Filipino OPM singer Claire Dela Fuente dies, her son Gigo confirmed on GMA News, Tuesday, March 30, 2020.
Initial reports said the veteran singer Claire Dela Fuente dies of cardiac arrest.
She was a Filipino singer who achieved celebrity status in the late 1970s with the jukebox hit “Sayang”. She was given the title “Asia’s Sweetest Voice” because of her sweet voice. She was dubbed “the Karen Carpenter of the Philippines” as her voice has a striking resemblance to that of the late singer. Her first album in 1977 was then the Philippines’ biggest ever seller. She went on to record seven more albums. Besides “Sayang”, she is also known for hits like “Minsan-Minsan” and “Nakaw Na Pag-ibig”.
She was given the title “Queen of Tagalog Songs” alongside Rico J. Puno as her counterpart. She was also named “Jukebox Queen” together with her contemporaries Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio and the late Didith Reyes, and was also dubbed as “Asia’s Sweetest Voice.”
She was also a successful businesswoman. She was the president of the Integrated Metropolitan Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), though her bus franchise was cancelled in 2011 for joining a nationwide transport strike
Singer Claire Dela Fuente dies at 62
In January, Claire Dela Fuente’s son Gigo got involved in the controversial death of flight attendant Christine Dacera.
Although her son Gregorio Angelo Rafael De Guzman was not among the detained personalities, Claire’s son is also one of the suspects in Christine’s case.
Claire Dela Fuente went to the Makati City police station to show her sympathy for them.
In a report by Jamie Santos for the Witness, Claire said, “Masaya ako for them. Siyempre, kung may fighting chance sila, may fighting chance ang anak ko, di ba?”
Claire dela Fuente defended her son, “Wala ho kaming tinatago and I believe my son kasi tinawagan niya ako no’n, e. Sabi niya, ‘Ma may situation dito. Parang patay na yata ‘yung girl dito.’
“Bakla ‘yung anak ko, e. Ang hirap i-admit pero alam ko ‘yon matagal na bata pa siya. Kaya lang nagpapaka-disente siya,” she said.