Claire dela Fuente honored by fellow celebs: ‘Proud to be called Jukebox Queen’
Claire dela Fuente (Image: Facebook/@claire.delafuente)
Fellow celebrities and fans of Asia’s Sweetest Voice, Claire dela Fuente, have been paying tribute to the OPM icon shortly after her passing earlier this day, March 30.
The country’s Queen of Soul, Jaya, was among the first ones to pay their respects to the musician, writing via Twitter, “Paalam Ate Claire Dela Fuente [sad emoji] May you truly rest in God’s peace.”
(Goodbye, big sister Claire dela Fuente. May you truly rest in God’s peace.)
Paalam Ate Claire Dela Fuente 😞 May you truly rest in God’s peace 🙏🏼
— Jaya (@jayasoul) March 30, 2021
Veteran anchor Karen Davila, meanwhile, remembered Dela Fuente as a mother helping out her son’s friends involved in the case of Christine Dacera.
“This is a shock. Nakakalungkot (This is heartbreaking). I have been in touch with Claire recently because of the Dacera case. She was helping her son’s friends, some who couldn’t afford lawyers. Rest in Peace,” Davila shared on Twitter.
“With the many deaths around us, may we learn never to take anyone we love for granted,” she added.
Davila also disclosed that Dela Fuente, who tested positive for COVID-19, had been waiting for an emergency room slot since yesterday before dying of cardiac arrest.
Claire’s death shows how full our hospitals are. Friend told me she was COVID positive. She was in a hospital tent since yesterday waiting to enter the ER…. Then this morning, her oxygen levels dropped and she died of cardiac arrest.
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) March 30, 2021
“Claire’s death shows how full our hospitals are. Friend told me she was COVID positive. She was in a hospital tent since yesterday waiting to enter the ER… Then this morning, her oxygen levels dropped and she died of cardiac arrest,” Davila said.
Dela Fuente, who was also known as “The Karen Carpenter of the Philippines,” died this morning to cardiac arrest believed to be caused by the stress of COVID-19, her son Gigo de Guzman confirmed in other reports.
Fellow singer Leah Navarro also took to Twitter to pay tribute to Dela Fuente, saying, “Heard Claire dela Fuente died this morning. Condolences to her family.”
“We performed together many times, she was proud to be called a Jukebox Queen. Rest In Peace, Claire,” Navarro lamented.
Heard Claire dela Fuente died this morning. Condolences to her family. We performed together many times, she was proud to be called a Jukebox Queen. Rest In Peace, Claire.
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) March 30, 2021
Former APO Hiking Society member Jim Paredes likewise lamented his fellow OPM icon’s passing, replying to ABS-CBN’s entertainment reporter MJ Felipe’s tweet that Dela Fuente has died.
“So sad to read this. RIP Claire,” said Paredes, who later retweeted a news article on Dela Fuente’s death.
Valentine Rosales, one of the friends of Gigo and fellow respondent in the Dacera case, meanwhile, remembered Dela Fuente as a “hero.”
“She’s not only a Mom but she also became our Hero. You will be missed Mommy Claire,” he tweeted.
She’s not only a Mom but she also became our Hero. You will be missed Mommy Claire @clairedlf #clairedelafuente pic.twitter.com/SEIKcflNEI
— Valentine Rosales ☾ (@valentinersls) March 30, 2021
Dela Fuente was known for several 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. /ra
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