Pinatubo Eruption Images to be unveiled by Philippine Photojournalists arriving in the U.S.

(Photo by Nicholas Vargas)

Press Release:

A group of Filipino photojournalists who were there to capture the eruption of the century—that of Mt. Pinatubo—is flying to the United States for a coast-to-coast tour of a photo exhibit dubbed “20 Years After the Eruption.”

Arriving from the Philippines are the following veteran photojournalists:Meet veteran photojournalists arriving from the Philippines who covered the Pinatubo eruption in 1991:

1. Alberto Garcia, Manila Bulletin Photo Editor

2. Jose Ventoza Galvez, Jr., PPP current President, GMA-7 Online Photo Editor

3. Heraldo Garcia Cabrido, Photography Consultant, Philippine Daily Inquirer

4. Jose Enrique Santos Soriano, Freelance Photojournalist

5. Valeriano Handumon, Photojournalist, European Photo Agency Manila

6. Teodoro C, Aljibe, Chief Photographer, Agence France Presse MANILA (AFP)

7. Angelo Andres Martin De Silva, Freelance Photojournalist

8. Rosario Sofia Santos Villa, ABS-CBN

9. Arlyn dela Cruz Collantes, NET 25

10.Leopoldo Flores Pusing, Journalist, Coordinator Mt. Pinatubo Media Survivor

11. Ernie Sarmiento, chief photographer, Phil. Daily Inquirer.

Organized by Sining Kambayoka, the Filipino American Press Club and the city of Carson, the exhibit will be staged during Filipino Heritage Month at Southbay Pavilion Shopping Center in Carson City, California on Oct. 1-31.

The exhibit features more than 50 photographs shot during and after the eruption, including Albert Garcia’s iconic photo that won first prize in the Nature Category in the World Press Photographers contest.

Photo of a massive dark cloud about to engulf a fleeing vehicle is also one of the “Great Images of the 20th Century” as chosen by Time and one of the “100 Best Pictures of the 20th Century” of National Geographic.

To get a better idea of how spectacular Alberto Garcia’s photo is, the 20th century encompasses two World Wars, the rise and fall of several great nations, new discoveries, inventions and scientific explorations.

Aside from Garcia, now photo editor at Manila Bulletin, coming to the US are former Inquirer photography consultant Heraldo “Boy” Cabrido, the man behind the exhibit; Charie Villa of ABS-CBN, GMA-7’s online photo editor Joe Galvez, Arlyn dela Cruz of Net25 and chief photographers of other newspapers and news bureaus based in the Philippines, 11 in all.

Currently, the exhibit is on a nationwide tour of the Philippines. In the US, the exhibit will also go to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago and New York.

Sponsors are the Department of Tourism, Philippine Airlines, Pagcor, TIEZA, Smart Communications, YKL and SM Malls with media partners ABS-CBN, GMA-7, The Filipino Channel, Net25, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Business Mirror.

( Above is a photo of the media planning meeting held at Carson Ca. on Sept 24, 2011 in preparation for the Oct 1 Exhibit. US-based journalists (from left, standing) are Jay Fermin, Nick Sagmit, Jun (Dong) Camacho, Albert Vargas, Rhony Laigo, Nimfa Rueda, Joe Cobilla, Ed Galvez, Nick Arriola, Jess Fonseca, Romeo Balboa. Seated are Vics Magsaysay, Robert Gamo and Art dela Rosa. Not in photo is Benny Uy, who had to leave early for an assignment and Ver Penaranda. The Tambayayong (Bayanihan) Festival will be held at the Southbay Pavilion (Carson Mall) Oct. 1-31. )

Pinatubo Eruption photo by Alberto Garcia / Corbis

LEA SALONGA, JOE BATAAN AND REX NAVARRETE HIGHLIGHT POPULAR WEEKEND FEST, SEPT. 10-11

FPAC - SOCAL’S LARGEST FILIPINO EVENT RETURNS FOR ITS 20TH YEAR: LEA SALONGA, JOE BATAAN AND REX NAVARRETE HIGHLIGHT POPULAR WEEKEND FEST, SEPT. 10-11 AT PT. FERMIN PARK, SAN PEDRO.

