Lovingly Yours, Helen is a Philippine television drama anthology broadcast by GMA Network. The show is the second longest running drama anthology in Philippine television history. Originally hosted by Helen Vela, it premiered on September 7, 1980 on GMA Radio-Television Arts. In 1984, the show was broadcast by Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation. It returned to GMA Network in April 1986. The show concluded on September 1, 1996. It was replaced by Anna Karenina in its timeslot. The anthology 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 television/radio personality Helen Vela. Each episode is based on the letter sender's life stories sent by viewers. This format also served as a template of other drama anthologies aired on Philippine television. The show's radio version, which is live counselling program, continued to air on weekdays, even as the show's TV counterpart was being produced and taped. Just as with the TV version, the radio show moved to BBC's FM station DWOK-FM in 1984, and returned to DZBB in 1986.
In 1984, due to immense popularity of the program, Lovingly Yours, Helen was adapted into a four-part anthology movie directed by Argel Joseph. The first episode, "Akin ang Walang Diyos", was a horror-drama which starred Julie Vega, Anita Linda, Lito Anzures, Joonee Gamboa and Coney Reyes-Mumar. The second episode, "Anak Lamang ang Isinilang", was a drama that starred Vivian Foz, Fred Montilla, Che-Che, Dodong Gonzales and Ariosto Reyes Jr. The third episode, "Candy", was about a gay father and his adopted daughter which stars Janice de Belen, Johnny Wilson, Carmi Martin, Princess and Ricky Davao. The last episode, "Nang Maupos ang Kandila", was a comedy-drama about a comedian whose career was about to fade, starring Chiquito, Sheryl Cruz, Jimmy Santos, Rez Cortez, and Odette Khan. Helen Vela appeared in the first, second, third and last parts of the movie as narrator.
As ''Lovingly Yours''
Following Vela's death in 1992, her daughter Princess Punzalan took over her late mother's hosting responsibilities. But this time, her hosting did not hold its venue on DZBB studio. 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. 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 on September 1, 1996.
16th anniversary and farewell episode
After 16 years of dominance, Lovingly Yours finally bowed out of Philippine television with a special thanksgiving dinner show and tribute to 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, who sang "A Friend" by Keno on Vilma! in 1989.
