A GROUP of Filipino photojournalists, who braved and survived the eruption of the century to bring us fascinating pictures that at the same also showed the destructive power of M. Pinatubo, is coming to the U.S. for a coast-to-coast tour of the photo exhibit “20 Years After the Eruption.”

Organized by Sining Kambayoka, the Filipino American Press Club and the City of Carson, the exhibit will be staged during the Filipino Heritage Month in the Southbay Pavilion Shopping Center in the City of Carson this next month.

Through the efforts of Nick Sagmit, former photographer of Manila Bulletin and himself a Mt. Pinatubo survivor, and this newspaper outfit, the photo exhibit will feature more than 50 photographs during and after the eruption, including the award-winning shot of Albert Garcia, whose escape from hell picture won first prize in the nature category of the World Press Photographers photo contest, which incidentally was also chosen as one of the Great Images of the 20^th Century by Time Magazine and  “100 Best Pictures of the 20^th Century” by National Geographic Magazine. To give a better perspective on the impact of Garcia’s spectacular picture, the 20^th Century included two world wars, the rise and fall of many great nations of today, discoveries, inventions and scientific explorations.

Garcia’s photograph depicts of Mt. Pinatubo’s fury, fear from the volcano’s wrath, the mortality of life and its almost insignificant size compared to the energy that lies beneath our feet. Though similar eruptions occurred just a few months before Mt. Pinatubo’s – Mt. St. Helen’s in Washington and Mt. Unzen in Japan – there have been no photos as cataclysmic as the one taken by Garcia.

Aside from Garcia, who is currently the photo editor of Manila Bulletin, those who will come are Philippine Daily Inquirer Chief Photographer Ernie Sarmiento and the newspaper’s photo consultant Heraldo “Boy” Cabrido (who also serves as the man behind the exhibit). Also coming are Charie Villa of ABS-CBN, GMA7’s Online Photo Editor and Press Photographers of the Philippines President Joe Galvez and chief photographers of several newspapers and foreign news bureaus based in the Philippines. A total of 11 photographers will come to the U.S. and participate in the exhibit.

Currently, the photographers are holding a nationwide tour of the photo exhibit in the Philippines. From Manila – the last leg – the photographers will fly to the U.S. to display their photographs in the City of Carson with plans of bringing the exhibit to San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago and New York.

Through the invitation of Carson City Mayor Jim Dear and Filipino Carson Councilmember Elito Santarina, the Mt. Pinatubo Media Survivors will bring the photographs the U.S. and give Southern Californians a close-up look on why it was dubbed as the eruption of the century.

The month-long event in Carson, dubbed as Tambayoyong Festival 2011, will also include Filipino cultural performances, exhibits of Filipino painters and other artists, seminar workshops, forums, entertainment and bazaars.

According to Sining Kambayoka president Edgar Lopez, who along with his co-members have been working daily to organize this event that was only conceptualized last July, the event will also feature ritual dances from Philippines’ cultural minorities and presentation of ethnic traditions. Lopez said the activities will happen from the JC Penny outlet all the way up SEARS at the north end of the Southbay Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Lopez is inviting anyone who wish to take advantage of the month-long event by becoming a sponsor to get in touch with Balita Media for this rare occasion. Lopez said that just for as low as $200 a day, sponsors can get these following benefits: participation in the event where you get a table to promote your products and services, media exposure, acknowledgements during the programs, and more.

Lopez said that space is very limited. Interested parties should contact Balita Media by calling 818-552-4502 ext. 212 or email them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .