Paraluman

Sigrid Sophia Agatha de Torres von Giese (December 14, 1923 – April 27, 2009), known professionally as Paraluman, was a Filipino actress whose career spanned four decades. Dubbed as the Greta Garbo of the Philippines, she is often cited as one of the greatest screen figures in the country. She first appeared in the film ''Flores de Mayo'' (1940) and rose to fame in the self-titled film opposite Fernando Poe Sr. She has since appeared in over 90 motion pictures including several foreign films such as ''Elephant Girl'' (1951) and '' Surrender - Hell!'' (1959). She has received two FAMAS Awards and has been inducted at the Eastwood City Walk of Fame.

Early life

Paraluman was born in Tayabas to Lothar von Giese, and Tecla de Torres, who was herself from Tayabas. Educated at Assumption College, the young Paraluman herself was an avid movie fan. She loved reading magazines about her favorite celebrities. Her interest in showbiz increased when she learnt that their next-door neighbour was the actress Corazón Noble, and she would often climb their fence to catch glimpse of the actress. Her curiosity yielded positive results because Noble's younger sister, Lily, noticed her and they soon became friends.

Career

Her extraordinary beauty led the seventeen-year-old Paraluman to be recommended by another sister of Corazón Noble, Norma, to film producer Luis Nolasco. Her first movie was ''Flores de Mayo'' (1940), and she initially used the screen name Mina de Gracía. She was rechristened "Paraluman" (archaic Tagalog for "muse" or "magnetic needle") by Fernando Poe, Sr., who signed her as a full-fledged star in X’otic Films' ''Paraluman'' (1941). This was followed by the actresses' roles in the films ''Bayani ng Bayan'' and ''Puting Dambana''.

After World War II, she came back to cinema as a contract star of Sampaguita Pictures. She then became a famous leading lady in romantic movies, but when she made a comeback, her image was repackaged by Sampaguita Pictures owner Dr. José "Doc" Pérez. She was given character roles, playing nemesis to Gloria Romero in ''Hongkong Holiday'', then as a disabled woman in ''Tanikaláng Apoy'' (1959). She won a FAMAS Best Actress Award for her role in ''Sino ang Maysala?''

Paraluman was also nominated by FAMAS four times: twice in 1959 for Best Actress for the movies ''Bobby'' and ''Anino ni Bathala'', in 1972 as Best Supporting Actress for ''Lilet'', and in 1976 as Best Supporting Actress for ''Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko''. Her last films were Viva Films' ''Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita'' in 1985 and NV Productions' "Tatlong Ina, isang Anak" in 1987 as one of the spinster aunts of Miguel Rodríguez.

Personal life

Paraluman's first marriage was to Yoshifume Abe, which ended in divorce. She remarried in December 1949 in Manila to airline pilot Anthony Joseph "Tony" Barretto O'Brien, the son of Peter O'Brien and Dolores Barretto y Barretto of Zambales. Baby O'Brien, her daughter from her first marriage to Abe, took her stepfather's surname and was herself a television actress and advertising model. O'Brien's daughter, Rina Reyes, is also an actress.

Death

Paraluman died of cardiac arrest from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases complications on 27 April 2009 at her home in Parañaque. She was 85 years old.

Filmography

In popular culture

*Filipino rock band The Eraserheads mentioned her in the opening lyrics of '' Ang Huling El Bimbo''.
*She is also mentioned in the lyrics of the songs ''Binibini'' by Filipino pop group The Rainmakers
*The song ''Paraluman'' by Filipino singer and model Adie is about a woman whose beauty is like hers.
*A Filipino rock band, Paraluman, is also named after the late actress.
* Ahtisa Manalo paid tribute to Paraluman with glamorous curls in her latest sepia-colored photo shoot.

References

External links

*
Paraluman
at AllMovie
Paraluman
at Rotten Tomatoes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paraluman
1923 births
2009 deaths
20th-century Filipino actresses
Filipino child actresses
Filipino film actresses
Filipino people of German descent
People from Tayabas
Actresses from Quezon