Helen Vela

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is unknown, the birth surname or paternal family name is Vela, and the marital name is Hernandez.

Helen Vela Hernandez (formerly Punzalan; October 31, 1946 – February 14, 1992) was a Filipino actress and radio/TV personality.

Helen Vela Hernandez
Born	Helen Vela (1946-10-31)October 31, 1946 Manila, Philippines
Died	February 14, 1992(1992-02-14) (aged 45) Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality	Filipino
Other names	Ate Helen Helen Vela Punzalan
Occupation(s)	Actress, broadcaster, producer
Years active	1963–1992
Known for	Lovingly Yours, Helen
Spouses	Orly Punzalan[1] ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1973)​ Ben Hernandez ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	4, including Princess
Relatives	Karen Punzalan (granddaughter)

Early life

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

Career

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

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

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

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

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

Filmography

Film

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

Television

Year	Title	Role
1980–1992	Lovingly Yours, Helen	Host
1984–1987	Heredero	Nina
1987–1992	Agila	Ester
1989–1992	Family 3 Plus 1	Amy