Helen Gamboa


Helen Gamboa Sotto is a Filipino actress, singer, dancer and former beauty queen.

Early life

Gamboa was born Helen Albent Gamboa on May 7, 1945, at Maternity and Children's Hospital in Santa Cruz, Manila to Domingo Ponce Gamboa and Eusebia Pangilinan Albent. She is also the sister of Elaine Gamboa.

Career

1960s: Early works

Gamboa became a runner-up to Cynthia Ugalde by a point in the Miss Press Photography of the Philippines contest in 1961.
In the late 1960s, Gamboa was given the title "Dancing Queen" of Philippine cinema and TV musicals; this title was given to her prior to the popularity of the ABBA song with the same title, the title having been given eight years before the Swedish rock band's song was released in 1976.

2001–2017: Breakthrough

Gamboa made a brief TV comeback through the ABS-CBN Primetime TV series Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan in 2001–2003, playing the role of Nelia Santos. In 2009, she made her official comeback to Philippine primetime television in ABS-CBN network's Tayong Dalawa, where her son Gian also appeared. This marked Gamboa's 2nd Primetime TV series and comeback where she portrayed the antagonist Elizabeth Martinez in the TV series; the series also became a successful international phenomenon and featured a strong cast of award-winning actors from three generations of television, film, theater actors, some of whom came from appearances in internationally acclaimed indie films.
In 2012, after a two-year hiatus, Gamboa played Margaret Montenegro in the highly acclaimed and most-watched program Walang Hanggan, featuring another ensemble cast where she was reunited with her Tayong Dalawa co-star Coco Martin who led the series. Gamboa's was one of the main role in the series, Margaret Montenegro being the series' main antagonist.
On October 21, 2012, Gamboa showed her knowledge of the dance "Gangnam Style" in her performance in the Walang Hanggang Pasasalamat Concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

2017–2019: Return to GMA

In 2017, she returned to GMA Network after twenty-one years and starred as Lolita Honorio in Super Ma'am, which is also her television comeback. She was supposed to play Liza Lorena's role in a past GMA drama, Akin Pa Rin ang Bukas, back in 2013 after signing an exclusive contract but dropped out for health reasons.

2019–present: Return to ABS-CBN

Gamboa returned to ABS-CBN for Kahit Minsan Lang but the series was cancelled before it could start filming because of restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Gamboa was supposed to be part of Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin but dropped out and Gina Pareño replaced her said role.

Personal life

Gamboa is married to Tito Sotto an actor, comedian, TV host and politician on September 22, 1969. They have four children: Romina Frances, Lala, Gian Carlo and Ciara; eight grandsons: Romino Vicente, Victorio, Vicente IV, Carlos Edrigu, Alessandro Jose, Marciano, Juan Rossano, Domiku Yosef and Vincenzo Jose; and two granddaughters: Helena and Amaria Jiliana. Their son Vincent Paul died 5 months after his birth in 1975, due to side effects of contraceptives, according to doctors at the Makati Medical Center.
In the 2010 elections, her son Gian Carlo was elected councilor of Quezon City's 3rd District and served for three consecutive terms before being elected as the vice mayor of the city in the 2019 elections, while her daughter Lala was elected in the 6th District of the same city before being appointed chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2022.

Discography

Albums
Singles
1966
  • Gone / Band of Gold
  • What They Have Done to the Rain? / He'll Come Back to Me
  • The More I See You / These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
  • Strangers in the Night / The Impossible Dream
  • Just Say Goodbye / I Can't Remember Ever Loving You
  • The Thirty-First of June / It's Not Unusual
  • I Love You / No Other Love
  • A Groovy Kind of Love / Forever with You
  • Soul Time / In the Midnight Hour
  • Sweet Love and Sweet Forgiveness / Piel Canela
  • Whispering Hope / Silver Bells
  • The In Crowd /
  • Michael /
1967
  • Somethin' Stupid / Summer Wine
  • Two of Us / Till We Meet Again
  • This Is My Song / Color My World
  • Together Again / Cast Your Fate to the Wind
  • All I See Is You / All Cried Out
  • Oh, Oh What A Kiss / Wednesday's Child
  • Only You / Time Alone Will Tell
  • Uptight / Single Girl
  • Please Don't Go / Cherish
  • Sugar, Let's Shing-A-Ling / Shing-A-Ling Time
  • Puppet On A String /
  • Somebody to Love /
1968
  • Ain't No Mountain High Enough / Two Can Have a Party
  • I'm Coming Home / Kiss Me Goodbye
  • After You / Why Can't I Remember to Forget You
  • Ode To Billie Joe / We've Got To Have Love
  • Don't Give Up / Everytime I See a Rainbow
  • Angel of the Morning / Sweet Memories
  • It's a Happening World / Shoot Your Shot
  • Bang-Shang-A-Lang / Shotgun
1969
1970
  • Evil Ways / Great Big Bundle of Love
  • If Ever You Go / Put A Smile on Your Face
  • Do the Popcorn / Both Sides Now
1973
  • Anytime of the Year / It's a Crying Shame
  • A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done / Betcha By Golly, Wow
  • Put Your Hand in the Hand / Rose Garden
  • Do Me / Somebody Waiting
  • Love a Little Longer / Rock and Roll Lullaby
1974
  • Doctor's Orders / Only Yesterday
  • Please, Mr. Postman / My Melody of Love
  • Head Over Heels / Leave a Little Room

    Filmography

Television

Film

  • Maalaala Mo Kaya
  • Palanca
  • Walang Pagkalupig
  • Sakay and Moy
  • Gorio and His Jeepney
  • Hugo, the Sidewalk Vendor
  • Gorio... Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas
  • The Nite Owl
  • Let's Go
  • DJ Dance Time
  • Misyong Mapanganib
  • Dolpinger
  • Guillermo Bravado
  • Stranger in the Night
  • Doble Trece
  • Baril sa Aking Kamay
  • Palos: Counterspy
  • Yesterday
  • Target: The A-Go-Go Generation
  • Like Father, Like Son: Kung Ano ang Punò Siya ang Bunga
  • Otra Vez, Señorita
  • Operation: Discothèque
  • O Kaka, O Kaka
  • May I Go Out
  • Let's Go Hippie
  • Kailanma'y 'Di Ka Mag-iisa
  • Boogaloo
  • Bang-Shang-A-Lang
  • Ngitngit ng Pitong Whistle Bomb as Nerissa
  • Matimbang ang Dugo sa Tubig
  • Banda 24
  • Love Is for the Two of Us
  • Ako'y Tao, May Dugo at Lamán as Luisa
  • Sarhento Fofonggay: A, Ewan!
  • Biktima as Nurse
  • Darna and the Giants as X3X
  • Kapitan Kulas
  • Iniibig Kita... Father Salvador
  • Mga Mata ni Angelita as Janet - Gonzalo's Daughter
  • Feliciano
  • Roberta
  • Angelita... Ako ang Iyong Ina as Janet
  • Angelita, Ako ang Iyong Ina Part II
  • Give Me Five!
  • Mama Said Papa Said I Love You
  • Hot Summer
  • Kailan Mahuhugasan ang Kasalanan? as Adora Meneses
  • Oras-oras, Araw-araw
  • Umiyak Pati Langit
  • Bagong Bayani as Flor Contemplacion
  • Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love
  • Segunda Mano as Adela Domingo
  • Etiquette for Mistresses as Conchita San Diego

    Awards and nominations