Erwin E. Castillo, b. 1944, is the author of the novels The Firewalkers and Cape Engaño, and a fictive memory of boyhood called The Cycling Chronicles. He has won the Philippines Free Press, Asia-Philippines Leader, Philippines Graphic, Tagayan, and Palanca prizes. He also won the Awit Award for popular music composition. He is also a painter and a student of western and oriental martial arts.
He was born in Singalong, Manila and grew up in Mendez-Nuñez, Cavite, and Project 4, Quezon City. He studied at the University of the Philippines, where he was later Writer-In-Residence. Castillo attended both the international and the university writing programs of the University of Iowa in Iowa City on scholarships. He wrote weekly columns for Panorama and Inquirer Magazine. He made his living in advertising and marketing communications, and still consults for business and political concerns.
He is married to Ma. Lourdes A. Claravall. They live in Alabang, Muntinlupa, and in Calatagan, Batangas.