Claire de la Fuente

Who is Claire de la Fuente?

Clarita Crisostomo Dela Fuente-De Guzman, better known as Claire de la Fuente, is 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 awarded 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. She was also dubbed as "Asia's Sweetest Voice" and won praises from musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Michael Bolton, David Soul and Richard Carpenter.

She is also a successful businesswoman. She is the president of the Integrated Metropolitan Bus Operators Association, though her bus franchise was cancelled in 2011 for joining a nationwide transport strike.