# 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

Paraluman's film credits :
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1940 | Flores de Mayo | Mina de Gracia |
| 1941 | Paraluman | |
| 1941 | Palaris | |
| 1941 | Bayani ng Buhay | |
| 1941 | Puting Dambana | |
| 1941 | Manilena | |
| 1947 | La Paloma | |
| 1947 | Ina | |
| 1948 | Amapola | |
| 1948 | Sor Remedios | |
| 1948 | Awit ng Bulag | |
| 1949 | Good Morning Professor | |
| 1949 | Biro ng Tadhana | |
| 1949 | Kaputol ng Isang Awit | |
| 1949 | Pinaghating Isangdaan | |
| 1950 | Batong Buhay | |
| 1950 | Sinag sa Kalbario | |
| 1950 | Dalawang Bandila | |
| 1953 | Now and Forever | |
| 1953 | Highway 54 | |
| 1953 | May Karapatang Isilang | |
| 1954 | Sarawak | |
| 1954 | Pusong Ginto | |
| 1955 | Sintu-Sinto | |
| 1956 | Lydia | |
| 1956 | Babalu | |
| 1956 | Rodora | Rodora |
| 1956 | Gigolo | |
| 1957 | Hongkong Holiday | |
| 1957 | Veronica | Veronica |
| 1957 | Sonata | |
| 1957 | Taga sa Bato | |
| 1957 | Sino ang Maysala? | |
| 1958 | Anino ni Bathala | Dolores |
| 1958 | Ulilang Anghel | |
| 1958 | Tatang Edyer | |
| 1958 | Bobby | |
| 1958 | Elephant Girl | |
| 1959 | Ipinagbili Ko Ang Aking Anak | |
| 1959 | Pitong Pagsisisi | |
| 1959 | Tanikalang Apoy | |
| 1959 | Kahapon Lamang | |
| 1959 | Surrender - Hell! | Pilar |
| 1959 | Baby Face | |
| 1959 | Rosana Rossini | |
| 1959 | Kamandag | |
| 1960 | Isinakdal Ko Mag Aking Ama | |
| 1960 | Kuwintas ng Alaala | |
| 1960 | Amy, Susie & Tessie | |
| 1960 | Estrela Mondragon | |
| 1960 | Limang Misteryo ng Krus | |
| 1961 | 5 Yugto ng Buhay | |
| 1961 | Dalawang Kalbaryo ni Dr. Mendez | |
| 1961 | Harangan Man ng Sibat | |
| 1961 | Makasalanang Daigdig | |
| 1961 | Sa Linggo ng Bola | |
| 1962 | The Big Broadcast | |
| 1962 | Magbayad ang May-utang | |
| 1962 | Ako ang Katarungan | |
| 1962 | Pitong Puso | |
| 1962 | Pitong Makasalanan | |
| 1963 | Pitong Kabanalan ng Isang Makasalanan | |
| 1963 | Tagumpay ng Langit | |
| 1963 | Ang Class Reunion | Ms. Dimalanta |
| 1963 | Pedring Arenas, Alyas Ice Pick | |
| 1964 | Moro Witch Doctor | Selisa Noble |
| 1965 | Isinulat sa Dugo | |
| 1966 | Bakit Pa Ako Isinilang? | |
| 1966 | Ang Tao ay Makasalanan | |
| 1966 | Nais Ko Pang Mabuhay | |
| 1967 | Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak | Victoria |
| 1969 | Stoney | Margaret Suwono |
| 1970 | The Losers | Mama-San |
| 1971 | Lilet | Amanda |
| 1972 | Daughters of Satan | Juana Rios |
| 1973 | Super Gee | |
| 1975 | Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko | |
| 1975 | Dugo at Pag-ibig sa Kapirasong Lupa | Vicente's wife |
| 1975 | Mother and Daughter | |
| 1975 | Alat | |
| 1976 | Nahirit, Nasipol Ang Biyaheng Bikol | |
| 1976 | Malikot na Mata Maraming Nakikita | |
| 1976 | Malamig, Mainit ang Magdamag | |
| 1976 | Ikaw... Ako Laban sa Mundo! | |
| 1977 | Pulot-gata: Puwede Kaya? | |
| 1977 | The Lineman | |
| 1978 | Ligaya Mo ay Kasawian ko | |
| 1979 | Bakit May Pag-ibig Pa? | |
| 1985 | Hello Lover, Goodbye Friend | Rita Delgado-Smith |
| 1985 | Kailan Sasabihing Mahal Kita | Luz Tuazon |

## 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.