Claire de la Fuente

Clarita Crisostomo Dela Fuente-De Guzman, known professionally as Claire dela Fuente (; December 28, 1958 – March 30, 2021) was a Filipino singer and businesswoman.

She first became known for singing the jingle for a 1978 commercial for Hope, and later for performing the song "Sayang".

Early life and education Dela Fuente hails from Caloocan and was born on December 28, 1958. A rotund child at age nine, Dela Fuente was bullied for her weight. As a high school student she sold perfume, cosmetics, and shampoo acquired from Divisoria and Quinta to her classmates. She studied at the University of the East

Singing career Dela Fuente was 15 years old when she won the grand prize in at a singing contest at the University of the East. She sang the Carpenters' "Love Me for What I Am". She was scouted by George Canseco, who was the head judge of the competition.

Canseco facilitated Dela Fuente's first national television appearance when she sang the jingle for a 1978 commercial for Hope cigarette.

Initially she leveraged herself as the "Hope girl" to secure more projects.

She was given various sobriquets such as "Asia's Sweetest Voice" and "Queen of Tagalog Songs". She was also considered a "Jukebox Queen", a distinction also given to Imelda Papin, Eva Eugenio and Didith Reyes.

Business career Dela Fuente retired from the entertainment industry in her mid-20s. In 1993, she established King of Kings Transport which was a failed venture. In 1997, she helped set up the family-owned bus transport company Philippine Corinthian Liner. In 2000, dela Fuente was elected as president of the Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association.

She also established a grill and seafood restaurant chain in Pasay. She partnered with a Davao City-based Thai chef to set up Asian Noodle Co. by Chef Off in 2011. where she had been hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19. She had other pre-existing medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

Personal life Dela Fuente was married to Moises "Boy" de Guzman. She was 19 years old and de Guzman was 29 when they got married. "'Di Magbabago" "Ibulong Mo sa Hangin" "Ikaw ang Simula" "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" "Makikita Mo" "Marupok Ka Man" "Mga Bulong ng Pag-Ibig" "Mga Nakaw na Sandali" "Minsan Minsan" "Nakaw na Pag-Ibig" "Nangingiti ang Puso Ko" "Pag-Ibig Mo... Langit Ko" "Sa Dulo ng Landas" "Something in Your Eyes" "Sayang" "Unang Pag-Ibig"