Helena Belmonte had ‘bipolar disorder’, says godmother

By: Julliane Love De Jesus - 10 years ago

Helena Belmonte and Marcel Respo INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Model Helena Bautista, who committed suicide before dawn Thursday had bipolar disorder, her godmother said on television.

Sari Yap, ‎Belmonte’s godmother said Friday that the victim has been suffering from a mental illness since she was seven years old.

Yap said Belmonte may have mixed her anti-depressant medicine with alcohol the night before the incident.

Police said Belmonte, her boyfriend, and a female friend had gone to a party before heading to her unit at Renaissance Tower 1000 on Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

“Nilalagay niya sa Instagram na depressed siya. Ang mali doon, dapat hindi niya pinagsasama ang anti-depressant sa alak [She was posting on Instagram that she was depressed. What was wrong was she should not have mixed anti-depressants with alcohol],” ‎Yap said.

Belmonte was the daughter of Joan Lorraine Belmonte, founding creative director of One Mega Group Inc., which publishes glossy magazines such as Mega, Lifestyle Asia, Travel and Meg.

Yap is the founder of One Mega Group and Editor-in-Chief of Mega Magazine.

On Thursday, Police Officer 3 Lawrence Punzalan, investigator of the case from Pasig City Police, told INQUIRER.net that they were investigating whether she was drunk before the suicide.

Distant relative
Asked if Belmonte was related to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., his daughter and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy said the victim was their “distant relative.”
“Lorraine is a wonderful person and a distant relative. But I have never met her daughter,” the vice mayor told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

“I am deeply saddened by the news and circumstances surrounding her loss. It is always devastating when the life of a person so young and so full of promise is cut short abruptly. I pray that her family finds comfort and solace in god’s love and grace,” she added.