Castrillo, Eduardo "Ed"

Born on October 31, 1942, in Santa Ana, Manila, Eduardo Castrillo was the youngest of five children born to a jeweler father and a zarzuela actress mother. He overcame an unstable childhood and early personal loss to pursue his passion, earning a degree in Fine Arts, majoring in Advertising, from the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Castrillo burst into the public consciousness with his first solo exhibition in 1966. By the 1970s, he had established himself as a cultural trailblazer, representing the Philippines globally and anchoring the country’s civic identity through massive public monuments. Over a prolific five-decade career, he became one of the most decorated artists in Philippine history before his passing on May 18, 2016.

Major Public Monuments:
Castrillo’s towering legacies stand permanently as architectural landmarks across the Philippines and Asia, including:

La Pieta Monumental Sculpture (1971) – Loyola Memorial Park, Parañaque

Spirit of Pinaglabanan (1974) – San Juan, Metro Manila

Rajah Sulayman Sculpture (1976) – Rajah Sulayman Park, Malate, Manila

The Liberators (MacArthur landing) (1980) – Intramuros, Manila

People Power Monument (1993) – EDSA, Quezon City

The Bonifacio Shrine / Katipunan Revolution Monument (1998) – Ermita, Manila

Selected Awards & Distinctions:

1970: Recipient, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Thirteen Artists Award

1971: Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award

1971: Republic Cultural Heritage Award

1971: Araw ng Maynila Centennial Award

1971: Official Philippine Representative to the Paris Biennale

Global & Solo Exhibitions:

1995: Breaking Out – The Gallery, Manila Hotel

1981: Castrillo’s Catharsis (Hammerout Series 1970-1980) – Heritage Art Center, Makati

1980: Fukuoka International Art Exhibition – Fukuoka, Japan

1977: Triangulo (Three-Man Show with Napoleon Abueva and Solomon Saprid) – Hyatt Regency, Manila

1974: Chrome, Glass, and Plexiglass Exhibition – Philippine Trade Center, New York, USA

1973: Solo International Exhibitions – Washington D.C., New York City, and Palm Beach, USA