THE CASTRILLO LEGACY AT SM CITY DASMARIÑAS
In the years leading to the Philippine Centennial Celebration in 1998, it became apparent to master sculptor Eduardo Castrillo that his highly documented and photographed Makati studio would no longer suffice in his space requirements to create the largescale monuments he had been commissioned to do.
A very good friend offered his space in Molino, Cavite in 1995. Castrillo loved the area for its vast expanse and atmosphere, highly conducive to his creative work.
It was a quiet, rustic place, which Castrillo loved and called home. The whole family moved to Cavite in 1995, and three of his grandchildren were born there, establishing roots for the family.
That Castrillo would decide to move to Cavite had a sense of destiny. Cavite, after all, is a province known for its history. Castrillo, on the other hand, is known for his large-scale monuments that celebrate our country’s heroes and heritage.
As it continues its cultural journey around the SM Supermalls, “My City, My SM, My Art” showcases the life and legacy of master artist Eduardo Castrillo in an exhibit, which is on view starting tomorrow until Aug. 10 at The Atrium, SM City D Dasmariñas.
It will also feature the works of his three children — Mierro, Nixxio and Ovvian — who learned all about art from the master himself and are today artists in their own right. Mallgoers will also have a glimpse of the emerging talents of third-generation Castrillos with the works of his grandchildren Regina Gabrielle, Allesandra Gianina, Cecilia Amarise, Santina Brienne, Sorelle Alexia and Brendan Edward.
A celebration of Philippine visual arts — painting, sculpture, photography, and filmmaking — “My City, My SM, My Art” is a joint project of SM, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Shell Companies of the Philippines, and the Philippine STAR with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Centerstage Productions.
The “My City, My SM, My Art” series brings art and people together by showcasing the works of masters, modernists and millennials around the SM Supermalls. Advocating art for all, the team works with communities to mount exhibits, workshops and contests in key cities around the Philippines.
Eduardo Castrillo was born in 1942 in Sta. Ana, Manila, the youngest of five children of Santiago Silva Castrillo, a jeweler; and Magdalena De los Santos, an actress.
It was his father, a master craftsman, who taught the young Eduardo the jewelry techniques that would eventually form the crux of his metalworking techniques. Fashioning jewelry from metal sheets, the elder Castrillo taught his son that using pliable metal is perhaps better than using molds.
After entering the Fine Arts program of the University of Santo Tomas, Castrillo had different jobs before he began his career in commissioned sculpture.
Beginning with “The Virgin” at the La Loma Cemetery and “Youth’s Defiance” in Fort Santiago in 1966, Castrillo would eventually master covering historical events and personalities and become one of the country’s most sought-after commissioned artists.
In his works, Castrillo used metal sheets instead of molds, pioneering in the handcrafted “constructivism” method in metal and all other materials available at that time — glass, plexi-glass and wood.
One of his most significant works is the “Spirit of Pinaglabanan,” which was built to commemorate the heroism of the Katipuneros who started the nationwide revolution in San Juan del Monte.
His “People Power Monument” in EDSA celebrates the historical event in 1986, which was hailed as a non-violent revolution that inspired other such revolutions in other countries.
The Rajah Sulayman Monument along Roxas Boulevard honors the 16th century sovereign of the Kingdom of Manila, who died in the Battle of Bangkusay Channel, while resisting the invading Spanish troops led by Miguel López de Legazpi.
The “Cebu Heritage” in the Parian district in Cebu is a tableau of Cebu’s history in a three-dimensional form. Artistic, historical and educational, this impressive art mural is today one of the highlights of any Cebu City tour.
Castrillo’s works depicting historical events in Cavite like the “Tejeros Convention” and the “Battle of Zapote Bridge” reveal how his art flourished in the province he chose to consider home later in life.
For his amazing works, Castrillo received numerous awards, including the Ten Outstanding Young Men and the Republic Cultural Heritage Award, both in 1971.
As an artist, he was deep and his grasp of his mission for God and country was apparent to him early on in his career and carried over until his later years. Although he passed away on May 18, 2016, he will be remembered not only for his wonderful works, but also for being a generous artist who shared his technique and nurtured his craftsmen who have all become part of the Eduardo Castrillo Studio family.