The deaths of Claire de la Fuente and Rommel Valdez brought a pall of gloom in the local entertainment industry.
Claire, together with contemporaries Imelda Papin and Eva Eugenio billed as Jukebox Queens, was a pillar of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) which started in the 1970s.
IT’S a sad day for local show business industry following the deaths of Claire dela Fuente who was known as Karen Carpenter of the Philippines and actor Rommel Valdez.
The two both died of cardiac arrests.
Claire, Clarita d la Fuente de Guzman in real life, who popularized the hit songs “Sayang,” “Nakaw na Pag-ibig,” “Minsan-Minsan” etc. wasn’t reported to have stricken any illnesses. She was 62.
Claire de la Fuente from Yahoo News
While Rommel, who was famous both as a lead star and villain in many action movies suffered health complications since the early 1990s. He was 72.
Rommel Valdez photo by DonKing Rongavilla/facebook
De la Fuente’s death was confirmed by Jonathan Manalo of Star Music while Valdez’s passing was reported by Adrian Laurente in his social media posts.
“Rest in peace Tito (a term of endearment to an elder man by affinity of by blood) Rommel Valdez. Thank you for the amazing memories of the Philippine Cinema and industry. We will miss you so much and our deepest condolences to the Rongavilla family,” stated Adrian.
Laurente posted a photo of the late actor in a scene from the 1994 film “Lucas Abelardo” with his also departed uncle, actor Jim Rosales, Delfin R. Laurente in real life.
Claire, together with contemporaries Imelda Papin and Eva Eugenio billed as Jukebox Queens, was a pillar of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) which started in the 1970s. After her reign in the music charts, de la Fuente became one of the leaders in the transport industry as a bus operator and a restaurateur.
De la Fuente was hogging the headline early this year when her son Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman was dragged into the controversial rape-slay case of flight attendant Christine Dacera.
Valdez’s death reached Australian filmmaker and world cinema historian Andrew Leavold in Australia.
In his Facebook notes, Andrew noted: “I just received word on the passing of veteran Filipino kontrabida Rommel Valdez (January 10, 1949 - March 26, 2021). I spent a fantastic night in Manila's Chinatown back in 2010 with Rommel and fellow goons Franco Guerrero (now also sadly gone), Danny Rojo and Bert Vivar for my Search For Weng Weng book, followed by karaoke (or Gooneaoke!). Here Rommel shows me how to take a film punch... thank you for your generosity Rommel, and RIP.”
Tags: #ClairedelaFuente, #entertainment, #RommelValdez