Movie legend, Paraluman (1923- 2009), the Sampaguita star with the classic beauty died at home yesterday (27 April 2009) after having been bedridden for two years due to Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.“My mom died peacefully of cardiac arrest,” said Press Undersecretary Baby O’Brien, Paraluman’s only daughter. “She went to sleep and never woke up.”Asked how old her mom was, Baby laughed a bit.“Naku, ito na; malalaman na ang matagal na niyang sekreto. She was 85.”(Philippine Star/ 28 April 09)
Paraluman was born from a German father and a Filipina. At her prime, she was considered as the Philippine's answer to Swedish-American actress Greta Garbo because of her perfect bone structure, svelte figure, long brown hair, hypnotic eyes, an impenetrable gaze, and a face capable of registering everything. 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. Oftentimes, she would climb over the fence to catch glimpse of the actress.Her curiosity yielded positive result because Noble’s younger sister, Lily, noticed her. Soon, Paraluman became friends with Lily.
Because of her extraordinary beauty, Paraluman was recommended by Norma, another sister of Corazón, to Luis Nolasco of Filippine Films. She was only 17 at that time. Her first movie was Flores de Mayo (1940). She first used the 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 Bayani ng Bayan and Puting Dambana.
Left- La Paloma (1947)- Stars Paraluman, Fred Montilla, Lilian Leonardo, Rico Romero, Vicente Liwanag, Rafael Jimenez, Jose Cris-Soto/ Directed by Tor Villano
Right- Sor Remedios (1948)- Stars Paraluman, Fred Montilla, Rosie Lorenzana, Maria Cristina/ Directed by Octavio Silos
Left- Awit ng Bulag (1948)- Stars Paraluman, Fred Montilla, Linda Estrella/ Directed by Octavio Silos
Right- Batong Buhay (1950)- Stars Leopoldo Salcedo and Paraluman, / Directed by Ricardo Brillantes
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 lame woman in Tanikalang Apoy (1959). This, however, turned to her favor because it honed her acting skills more, earning her a FAMAS Best Actress Award for the movie 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 daughter, Baby O'Brien, was a TV-commercial-model-turned-actress (now Press Undersecretary). Her granddaughter, Rina Reyes (O'Brien's daughter) is also an actress.
Paraluman's legendary status in Philippine showbusiness even merited her an inclusion in the lyrics of Ang Huling El Bimbo, one of the most popular songs of Filipino rock band Eraserheads. (Source- wikipedia)
Left- Rodora (1956)- Stars Paraluman, Van de Leon, Amalia Fuentes, Juancho Gutierrez/ Directed by Mar S. Torres
Right- Babalu (1956)- Stars Paraluman, Oscar Moreno, Ramon Revilla, Van de Leon, Daisy Romualdez/ Directed by Octavio Silos
Lydia (1956)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Rogelio de la Rosa
and Paraluman/ Directed by Armando Garces
and Paraluman/ Directed by Armando Garces
Sino ang Maysala? (1957)- Stars Rogelio de la Rosa, Gloria Romero, Paraluman, Ric Rodrigo, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Rosa Mia, Susan Roces and Romeo Vasquez/ Directed by Armando Garces
Left- Taga sa Bato (1957)- Stars Paraluman, Lolita Rodriguez, Luis Gonzales, Van de Leon and Eddie Garcia / Directed by Conrado Conde
Right- Ulilang Anghel (1958)- Stars Paraluman, Amalia Fuentes, Susan Roces, Barbara Perez, Daisy Romualdez, Tony Marzan, Tito Galla, Greg Martin, Jose Mari, Tony Cayado/ IOntroducing Romsemarie in the title role/ Directed by Jose de Villa
Left- Anino ni Bathala (1958)- Stars Paraluman, Ric Rodrigo, Marlene Dauden and Eddie Garcia/ Directed by Conrado Conde
Right- Tanikalang Apoy (1959)- Stars Paraluman, Rita Gomez, Lolita Rodriguez, Van de Leon, Eddie Garcia, Etang Discher, Bella Flores, Matimtiman Cruz/ Directed by Jose de Villa
Left- Baby Face (1959)- Stars Carmen Rosales, Paraluman, Amalia Fuentes and Jose Mari/ with Ven Medina, Meldy Corrales, Nori Dalisay, Lito Legaspi, Boy Alano/ Directed by Carlos Vander Tolosa
Right- Kamandag (1959)- Stars Jose Padilla, Jr., Fred Montilla, Van de Leon, Tony Marzan and Eddie Garcia/ with Paraluman, Rita Gomez, Marlene Dauden and Rosa Mia / Directed by Jose de Villa
Left- Ipinagbili Ko ang Aking Anak (1959)- Stars Paraluman, Van de Leon, Amalia Fuentes , Juancho Gutierrez, Susan Roces, Romeo Vasquez/ Directed by Armando Garces
Right- Isinakdal Ko ang Aking Ama (1960)- Stars Paraluman, Fred Montilla, Amalia Fuentes, Romeo Vasquez, Tito Galla, Liberty Ilagan/ Directed by Armando Garces
Right- Isinakdal Ko ang Aking Ama (1960)- Stars Paraluman, Fred Montilla, Amalia Fuentes, Romeo Vasquez, Tito Galla, Liberty Ilagan/ Directed by Armando Garces
Left- Lilet (1972)- Stars Ronaldo Valdez, Paraluman, Vic Silayan, Lou Salvador Jr., Tita Munoz and Celia Rodriguez/ Directed by Gerardo de Leon
Right- Huwag Pamarisan: Mister Mo...Lover Boy Ko (1975)- Stars George Estregan, Anna Gonzales, Eddie Garcia, Paraluman, Vic Suilayan and Elizabeth Oropesa/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal
Right- Huwag Pamarisan: Mister Mo...Lover Boy Ko (1975)- Stars George Estregan, Anna Gonzales, Eddie Garcia, Paraluman, Vic Suilayan and Elizabeth Oropesa/ Directed by Ishmael Bernal
Simon:
ReplyDeleteIn my teenage years in RP, Paraluman and Tita Muñoz, though they don't look alike, confused me a lot. Muñoz was definitely a better actress, but there's something about their faces that confused me as to who was who. You are right to say that when Paraluman became a contravida, she really shone. I think it was in a movie called BAKIT KITA IIBIGIN (or in one of Aning Bagabaldo's radio drama made into movie) where she played all the kontravida roles.
