Gilberto was born in Manila, Philippines on July 12,1946. A resident of Pittsburg, California, he passed away on January 9, 2022 at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek at age 75.

At a young age, he had travelled to San Francisco in 1955 with his mom Josefa and two younger sisters, Fe and Anita, to join with his father Angel Carrillo, at that time in the states. He attended middle school and Mission High School in San Francisco. In those early years the family grew, and Gilberto became the oldest of seven Carrillo children.

Gilberto served in the U.S. Army from May 1968 to May 1970, with a year of his service in Vietnam. During his service there, he was awarded a C.I.B. Combat Infantry Badge, a B.S.M. Bronze Star Medal, and other overseas campaign ribbons. On his return to the U.S. Gil was very vocal in his opposition to the war, and became an advocate for peace.

Gilberto joined San Francisco Newsreel, a documentary film group, and drove a school bus while being active in Filipino-American community affairs, by involving himself in the struggles of the 'manongs' at the San Francisco International Hotel, and the A.W.O.C./UFW farmworkers in California's central valley. Later, after attending and graduating from a history making Building Trades apprentice program, he assumed his life work in the building trades, as an Iron Worker welder for Union Local 378 in San Francisco, and helped build many iconic buildings and bridges.

He lived at times in San Francisco, Berkeley, Roseville, and Pittsburg.

He enjoyed traveling everywhere by car/truck. He often drove on a whim and loved to try new things, meeting people and visiting relatives all over the US and Philippines.

Gilberto talked to anyone willing to listen. His contagious smile would win you over, and brighten the day. Sometimes we had to yell back at him, because in time...he became hard of hearing.

He deeply loved his grandchildren: A.J. Habal, Keilyn Nagtalon, Delaney Nagtalon, Diego Nagtalon; Aryssa Alonzo; Gianna Alonzo and Dante Alonzo.

He took pride in being there grandfather. He loved to take them to countless amusement parks, national parks (hiking, sightseeing, camping), traveling to other states and doing anything he could with and for them. He loved listening to music, playing the conga drums and dancing. He was a storyteller and had a lot of life stories to tell. He liked to live on the edge and doing as he pleased at any time.

Gil was preceded in death by his mother Josefa Carrillo in 2004, his father Angel Carrillo in 2006. He is survived by his sisters, Fe Carrillo, Anita Sison; brothers, Tony Carrillo, Oscar Carrillo, Angel Carrillo and Joselito Carrillo.

He leaves behind his children; Shawn Carrillo of Pacific Grove, Kalayaan Habal-Nagtalon of Rocklin, CA and Samar Carrillo of Pittsburg, CA. He also had two stepsons, Anthony Alonzo and Don Alonzo of San Francisco, CA.