(LOS ANGELES) – The region’s biggest Filipino party and most fun-filled, annual tradition, the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), celebrates its 20th Anniversary with its grandest event yet, September 10-11, 2011 at beautiful seaside Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.

Iconic singer and stage actress Lea Salonga, who first gained artistic and international acclaim for her historic Tony Award-winning role in Miss Saigon and first-ever Filipino winner of a Tony Award, will be awarded one of two special FPAC20 Awards for Artistic Excellence during the weekend.

Also to be honored with the special FPAC20 Award of Artistic Excellence, The multi-faceted Faustino Caigoy, a painter, noted illustrator of children’s books, author of his own collection of poetry, and teacher in traditional Filipino arts of baybayin and martial arts Kali, Eskrima and Arnis. Additionally, DJ E-Man, of top rated Los Angeles radio station Power 106 will receive the 2011 FPAC Media Artist Award.

FPAC20 will also see encore performances by two of its most-requested artists to ever grace FPAC stages in Latin Soul Legend, Joe Bataan, direct from Harlem, New York and premiere Filipino American Comedian, Rex Navarrete who returns stateside after a successful mini tour of Singapore and The Philippines.

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), a successful venture into staging world class Pinoy classical musicianship, will make its festival debut.

“I feel like it’s a part of my home,” said Joe Bataan about the Festival where he last performed in 2008. “It’s always gratifying to go back there because it’s an opportunity for an artist like myself to meet my own people.”

The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11. Admission is $7 pre-sale or $9 at the door. Children 5 and under are free.

Now celebrating two decades of tradition, FPAC annually features a variety of pavilions and stages for Filipino artists to showcase their work. Two stages present traditional to contemporary artistry in music, dance, spoken word, and comedy. The Pilipino Artists Network (PAN) Pavilion highlights visual artistry and craftsmanship in live painting, book readings, Baybayin (Filipino script) workshops, and artwork for sale. At the Seniors’ Village, one enjoys Harana (serenading) and story-telling. The Youth Pavilion engages youth in kite-making, dance workshops, and Pustura (Dress-up in traditional Filipino costumes), and arts and crafts. FPAC is truly a family event with something for every age to enjoy.

In a nod toward Southern California foodie culture, FPAC will again feature the highly popular Filipino food trucks as part of its culinary stage/food booth area where delicious and authentic Filipino cuisine can be sampled.

New to the festival, and testament to the rise of Filipino Americans on the culinary landscape, a stage within a stage called “Sweet Naman” will feature popular, high-end artisanal desserts from Delicieuse (gourmet ice cream), Tasty Clouds (gourmet cotton candy) and CrèmeCaramel (leche flan and bread pudding).

All three are Filipino-owned businesses and all will be making their respective Filipino community debuts – another FPAC hallmark through the years.

The festival continues to celebrate with festival-goers’ favorites such as the youth Ati-Atihan parade, the Annual Vegetable Growing Competition, the Balut-Eating Contest, the Hip Hop Dance Showcase, and the Annual Tinikling Battle.

The City of Los Angeles first initiated FPAC in 1992. After seven years, its stewardship
transferred to a non-profit organization now known as FilAm ARTS – the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts & Culture.

"(The festival) still remains true to its original intent since its inception: It was designed to be a common
ground.The aim of FPAC is to be as inclusive in every which way possible," explains Executive Director Jilly Canizares. "This is seen in the conscious programming to include the rich diversity of Philippine artistic expressions – from old to new, traditional to contemporary, visual arts to performing. Coming to the Festival gives a true slice of the Filipino American community."

FPAC receives government support through the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the City of LA Department of Cultural Affairs, the LA Department of Recreation and Parks. It is also funded in part by the California Community Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, the Getty Foundation, and individual donors. This year’s media sponsors include LA 18 KSCI-TV, Asian Journal Publications, Bakitwhy.com, Oishi Media, as well community sponsor the Southern California Pilipino American Student Alliance.

Free parking with complimentary shuttle service to Pt. Fermin Park is available at the spacious parking lot on 22nd street and Sampson Way.

