Manila, Philippines – A wave of grief has swept through the Philippine entertainment industry as celebrated musician Rico Blanco confirmed the heartbreaking news that his younger brother, Rey Blanco, has passed away.

The unexpected loss has left fans and fellow celebrities stunned, with many offering prayers and condolences to the Blanco family. The younger Blanco, while not a public figure, was known to many of Rico’s close supporters as a quiet force behind the scenes — a man of artistic talent and quiet generosity.

🕯️ A Sudden Goodbye

According to family sources, Rey Blanco passed away earlier this week due to an undisclosed medical emergency. The family has chosen to keep the details private for now, asking the public for compassion and space as they navigate this painful chapter.

Rico Blanco, known for his poetic songwriting and deeply emotional performances, posted a brief but heartfelt tribute on his social media accounts. In it, he shared a photo of Rey and wrote:

“You were not just my brother. You were my protector, my mirror, my calm in the storm. I am lost without you.”

The post immediately went viral, with thousands of fans and supporters expressing their shock and sorrow.

💬 Support from Friends and Industry Colleagues

Messages of sympathy poured in from notable artists and personalities. Fellow musicians like Ebe Dancel, Yeng Constantino, KZ Tandingan, and Moira Dela Torre expressed their grief and support.

“Rico has always been there for everyone in the industry. Now it’s our turn to be there for him,” said Moira in her own post.

Vice Ganda also shared a touching message on It’s Showtime, asking the audience to pray for the Blanco family.

📸 Who Was Rey Blanco?

Though he was not in the spotlight like his older brother, Rey Blanco was deeply involved in the creative world. Friends describe him as a gifted photographer and visual artist, often collaborating with Rico during album shoots and concert tours.

“Rey had a unique eye for beauty. He never chased fame — he found joy in helping others shine,” shared one of Rey’s longtime friends.

In recent years, Rey was also seen volunteering in several charity projects, many of them spearheaded by Rico himself.

🕊️ Memorial Plans Underway

As of this writing, the Blanco family has not yet announced public memorial details, but a private family service is already scheduled. Fans, however, have taken it upon themselves to organize virtual tributes and candlelight gatherings online to honor Rey’s memory.

There are also whispers of a possible tribute concert — with fellow artists volunteering to perform in Rey’s honor, something that fans say would be truly meaningful.

💔 A Reminder of Life’s Fragility

This tragic loss serves as a stark reminder that behind the glamour of fame, even our most admired stars face deep, personal struggles. Rico Blanco, who has always been known for pouring raw emotion into his music, is now facing one of the most painful moments of his life.

But in typical Rico fashion, he chooses grace over grief, asking fans to “love your family while they’re here, and never leave words unsaid.”

Rico Blanco asked for prayers for his brother
Rico Blanco’s request to his fans is a sincere prayer for his brother.

Here is Rico’s message:

“This beautiful boy you see with me is my younger brother, King. Only a year apart, we did everything together growing up, like bestfriends, or even twins. We shared so many adventures and fought so many battles alongside each other. I love him so very dearly.

“A few weeks ago we received the terrible news that he has cancer. The signs all came too rapidly and seemingly out of nowhere, and by the time we got the full diagnosis, we were told he already has an advanced and very aggressive type of squamous cell carcinoma (sinus).

“His treatment started yesterday, and we are praying all our efforts are not too late. 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.

“This is our toughest battle. Please, please help us win.”

Rico’s fans and friends in showbiz like Iza Calzado, Jona, Yam Concepcion, Paolo Valenciano, Bea Fabregas, Gian Magdangal, Arnel Pineda, Ina Feleo, Nikki Valdez and many others responded immediately.