| Lovingly Yours, Helen | |
|---|---|
| Format | Drama |
| Created by | Hyper-Visions Productions, Inc. |
| Starring | Helen Vela (1980-1992) Princess Punzalan (1992-1996) |
| Country of origin | Philippines |
| No. of seasons | 16 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Redgie Acuña-Magno |
| Producer(s) | Helen Vela (1981-1992), Princess Punzalan (1992-1996) |
| Running time | 1.5 hour (sunday) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | GMA Network |
| Picture format | 480i SDTV |
| Original run | September 7, 1980 – November 1996 |
| Chronology | |
| Followed by | Anna Karenina |
Lovingly Yours, Helen is a Sunday afternoon program aired on GMA-7 from 1980 to 1996.
"Lovingly Yours, Helen" evolved into a television drama anthology from a daily counseling program on radio with the same title, originally aired on GMA's AM station DZBB. It was presented by the late television/radio personality Helen Vela. Each episode is based on the life of a letter sender.
The show's radio version continued to air on weekdays even as the TV version was being produced.
Contents |
The opening theme for the show was the instrumental version of the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest co-winner Un Jour, Un Enfant by Paul Mauriat. "Ballade pour Adeline," composed and written by Paul de Senneville, was always used as background music while Helen Vela delivered the narration and her final advice to the letter-sender.
In 1983, the program transformed from a radio program to a television drama anthology. Among some of the stars appeared on this program's episodes are: Nora Aunor, Christopher de Leon, Vilma Santos, Sheryl Cruz, Manilyn Reynes, Aga Muhlach, Maricel Soriano, Romnick Sarmenta, Sharon Cuneta, Tonton Gutierrez, Mary Walter, Bong Revilla, Jr. and Kris Aquino. A rare episode in the drama series was also shown sometime in 1990 when Helen Vela acted alongside close friends Coney Reyes, Vilma Santos and Tina Revilla-Valencia.
In 1984, due to immense popularity of the program, "Lovingly Yours Helen" was turned into an anthology movie. The first episode was a horror-drama which starred Julie Vega, Anita Linda and Coney Reyes (billed as Coney Reyes-Mumar). The second episode was a drama that starred Vivian Foz and Ariosto Reyes Jr.. The third episode was a comedy-drama which starred Chiquito, Sheryl Cruz, Jimmy Santos, Tommy Angeles and Odette Khan. Helen Vela appeared in the first, middle and last parts of the movie as narrator.
In 1992, after the untimely demise of the host, Princess Punzalan (her daughter, and ex-wife of TV personality Willie Revillame) took over her late mother's hosting responsibilities. The program continued to become the top weekend afternoon anthology on TV. On the last years of airing, Helen Gamboa and Boots Anson-Roa took over hosting chores. This time, Princess played protagonist/central roles. (Note: Helen Vela and Princess Punzalan are Fundamentalists, while the program's last season host Boots Anson-Roa & Helen Gamboa are devout Roman Catholics)
One of its notable episodes during the time after Helen's death was Princess Punzalan's own life story.
Reruns of the most memorable episodes of "Lovingly Yours, Helen" were shown after its last episode in September 1996. It was replaced in November that same year by Anna Karenina, a weekly soap opera jointly produced by Viva Television and GMA-7.
After 16 years, "Lovingly Yours" bowed out of Philippine television with a special thanksgiving dinner show and tribute to the late Ms. Helen Vela. During the dinner, an awarding ceremony was given to the producers and staff who already worked for the program. A special presentation features a video clip of Helen's performance (with Coney Reyes, Tina Revilla, and Vilma Santos), who sang "A Friend" by Keno on Vilma! in 1989.