Maria Helen Bella Avenila Santamaria (September 17, 1949 – December 10, 2008), better known as Didith Reyes, was a Filipina actress and singer best known for recording a string of hit love ballads in the mid-1970s like "Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi", "Bakit Ako Mahihiya...?"
Many music enthusiasts regard her as one of the Philippines' "Jukebox Queens", along with other singers popular during her time such as Claire dela Fuente, Amapola (Maria Cabase), Eva Eugenio, Leah Navarro, and Imelda Papin.
Two months before her death, Reyes was interviewed by journalist Korina Sanchez about her retirement in the music industry and her new life as a beauty salon owner.
[5] Her other hits included Nananabik, Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw, Bakit Ako Mahihiya?, Hatiin Natin Ang Gabi, and Aliw.
[6] Her hits earned her the title Jukebox Queen,[7] which also is shared with her best friends, Claire dela Fuente,[8] Leah Navarro, Eva Eugenio,[9] and Imelda Papin.
[13][14] In 2006, she accused a former live-in partner Eulogio "Mang Ely" Disonglo with domestic abuse, leading to his eventual criminal conviction for violating the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Law.
Some sources attributed her death to a recurrent stomach problem,[16] while her friend, singer Claire dela Fuente, said that Reyes died of an apparent heart attack as her pancreas ruptured.