Helen Vela

Helen Vela
Helen Vela
Born	October 31, 1946; Manila, Philippines
Died	February 14, 1992 (aged 45); Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	Filipino
Occupation(s)	Actress, broadcaster, producer
Years active	1963–1992
Known for	Ate Helen
Spouses	; Orly Punzalan (m. 1967; div. 1973) ; Ben Hernandez (m. 1973; died 1992)
Children	4 (including Princess)
Relatives	Karen Punzalan (granddaughter)

Helen Vela (October 31, 1946 – February 14, 1992) was a Filipina actress and radio/TV personality.

Early life[edit]

She was born on October 31, 1946, in Manila, Philippines.

Career[edit]

Vela started her career in broadcasting as a radio announcer.^[2] She appeared on GMA Network (later BBC) show, Lovingly Yours, Helen. Followed by RPN shows are Heredero and Agila. She was also a presenter at GMA Balita, GMA's first early evening Filipino newscast.

Personal life[edit]

In 1967, Vela married broadcaster Orly Punzalan (1935–2005), with whom she had two children: Pastor Paolo Punzalan,^[3] senior pastor of Victory Fort Bonifacio, and Princess Punzalan, born Bernadette Vela Punzalan,^[4] a nurse and former actress. They separated five years later and divorced. In 1973, Vela remarried, to Ben Hernandez. They had a son, Reuben.^{[citation needed]}

Death[edit]

She died of lymphoma on February 14, 1992 (Valentine's Day) at St. Mary's Hospital, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, United States at the age of 45.^[2]

She was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. Alongside her lies her mother Virginia Vela, who died in 1995, and her first husband Orly Punzalan, who died in 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Lifetime achievement award[edit]

In 2004, the Golden Screen Awards for Television instituted a "Helen Vela Lifetime Achievement Award" for outstanding contribution to the Philippine television industry.

Legacy and honors[edit]

She was posthumously inducted as a Star to the Eastwood City Walk of Fame Philippines in December 2011.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year	Title	Role
1969	Halina Neneng Ko
1969	Fiesta Extravaganza
1983	Roman Rapido	Mameng
1984	Lovingly Yours, Helen (The Movie)	Narrator
1988	Puso sa Puso	Wilma
1988	Angelica, Sugo sa Lupa
1990	Kung Tapos na ang Kailanman (her last film)

Television[edit]

Year	Title	Role	Network
1980–1992	Lovingly Yours, Helen	Host	GMA Network BBC
1984–1987	Heredero	Nina	RPN
1987–1992	Agila	Ester	RPN ABS-CBN
1989–1992	Family 3 Plus 1	Amy	GMA Network

References[edit]

^ Rodrigo, Raul (2006). Kapitan: Geny Lopez and the Making of ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN Pub. p. 231. ISBN 978-971-816-111-1. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Helen Vela, 45". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. February 16, 1992.
^ Lo, Ricky (October 10, 2011). "Christian and 'living it'". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
^ National Mid-week. Lagda Pub. Incorporated. 1986. p. 33. Retrieved August 14, 2021.

External links[edit]

Helen Vela at IMDb

[1] Rodrigo, Raul (2006). Kapitan: Geny Lopez and the Making of ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN Pub. p. 231. ISBN 978-971-816-111-1. Retrieved August 14, 2021.

[toledo1-2] "Helen Vela, 45". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. February 16, 1992.

[3] Lo, Ricky (October 10, 2011). "Christian and 'living it'". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 14, 2021.

[4] National Mid-week. Lagda Pub. Incorporated. 1986. p. 33. Retrieved August 14, 2021.

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