Claire dela Fuente dies at 63

OPM icon Claire dela Fuente has passed away. She was 63.

The Filipino singer died due to cardiac arrest on Tuesday morning, March 30, 2021, her son Gigo confirmed to GMA News.

"My mother passed away early this morning 7am from cardiac arrest due to stress from contracting COVID-19," he said.

Dela Fuente rose to fame in the 1970's as a jukebox icon with hits such as "Sayang."

After her stint in the music industry, Dela Fuente made her mark as a businesswoman. In a March 2019 episode of "Sarap 'Di Ba?" she also revealed her involvement in alternative medicine.

In an episode of "Powerhouse" in 2014, she discussed the origins of her hit "Sayang" alongside other jukebox queens Imelda Papin and Eva Eugenio.

"May pinanghinayangan ako, kaya nga ako'y dalampu't taon nang mahigit na ako'y friendship niya," she said.

(I had regrets, that's why we ended up being friends for over 20 years.)

—Margaret Claire Layug/JST, GMA News