Helen Vela

In this Philippine name, the family name is Vela.

Helen Vela-Punzalan
Born	(1946-10-31)October 31, 1946 Manila, Philippines
Died	February 14, 1992(1992-02-14) (aged 45) Rochester, Minnesota, U.S
Nationality	Filipino
Occupation(s)	Actress, broadcaster, producer
Years active	1963–1992
Known for	Ate Helen
Spouse(s)	Orly Punzalan ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1973)​ Ben Hernandez ​ ​ (m. 1973; died 1992)​
Children	3 (including Princess)
Relatives	Karen Punzalan (granddaughter)

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

Early life

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

Personal life

In 1967, Vela married broadcaster Orly Punzalan (1935–2005), with whom she had two children: Pastor Paolo Punzalan (senior pastor of Victory Fort Bonifacio) and Princess Punzalan. They separated five years later.

In 1973, Vela married Ben Hernandez; they had one child.

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. She was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. Alongside her lays her mother Virginia Vela (who died in 1995) and her husband Orly Punzalan (who died in 2005).

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 & Honors

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

Filmography

Television

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

Movies

Title	Role	Year
Halina Neneng Ko		1969
Fiesta Extravaganza		1969
Roman Rapido	Mameng	1983
Lovingly Yours Helen: The Movie	Narrator	1984
Puso Sa Puso		1988
Kung Tapos Na Ang Kailanman (her last film)		1990

External links

• Helen Vela at IMDb