Honouring the Life of Eduardo de los Santos Castrillo (Tito Ed) | October 31, 1942 – May 18, 2016
SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
Visionary Behind the People Power Monument
When we at Filipino BC say that resistance is in our DNA, we mean it quite literally. Today, as Filipinos back home protest corruption, we pause to honour the life of Eduardo “Tito Ed” Castrillo—the visionary sculptor behind the People Power Monument. To many he is a national artist, but to our beloved friend, ate, and Board Director Ovvian Castrillo, he is simply tatay (dad).
Castrillo is best remembered for his towering works: the People Power Monument, immortalizing the courage of Filipinos who stood up for democracy, and the Bonifacio Shrine, celebrating the fire of revolution. His art was never just about aesthetics—it was about spirit. His sculptures are not silent stone and metal; they are living testaments of struggle, freedom, and the unbreakable will of the people.
Eduardo de los Santos Castrillo
Eduardo de los Santos Castrillo (October 31, 1942 – May 18, 2016) was a pioneering Filipino sculptor, born in Santa Ana, Manila, the youngest of five children. His father was a jeweler, and his mother, a leading actress in zarzuelas and Holy Week pageants. He endured early loss—his mother passed away before he was two—and periods of instability growing up, but he went on to earn a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas.
Castrillo broke into the public art scene in the 1960s with his first one-man show in 1966, the same year he produced early works such as The Virgin and Youth’s Cry of Defiance. He became known for monumental sculptures in bronze, steel, and brass, while also experimenting with mixed media like wood, plastic, and neon. Among his most important public works are the People Power Monument (1993), The Bonifacio Shrine / Katipunan Revolution Monument (1998), Rajah Sulayman (1976), and Battle of Zapote Bridge (1997).
Photo: Eduardo Castrillo Headshot - Alchetron
Art in the Marcos Era
Castrillo’s rise as an artist took place during the Marcos regime, a time when creative voices were often silenced or co-opted. Yet his work—bold, unflinching, and monumental—stood as a form of resistance in itself. While others shied away from themes of struggle, Castrillo confronted them head-on, sculpting pieces that celebrated courage, community, and the Filipino fight for freedom. His later masterpiece, the People Power Monument, became the ultimate counterpoint to dictatorship: a reminder carved in stone and steel that no regime can outlast the people’s will.
Photos: People Power Monument - Keith Kelly, Bonifacio Shrine - Edward Castrillo Facebook
A Father and Mentor
Behind the monumental legacy was a man of compassion, discipline, and deep love for his family and people. Tito Ed’s artistry was matched by his commitment to pass down values of courage, creativity, and community. Today, Ovvian not only preserves his memory as his daughter but also continues his path as a sculptor, artist, educator, and community organizer ensuring that his spirit of resistance lives on through her own hands and vision.
A Legacy of Resistance
As Filipinos continue to resist injustice today, Tito Ed’s vision reminds us of the power of unity. The People Power Monument still stands as a symbol of vigilance, a reminder that freedom must always be defended. His legacy is a mirror of our continuing journey—resisting oppression, uplifting one another, and daring to dream of a just society.
Remembering Tito Ed
To honour Eduardo Castrillo is to honour the spirit of our people’s resistance. His monuments are not just works of art, but living reminders of who we are and what we have endured. Through his vision, he gave us symbols to gather around, to draw strength from, and to pass on to the next generation. For us who knew him not only as an artist but as a father, a friend, and a mentor, his legacy is deeply personal. May we, like his towering creations, remain unyielding in the face of injustice—standing tall, carrying forward his courage, and keeping alive the flame of freedom he helped shape.
Maraming salamat, Tito Ed. Your art carries our story, and your legacy continues to inspire generations.
