Paraluman
Encyclopedia
Sigrid Sophia Agatha von Giese (December 14, 1923 – April 27, 2009), better known as
Paraluman, was a FAMAS-award winning Filipino
actress active from the 1940s to the 1970s. She was a contemporary of the likes of Fernando Poe, Sr.
and Marlene Daudén
and was a major contract star of Sampaguita Pictures
.
, of a German
father
and a Filipino
mother.
The young Paraluman was a movie fan. She loved reading magazines about her favorite celebrities. Her interest in showbiz increased when she learned that their next-door neighbor was the big movie star, Corazón Noble. She would often climb over the fence to catch glimpse of the actress. Her curiosity yielded positive results because Noble's younger sister, Lily, noticed her and soon, they became friends.
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 a lame woman in
Tanikalang Apoy (1959). She won a FAMAS Best Actress Award for her role in Sino ang maysala?.
Paraluman was also nominated four times in FAMAS: 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 film was Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita (1985).
, aged 85, on April 27, 2009 at her home in Parañaque City
.
Paraluman, was a FAMAS-award winning Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
actress active from the 1940s to the 1970s. She was a contemporary of the likes of Fernando Poe, Sr.
Fernando Poe, Sr.
Fernando Poe was a famous actor during the early cinema era in the Philippines. He was the father of the late Ronald Allan K. Poe, better known as Fernando Poe, Jr., who was also a famous actor and icon. Prior to his son's rise to fame, Poe had been known simply as 'Fernando Poe'...
and Marlene Daudén
Marlene Daudén
Marlene Daudén is considered one of the greatest Filipina drama actresses of all time. She achieved her legendary status as a film thespian during her film career that spanned from the 1950s up to the 1970s...
and was a major contract star of Sampaguita Pictures
Sampaguita Pictures
Sampaguita Pictures was a Philippine film production company. It was named for the Philippine National Flower, Sampaguita. The company has been long-defunct since the 1980s with Mike de Leon's classic "Batch '81" being the last film released...
.
Personal life
Paraluman was born in Tayabas, QuezonTayabas, Quezon
The City of Tayabas is a city located in Quezon. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 87,252 people...
, of a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
father
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
and a Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
mother.
The young Paraluman was a movie fan. She loved reading magazines about her favorite celebrities. Her interest in showbiz increased when she learned that their next-door neighbor was the big movie star, Corazón Noble. She would often climb over the fence to catch glimpse of the actress. Her curiosity yielded positive results because Noble's younger sister, Lily, noticed her and soon, they became friends.
Career
Because of her extraordinary beauty, Paraluman was recommended by another sister of Corazón Noble, Norma, to film producer, Luis Nolasco. She was only 17 at that time. Her first movie was Flores de Mayo (1940). She first used the screen name Mina de Gracia. It was later changed to Paraluman 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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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
Gloria Romero (actress)
Gloria Romero is a Filipino actress appearing in film and television. Her career spans 60 years and includes award winning performances in the films Tanging Yaman , Nagbabagang Luha and 1955's Dalagang Ilocana...
in Hongkong Holiday, then a lame woman in
Tanikalang Apoy (1959). She won a FAMAS Best Actress Award for her role in Sino ang maysala?.
Paraluman was also nominated four times in FAMAS: 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 film was Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita (1985).
Family
Paraluman was the daughter of Lothar Von Giese and Tecla de Torres of Tayabas, Quezon. She a had a daughter (Baby O'Brien) by her first marriage to Yoshifume Abe that ended into a divorce. Paraluman remarried in December 1949 in Manila to Anthony Joseph "Tony" Barretto O'Brien of Manila and Zambales. Anthony was an airline pilot. He was the son of Peter O'Brien and Dolores Barretto y Barretto of Zambales. Baby O'Brien, who took the surname of her stepfather was a TV-commercial-model-turned-actress. Her granddaughter, Rina Reyes (O'Brien's daughter) is also an actress.Death
Paraluman died of cardiac arrestCardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
, aged 85, on April 27, 2009 at her home in Parañaque City
Parañaque City
The City of Parañaque , or simply Parañaque , is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines....
.
In popular culture
- Paraluman's legendary status in Philippine show business merited her an inclusion in the lyrics of Ang Huling El BimboAng Huling El BimboAng Huling El Bimbo is a rock ballad by Pinoy rock group The Eraserheads from their 1995 album Cutterpillow as well as their international album Aloha Milkyway. Aside from the usual band instruments the group used, the song features a synthesizer along with a piano...
, one of the most popular songs of Filipino rock bandRock BandRock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
The EraserheadsThe EraserheadsEraserheads, or E-Heads was a Filipino rock band of the 90s, formed by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. The band is one of the most successful, critically acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of OPM...
. - Paraluman is also mentioned in the lyrics of the song Binibini by Filipino group The Rainmakers.
- A Filipino rock band, Paraluman, is also named after the late actress.
Selected filmography
- Paraluman (1941)
- Puting dambana (1941)
- Palaris (1941)
- Manilena (1941)
- Bayani ng buhay (1941)
- Paloma, La (1947)
- Ina (1947)
- Awit ng bulag (1948)
- Pinaghating isangdaan (1949)
- Kaputol ng isang awit (1949)
- Good Morning Professor (1949)
- Biro ng tadhana (1949)
- Dalawang bandila (1950)
- Batong buhay (1950)
- May karapatang isilang (1953)
- Highway 54 (1953)
- Pusong ginto (1954)
- Now and Forever (1954)
- Rodora (1956)
- Gigolo (1956)
- Babalu (1956)
- Lydia (1956)
- Veronica (1957)
- Sonata (1957)
- Sino ang maysala (1957)
- Hongkong Holiday (1957)
- Taga sa bato (1957)
- Ulilang angel (1958)
- Elephant Girl (1958)
- Bobby (1958)
- Anino ni Bathala (1958)
- Pitong pagsisisi (1959)
- Ipinagbili ko ang aking anak (1959)
- Tanikalang apoy (1959)
- Kahapon lamang (1959)
- Surrender - Hell! (1959)
- Baby Face (1959)
- Kamandag (1959)
- Kuwintas ng alaala (1960)
- Isinakdal ko ang aking ama (1960)
- Amy, Susie & Tessie (1960)
- Estela Mondragon (1960)
- Makasalanang daigdig (1961)
- Dalawang kalbaryo ni Dr. Mendez (1961)
- Apat na yugto ng buhay (1961)
- Pitong kabanalan ng isang makasalanan (1962)
- Ako ang katarungan (1962)
- Class reunion, Ang (1963)
- Moro Witch Doctor (1964)
- Isinulat sa dugo (1965)
- Tao ay makasalanan, Ang (1966)
- Bakit pa ako isinilang? (1966)
- Dahil Sa Isang BulaklakBecause of a FlowerBecause of a Flower is a 1967 Philippine drama film directed by Luis Nepomuceno. The film was selected as the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 40th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee...
(1967) - Surabaya Conspiracy (1969)
- Nam's Angels (1970)
- Lilet (1971)
- Daughters of Satan (1972)
- Super Gee (1973)
- Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko (1975)
- Alat (1975)
- Ikaw... ako laban sa mundo! (1976)
- Bakit may pag-ibig pa? (1979)
- Kailan sasabihing mahal kita (1985)