For more information on ticket sales, parking information, sponsorship opportunities, exhibitor booth and table, and volunteer opportunities, log onto www.filamarts.org, or call (213) 380- FPAC.

Artist Lynda A. N. Reyes at the Brand 40 Exhibit

A most recent watercolor painting by Lynda A. N. Reyes titled “Exit Way” will be featured in the Brand 40 Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper from September 17 – October 28, 2011 at the Brand Library Art Galleries in Glendale, California. The artists' reception and awards ceremony will take place on September 17, 2011 from 6-9 pm.

Reyes' watercolor entry was selected from over 600 entries submitted by 253 artists from all over the United States. Themed “Entrances and Exits”, the exhibition features 93 works on paper in a variety of media, including photography, drawings, watercolors, mixed media works, etchings, linocuts, lithographs and monotypes, etc. Peter Frank, art critic for the Huffington Post and Adjunct Senior Curator at the Riverside Art Museum is the juror for the Brand 40. He was art critic for Angeleno magazine and the L. A. Weekly and was Editor for THEmagazine Los Angeles and Visions Art Quarterly. While in New York, Frank served as art critic for The Village Voice and The SoHo Weekly News. He has organized numerous themed and survey shows, most notably the1981 Exxon National Exhibition titled "19 Artists – Emergent Americans" at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. He has written and published books such as New, Used & Improved, an overview of the New York art scene with co-author Michael McKenzie.

This is Lynda's second participation in the “Works on Paper” national exhibit. In 2009, her watercolor painting titled “Structure Rising” was featured in the Brand 38. She has also participated in other juried exhibits such as the 2010 Annual National Watercolor Society All Member Show, the Pasadena Society of Artists shows at the VIVA Gallery, ASC in Pasadena and in several other group exhibits at the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, the Arts and Books Gallery in LA, the Glendale College Art Gallery, the Brand Gallery and the Pete and Susan Barrett Gallery in Santa Monica. In 2010, her landscape in oil titled “Dusk at Port Hueneme” was chosen as finalist in the 27th Annual Art Competition of the Artist's Magazine.


The public will again witness Lynda's mastery of watercolor when she joins women artists in a juried exhibit at the SOMArts Gallery in San Francisco under the auspices of the Women's Caucus for Art titled “Reversing the Gaze”. Two of her watercolor paintings will be part of the show that runs from November 4th to the 30th, 2011. Lynda is a full-time professional artist and accepts portrait commissions in oil and watercolor. She is a member of the National Watercolor Society www.nationalwatercolorsociety.org.

Lynda is also an art historian and an author. She is best known in the international academia for her pioneering book entitled "The Textiles of Southern Philippines” and her published studies in Philippine ethnic art. Her book is currently in the collection of 141 libraries of major universities and museums all over the world. She was one of 48 recipients worldwide of an International Fellowship Award from the American Association of University Women. She completed her Masters in Art history with a graduate fellowship grant at Northern Illinois University. Lynda has taught at the University of the Philippines Manila, Glendale College and at several community colleges in LA area, including Santa Monica College and Pasadena City College.

The Brand Library Art Galleries, the art and music division of the Glendale Public Library, showcase works by established and emerging artists from all over the US. The Art Galleries and Art Center have huge and stunning exhibition spaces set in a magnificent park-like environment. “Works on Paper” exhibits started over ten years ago and the presence of jurors became a key component of each show. Most jurors are well-known artists, such as Gerald Brommer, Martin Mondrus, Jim Morphesis, Lita Albuquerque, Kim Abeles and Ruth Weisberg. Curator Gloria Williams Sander of the Norton Simon Museum of Art was juror for Brand 39 and for the current Brand 40, the juror is a noted art critic, writer and editor Peter Frank.

Admission to the galleries is free and open to the public. The gallery is located at 1601 West Mountain Street in Glendale, California 91201-1200. The hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday from 12 to 8 pm, Wednesday from 12 to 6 pm and Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information, please call 818-548-2051 or visit http://www.brandlibrary.org/brand_galleries.asp. Visit www.lyndaanreyes.com for more information about Lynda A. N. Reyes.

Media Contact:

Albert Natian
Albert.Natian@gmail.com
(818) 548-2687