Chris Carillo
CHRIS Carillo, a member of Guam-based band Biggah and Bettah, passed away on Monday, after a bout with liver cirrhosis, it was announced on the GoFundMe page set up to support his liver transplant.
The GoFundMe page organizers Christine and Marvin Matanane posted the following message:
“Our beloved Chris has passed. After days of fighting with everything he had, surrounded by love and lifted by prayer, Chris laid down his guitar for the last time. He strummed through the pain. He smiled through the fear. And even in the ICU, he never stopped being the soulful, strong, and selfless man we all knew and loved. Though his body couldn’t keep up, his spirit never broke. Chris didn’t just make music — he made meaning. He brought people together, lifted hearts, and left behind a legacy of love, laughter, and melody that will never fade. Our hearts are heavy, but so full — because we were lucky enough to know him. To hear him. To love him. Thank you for walking with us through this journey. Thank you for the prayers, the support, and the belief. We know Chris felt every single ounce of it. His song may have ended here, but the music he made — in life, in love, in friendship — will echo forever.”
Guam news sources in March announced that Carillo was in the Philippines where he was receiving emergency treatment.
Former CNMI Rep. LJ Castro called Carillo "one of a kind."
"His gift of music was what attracted people to him, but his friendliness and gentle personality was what endeared him to them," Castro said. "Every time I emceed an event where he was part of the backing band for visiting artists from Guam or Hawaii, he was always very kind and welcoming. Despite being from another group of islands, he developed a love for the Marianas and ended up making this his home. He had a big catalog of songs he could play, but it paled in comparison to the size of his heart. The entertainment community in our islands may have lost a great musician, but for those who knew him they lost a great friend and confidant. Island music in the Marianas is a more vibrant and eclectic genre because of people like Chris Carillo."
