Eladio Santos, one of Mabini movement’s last, shares the colorful life behind the canvas and the circumstances that led him to be the artist that he is.
Words Jin Hernandez
Art by Kirk Bertrand
November 10, 2026
Art by Kirk Bertrand
An artist’s work is often a reflection of their experiences—something tangible from a feeling otherwise deemed ordinary but immortalized through their artworks.
For Eladio Santos, a 74-year-old portrait artist most known for the Mabini movement, art is wherever life takes you may it be from movie posters, church ceilings, or the walls of Malacañang.
His works can be seen in the E. Santos Gallery in Ermita, Manila, along with works of other artists that can be argued as far different from the Rembrandt-esque style of his portraits.
Lovingly dubbed as the Michelangelo of the Philippines, Eladio is someone who proves that being an artist doesn’t always mean one came from the prestigious art schools known to man.
Most of the time, having the passion for a life-long learning is enough.
Much like how he learned and continues to learn how to paint through art books filled with European paintings, most notably Rembrandt who he shares as one of his main inspirations.
Humble beginnings in the world of advertising
Eladio started painting full-time for movie posters in massive billboards back in the day, sharing that he used to have three hours to finish a poster as it was needed to be displayed for the next showing.
Art by Kirk Bertrand
Because of his training in this time-bound medium, he learned how to adapt and never experience art block in his career given that he was trained to paint as fast as he could.
This experience sharpened his skills in realism as he aimed to make the actor’s likeliness as realistic as possible for effective advertisement of the film, given that his works are displayed in billboards in the city.
Sadly, the world of hand-painted advertisements were easily replaced by printed billboards that put the majority of artists out of work.
Challenges before he prospered in the streets of Ermita
Fortunately for Eladio, he was reached out by fellow artists in Ermita who owned galleries to paint for them before having his own gallery in the 1990s.
Art by Kirk Bertrand
“Kung saan may trabaho doon ako pupunta kaya wala akong bakante. Talagang palipat-lipat ka nalang ng shop,” shared Eladio when asked about what he painted after hand painted movie posters were no longer sought after.
But this reality is not as colorful as it seems because it also led to his artworks to be discredited, citing that it is the main reason why he is not as popular as mainstream artists are.
“Kaya hindi ako sumikat, yung mga pangalan ko tinatanggal at nilalagay nila pangalan nila. Ibig nilang sumikat dahil sa kanilang gallery ‘yon. Babayaran ka tapos wala ka ng pakialam doon,” he stated sharing that a lot of his artworks then were not even credited to his name despite spending hours on it.
That is why when he established his gallery, together with his wife Lorna, his works were finally recognized for the artist that he is, and not for the gallery that he painted for, making the streets of Ermita as home to his masterpieces.
His works do not end in his gallery, as his work can be seen in the walls and ceilings of the Ermita church, Binondo church, to the churches outside Manila like the Basilica Del Santo Nino in Cebu.
He also painted for the Malacañang Palace during the Marcos era, continues to paint for various political personalities, and is commissioned regularly by various churches for portraits.
International recognition and a talent strengthened by faith
His experiences expanded beyond the local scene, he travelled with fellow artists to paint for various clients in different countries and was featured several times in Vita Ospedaliera, the official newsletter of Fatebenefratelli hospital from the Roman province in Italy.
Art by Kirk Bertrand
From there, Eladio’s works compose of numerous religious themes that go back to his faith that led him to make more art despite encountering challenges in life much like his grave illness back in 1981 that he thought would be the end of his journey.
After seeking help from different doctors, he had to take a risk and consult a faith healer that he remembered told him “Huwag kang matakot, hindi ka pa mamamatay dahil mayroon ka pang misyon.”
That thought stuck through him while he was stranded in Egypt when was bound for Israel with his fellow artists because of the closed borders back in 1981 when Anwar Sadat was assassinated.
Having only 15 dollars that was not enough to pay for the hotel and their everyday needs, Eladio and his friends had to think of creative ways to earn money.
With his little money left, Eladio bought a sketch pad and he started sketching passersby and showing them the portrait, charging for 5 dollars each that helped with their expenses until their contact was finally permitted to pass through the border.
During his time in Israel, his faith was renewed as he saw famous sites believed to be where the events in the bible took place, while simultaneously painting portraits that curators sell for a fair price.
This is when he realized that maybe this was the mission he was told about, to paint and paint to somehow honor his faith and incorporate art in sacred spaces like churches here in the Philippines, and to be commissioned and be featured by the Vita Ospedaliera.
E. Santos Gallery and its legacy
When asked if he will have successors from his exceptional talent, what he said was “May gallery pero walang pintor.”
His children are not particularly interested in painting portraits like he does, but they help with seeking clients for commissions like how their mother helps with the overall operations of the gallery.
“Kahit ako lang mag-isa rito, hindi ako naiinip kapag may pintura. Kapag nasa bahay ako, ibig ko pumunta rito. Paano kasi kapag may pintura ibig kong gumawa,” shared Eladio when he talked about his passion for painting.
An artist’s purpose is to create, and with it comes life and a legacy that will prevail as long as his works can be seen and be treasured for the years to come.
Eladio Santos will continue to paint for as long as the times permit him to.
E. Santos Gallery is located in M.H. Del Pilar Street in Ermita, Manila.
For commissions and inquiries, visit Lorna’s Art Gallery on Facebook and (@lornas_artgallery) on Instagram.
