Claire dela Fuente, OPM icon, passes away at 63

Claire Dela Fuente. Image: Facebook/Claire Dela Fuente

OPM icon Claire dela Fuente passed away after suffering from cardiac arrest earlier this morning, March 30. She was 63.

The veteran singer’s relatives confirmed her passing to composer-producer Jonathan Manalo, a family friend, ABS-CBN’s entertainment reporter MJ Felipe announced on Twitter at 11:03 a.m.

Her son, Gigo de Guzman, later confirmed in an Instagram video post at 4:10 p.m. that his mother died in her sleep due to cardiac arrest which was said to have been caused by stress from contracting COVID-19. He narrated that his mother was isolated in a tent just outside the hospital, as she was awaiting to be admitted inside.

“Ma, it’s OK, pahinga ka na (you may rest now). Thank you for everything,” de Guzman tearfully addressed his mother.

The singer also reportedly had pre-existing medical conditions that include hypertension and diabetes.

Dela Fuente, who has been dubbed as “The Karen Carpenter of the Philippines” and “Asia’s Sweetest Voice,” is known for OPM hits such as “Sayang,” “Nakaw na Pag-Ibig” and “Minsan, Minsan,” among others.

She was one of the “Jukebox Queens” in the 1970s along with fellow veteran singers Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio and Didith Reyes. Ian Biong/JB

[Updated: March 30, 2021, 8:01 p.m.]

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