Paraluman

Sigrid Sophia Agatha von Giese, better known by her screen name Paraluman (December 14, 1923 – April 27, 2009), was an award-winning Filipina actress. Her contemporaries include the likes of Fernando Poe, Sr. and Carmen Rosales, she was a major contract star of Sampaguita Pictures.^[1]

Personal life

Paraluman was born in Tayabas, Quezon to a German father, Lothar von Giese, and a Filipina mother, Tecla de Torres, who was herself from Tayabas.^[2] 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.^[3] Her curiosity yielded positive results because Noble's younger sister, Lily, noticed her and they soon became friends.

It was widely rumoured during World War 2 that Paraluman was a mistress of Yamashita. When Yamashita surrendered, the United States Armed Forces of the Far East captured them in the hopes to save Paraluman, her family and accomplices from the Filipino mob who wants to kill them for being “Maka-Pili”. Paraluman begged for her life with a Filipino Lieutenant who eventually saved them. According to witness accounts, Paraluman was bald when captured due to lice infestation while in hiding. After the war, Paraluman returned to the acting.

Career

Her extraordinary beauty led the seventeen-year-old Paraluman to be recommended by another sister of Corazón Noble, Norma, to film producer Luís Nolasco. Her first movie was Flores de Mayo (1940), and she initially used the screen name Mina de Gracia. 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 handicapped 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 Rodriguez.

Family

Paraluman had her first marriage to Yoshifume Abe that ended in divorce. She remarried in December 1949 in Manila to airline pilot Anthony Joseph "Tony" Barretto O'Brien, who was the son of Peter O'Brien and Dolores Barretto y Barretto of Zambales. Baby O'Brien, who was her daughter by her first marriage to Abe, took on the surname of her stepfather and was herself a television actress and commercial model. O'Brien's daughter Rina Reyes is also an actress.^[4]

Death

Paraluman died of cardiac arrest on 27 April 2009 at her home in Parañaque City. She was 85 years old.

In popular culture

• Filipino rock band The Eraserheads mentioned her in the opening lyrics of Ang Huling El Bimbo.
• Paraluman is also mentioned in the lyrics of the song Binibini by Filipino pop group The Rainmakers.
• A Filipino rock band, Paraluman, is also named after the late actress.

Selected filmography