed to sit on my sofa!’” [My employer’s elderly mum that I looked after asked me to sit on the sofa with her to watch TV. But when my lady employer came out and saw me on her sofa, she immediately said, ‘Who told you to sit on my sofa? You’re not allowed to sit on my sofa!’]

“Tumayo ako agad at kumuha ng stool kasi gusto ng matanda na katabi ako. Tapos may isang gabi na typhoon 8, nabasa lahat ng gamit ko sa tinutulugan ko sa extension ng kusina nila, so sinabihan ako ng amo kong lalaki na maglatag ng foam sa sala, pero sabi naman ng amo kong babae ‘no, you sleep in the kitchen!’ kaya nilatag ko yung foam sa maliit na kusina, tapat ng ref. Tuwing may kukunin sila, babangon ako at bitbit ko yung foam tapos maupo lang ako sa gilid, hintayin ko sila matapos…Tumutulo nalang luha ko.” [I stood up straightaway and grabbed a stool because her mom wanted me to sit beside her. And then there was an evening during a typhoon signal no. 8 where all my belongings got drenched in the rain because I was sleeping outside in their kitchen’s extension. My male employer told me to sleep in the living room, but my female employer said, ‘No, you sleep in the kitchen!’ so I placed the foam mattress in their small kitchen, right in front of the fridge. Every time they took something from the fridge, I had to get up, carry my foam to the corner and sit there until they were done… I was silently crying.]

LGBT community & relationships

When asked if Leo prefers to be addressed as he, she, or other pronouns, he replies, “Kahit anong itawag ninyo sa akin, okay lang. Basta importante, may respeto tayo sa isa’t isa.” [You can call me anything you want, that’s okay. The important thing is we respect each other.]

Being a prominent member of the Filipino LGBTQ community, Leo’s strong and long-term relationship with Judy Sison is often looked on by others as an inspiration.

Judy is a nursing undergraduate from Baguio. She, like Leo, has been working in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. They met at a karaoke place in 2002 while she was out with her friends on her day off.  “Noong una kong nakita si Leo, walang nangyaring love at first sight,” [When I first laid eyes on Leo, there was no love at first sight] laughs Judy. 

“Kahit ako din, kasi iba ang type ko. Gusto ko yung feminine talaga, yung tipong girl na girl. Si Judy kasi kowboy, hindi nagmamake up at very cool sya,” [Same with me, she was not my type. I like very feminine girls. Judy was different because she is not fussy, doesn’t wear makeup, and is very cool] says Leo with a smile. 

Judy continues to support Leo in everything he does – although she sometimes wishes he would take time for himself and try to relax more.

Life-changing moments

Leo started working for Shirley Kong in August 2017. Shirley was a single lady who lived alone, and whose family had long since emigrated to Australia, Canada, and the USA. It started as a normal employer-employee connection. He would clean his employer’s home, wash her car, make sure everything in the household was in order. Shirley was impressed how little she needed to instruct Leo; he had initiative, drive, and a thoughtfulness to his work.

As he quickly earned her trust, Shirley started giving Leo more responsibility; she increased his pay, and he began to act as her personal assistant. All was fine; they got along well.

In May of 2018, Leo needed more time to work on the upcoming Philippine Independence Day celebration in June, so he asked Shirley for permission to let his partner Judy fill in for him three times a week with the household chores. Knowing it was only a temporary arrangement, Shirley agreed.

During the time that Judy was working for Shirley, she noticed something was wrong with Leo’s employer. Judy, a nursing undergraduate, began to pick up distinct symptoms that Shirley was not well. “Ma’am, can I ask you a question, I hope you don’t mind,” Judy asked.  “Are you okay? You look a bit unwell.” Shirley burst into tears: “You know, Judy, you are the first person to ask me that. You’re right, I am not well. I have cancer.” 

Up until this point, she had made the decision not to tell Leo, even though she was diagnosed even before he was employed by her. Judy told Shirley, “I think you need to tell Leo.” As they continued to talk, Shirley got to know more about Judy, and in turn about Leo, and was taken aback at how rich Leo’s life was outside of work. “Please ask Leo to come over. I want to have a chat with both of you,” Shirley concluded.

When Leo arrived the following day with Judy, he was overcome with emotion. With tears in his eyes, he offered an apology: “I am so sorry, Ma’am. I never noticed you were sick. Thank you for telling us. We will take care of you.” 

“Thank you so much,” Shirley replied in between sobs, “you both are like my family now.”

Judy and Leo both took care of Shirley, knowing she did not have anybody else to look after her. One day, Shirley asked Leo if he would be willing to work as the Operations Manager of an employment agency she wanted to open. Leo said yes. Thus began the long process of applying for a work visa, to replace Leo’s current domestic worker visa (which does not allow for work other than household chores). After three rejections, his work visa was finally approved. In August of 2019, Train Tech was born.

Shirley passed away in early 2023. Leo and Judy were devastated. The bond that the three of them had was as close as any family can be. They cried and grieved, but also took relief in the fact that Shirley no longer had to suffer from her illness; she could finally rest easy.

Shirley left Train Tech, amongst other things, to Leo in her will. He still manages it to this day.

Asked about his dreams for the future, Leo thinks for a moment, then laughs, “As I have experienced in my life, things take a sudden turn, often very unexpectedly. I have high hopes for the future, but for now, my greatest wish is to find time to sleep enough!”