When news broke out that model-socialite Helena
Belmonte, 28, had fallen from the 28th floor of her condo unit at the
Renaissance 1000 Tower in Meralco Avenue, Pasig, the public could not
help but be curious about her. Certainly, her life seemed idyllic and
her friends say she was a happy person who liked to travel and generally
have fun, much like many young women her age.
Reports later revealed that she was the daughter of Lorraine Belmonte, the creative director of the Mega Publishing Group.
In fact, in a 2008 article written by Tim Yap in The Philippine Star, Belmonte was tagged as an "It Girl." Yap also revealed that Belmonte had already been in the spotlight ever since she was a little girl. Yap wrote, "My co-host Joey Mead (was recalling) her first ever Mega shoot and she had this little girl beside her as part of the shoot with the Wig Tysman. (That) little girl happens to be Helena Belmonte, (currently) the scene’s reigning 'It' chick."
Belmonte's boyfriend was identified as Marcel Crespo, the son of businessman and former congressman Mark Jimenez (who also goes by the name Mark Crespo). Earlier this year, the two were even featured in an article by Philippine Daily Inquirer lifestyle columnist Maurice Arcache. Crespo was with Belmonte right before she died. According to his testimony, he and another female friend had brought Belmonte home to her condo because she had too much to drink. They put her in bed and they left briefly, When they came back, Belmonte was no longer in bed. It turned out she had already fallen by then.
Belmonte's death has been ruled as a suicide. Her godmother, Sari Yap, editor-in-chief of Mega magazine, disclosed that the young model had been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Yap said that Belmonte was under medication and that the alcohol she had may have countered the effects of the medicines, leading her to do the unthinkable. Yap said she hoped Belmonte's tragic death would help shed light on the plight of people with bipolar disorders and remove the stigma attached to mental ailments.
ANC
