Ronnabelle Lora

Rico Blanco’s younger brother passes away at 50

Article (news)

Peter Andrew Acierto

Push Team

<p>Rey Blanco, the younger brother of Filipino singer and songwriter Rico Blanco, passed away last May 14. This was announced by Rivermaya’s drummer, Mark Escueta, on his Instagram account earlier today.  </p><p>It is unclear what the exact cause of death was as of this writing. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/5/14/chloe-san-jose-drops-debut-ep-opens-up-about-music-journey-and-love-life-2126"><strong>READ: Chloe San Jose drops debut EP, opens up about music journey and love life</strong></a></div><p>“Paalam, kapatid,” Mark wrote in his Instagram caption.</p><p>It was earlier this year when Rico opened up on social media about his younger brother’s condition to the public. The singer-songwriter is only a year older than his brother whom he treated as his twin.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFKd5YMzOzA/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A2034688%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>“We shared so many adventures and fought so many battles alongside each other. I love him so very dearly,” he previously shared.</p><p>Ray was diagnosed with an “advanced and very aggressive type of squamous cell carcinoma” according to Rico’s post. According to Mayo Clinic, Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer and can cause serious complications if left untreated. </p><p>Rico previously added that his late brother had already started treatment and asked for prayers for his continuous healing then as he admitted that this was their “toughest battle.” </p><p>“We’ve also decided to share so we can humbly ask for your help - please pray for King’s strength and healing. Only heaven really knows what’s best for my dear brother but we are keeping our hopes up. I cannot bear to imagine a world without him in it,” he added. </p><p>Meanwhile, friends of Rey have expressed their condolences and honored his life on their personal social media accounts.  </p><p>Rico has yet to make an official statement about his brother’s passing as of this writing. </p>