‘SAYANG’

PUMANAW nitong Martes ang tinaguriang ‘Juke Box Queen’ ng bansa na si Claire dela Fuente dahil sa cardiac arrest. Siya’y 63 anyos.

“She died from cardiac arrest, believed to be a result of her stress and anxiety. My mom has anxiety, hypertension and diabetes and her tendency to worry, to stress a lot led her to weaken and in her sleep, her heart gave up,” sabi ng kanyang anak na si Gigo de Guzman, isa sa mga isinangkot sa pagkamatay ng PAL flight attendant na si Christine Dacera.

Sinabi ni Gigo na ang kanyang ina ay na-admit hospital matapos magpositibo sa COVID-19.

“I myself am COVID-positive but showing no symptoms that’s why I cannot be beside her. She was supposed to turn 64 this year,” ani Gigo.

“Yesterday, she was fine, I got to speak to her. Got to argue with her one last time, because she gave me the wrong address and she didn’t tell me she was transferred to another hospital. She made me order food for her,” kuwento ni Gigo.

“All the while, she kept worrying about me and my symptoms. I told her not to worry about me because she’s the one who needs, who is more at risk,” dagdag niya.

Si Claire ay sumikat sa pagkanta late 1970s sa kantang “Sayang”.

Maliban sa pagiging “Karen Carpenter of the Philippines,” si Claire ay tinagurian ding “Asia’s Sweetest Voice.” Ang kanyang unang album ay nirekord moong 1977 at naging biggest seller noon.

Maliban sa “Sayang,” sumikat din ang kanyang mga awiting “Minsan-Minsan” at “Nakaw na Pag-ibig.”

Si Claire ay sentensiyadong makulong sa kasong tax evasion (7 counts) ng Court of Tax Appeals sa kabiguang makapag-file ng income tax ang kanyang bus firm, Philippine Corinthian Liner Corporation (PCLC).