Curiosity and a collaborative spirit inform Erwin Romulo’s venture towards curatorial strategies that seek to expand the possibilities of cinema and moving images.

Words Dominic Zinampan
November 11, 2024

Erwin Romulo’s career is singular in scope and volume. His output and credentials span diverse disciplines, connecting the worlds of journalism, art, cinema, literature, ballet, and music, among countless others. In the course of almost three decades, he has written articles on a wide range of topics, edited magazines and books, composed scores, curated exhibitions, and produced films, to name just a few of his accomplishments. Romulo studied at the College of Fine Arts in the University of the Philippines, around the same time as the likes of Poklong Anading, Louie Cordero, and Nona Garcia. But unlike his contemporaries who mainly concentrated on contemporary visual art, Romulo decided to pursue journalism, having joined The Philippine Star in 1996.

Tracing his trajectory, Romulo seems destined to take this route. His father, politician Alberto Romulo, taught him how to read at the age of four. Soon, he was reciting William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” by memory. He was already determined to become a writer early on, citing J. G. Ballard and Gregorio C. Brillantes as influences. In 2004, he won the prestigious Palanca Award for an essay he wrote. Seven years later, he became the founding editor-in-chief of Esquire Philippines. Under his leadership, the magazine was known for its coverage of Typhoon Yolanda and for getting the legendary rock band Eraserheads to release new music after more than a decade.