Tux member passes away after four-year bout with cancer

MANILA, Philippines – Carlo Bulahan of the vocal harmony group Tux has passed away last Saturday after a four-year battle with colon cancer, and suffering from complications arising from the illness.

Bulahan was 52.

Up until his death, Bulahan has been confined at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute since December 18 last year, when doctors found fungus in his bloodstream, according to fellow Tux member Popo Suanes.

“Carlo eventually contracted pneumonia and other serious infections, which prompted doctors to tell us that we can only hope for the best,” Suanes told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

“By God’s grace, the fungus and pneumonia disappeared about a week or two ago. And so we’re hopeful that Carlo will be able to go out of the hospital,” he related. “However, Carlo didn’t look good when I visited him last Friday – his face was ashen,” he said.

Bulahan’s passing came four months after the sudden demise of another Tux member Eric Antonio, who suffered from a massive stroke. “It’s tough for us. But still, we’re thankful that Carlo’s life after being diagnosed with cancer lasted for as long as it did,” he said.

Suanes described Bulahan as a simple, funny and down-to-earth person. “He was like a brother to us,” he said.

Composed of Bulahan, Suanes, Antonio, Manny Aquino, Jeric Mariano, Dante Sibug and Monet Silvestre, Tux has represented the country in various international music festivals, and has performed with some of the country’s finest such as Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Gary Valenciano, Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Basil Valdez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Vernie Varga, Nanette Inventor and Ryan Cayabyab.

Bulahan’s remains lie at the St. Ignatius Village Chapel in Quezon City. He is survived by his wife Marika and daughter Ryah.