I didn't get the chance to work with Paraluman, but I did work with her granddaughter, a pretty and very good dancer named FRIEDA "body language" FONDA who acted as lead in some episodes of Señor Sto. Niño series in the 1970s.
JM,
ReplyDeleteTita Munoz, just died recently. BTW, kanila ba yung MUNOZ Market sa dulo ng Roosevelt Avenue kanto ng EDSA, at ang MUNOZ Transit noong late 60s ?
Auggie
Auggie:
ReplyDeleteIs that right. I didn't know that she was gone as well. She was one of RP's better actresses, and for some reason, when I think of Paraluman and Tita Muñoz, I see Jill Clayburgh somewhere. Very weird but true. He-he.
I don't know about the market and the bus line.
Simon,
ReplyDeleteParaluman was definitely one of my favorite actresses. Quite bold, I think she was the first to do a nude scene and also a lips-to-lips kissing scene which at that time was a no-no in Philippine movies.
JM,
I beg to disagree but I don't know what made you say Tita Munoz was a better actress since she made so few movies. Maybe you were confusing Paraluman for her. I definitely think Paraluman was the better actress, with a Famas award and nominations tuck under her belt.
Rod
There you, Rod:
ReplyDeleteLike what I said, there was something about these actresses that confuse me. Maybe I was thinking of Paraluman. Do they look alike? Why are they reminding me all the time of Jill Clayburgh? Same facial expression, perhaps?
I think, the first lips to lips scene in Tagalog movies was done by Elizabeth "dimpless" Cooper in 1925.
Isabel Rosario Cooper had a Scottish father and Chinese-Filipina mother. Her most prominent films were Miracles of Love (1925) and Ang Tatlong Hambog (1926). In the latter film, Cooper made Filipino film history with Luis Tuason when they performed the very first kissing scene in Philippine film history.
JM,
ReplyDeleteI think there is indeed some similarity with Paraluman and Tita Munoz to Jill Clayburgh. I did some goggling on Tita, and apparently early in her career she was dubbed the Elizabeth Taylor of Philippine movies. Also this: Ms Muñoz, according to herself, became the first (Filipina) woman to appear on (Philippine) television; she was also the first production manager, under the aegis of the legendary Koko Trinidad. The "First Lady of Philippine television" also made history with the very first kissing scene, opposite actor Ronald Remy. Now maybe I was confusing Tita Munoz for Paraluman, hahahaha.
Rod
JM, Rod,
ReplyDeleteSabi ni Behn Cervantes, ang beauty daw ni Ms Munoz eh cross between Liz Taylor & Joan Collins.
Much better actress nga si Ms Munoz sa legitimate THEATER, according to Rolando Tinio, Zenaida Amador, Behn Cervantes et.al....
Auggie
There you go. Maybe this is the cause of my confusion. Koko Trinidad, by the way, was my professor in Radio-TV classes in Mass Comm in FEU. It was so funny that in UP, he was also my professor. When I transfered to FEU, he was again my professor. What amazes me with the guy was his keen memory. He never forgot a face.
ReplyDeleteJM,
ReplyDeleteAko naman ka-officemate ko ang dalawa niyang anak na lalaki, si Ferdie and Noel Trinidad. Noel became a famous actor.
Rod
Rod,
ReplyDeleteKaano-ano niya yung sikat na political cartoonist ng HERALD,who also passed away recently in Hawaii, si CORKY TRINIDAD ?
Auggie
Auggie,
ReplyDeleteAnak din ni Koko.
Rod
JM, makisabat na nga. Di ko alam na granddaughter pala ni Paraluman si Frieda Fonda (ito yung bold star, di ba?). Ang alam kong apo niya ay si Rina Reyes, anak ni Baby O'Brien (na minsan ding nag-bold pansamandali).
ReplyDeleteJM, James! Di ba mainstay ng 80s TV show na T.O.D.A.S. si Frieda Fonda?
ReplyDeleteSimon, oo nga! Sa T.O.D.A.S. ni JOey de Leon napapanood nuon, pero nag-bold din siya later on, di ba? Marami siyang pics sa mga adult mags noon. O baka ibang Frieda yung naaalala ko?
ReplyDeleteJM, Simon, sorry mali pala ako. Di pala si Frieda Fonda yung bold star na sinasabi ko, Farida ata yung pangalan. Katunog kasi pangalan eh.
ReplyDeleteJames:
ReplyDeleteFrieda Fonda became very popular after she made the so-called :BODY LANGUAGE" dancing that included gyrations and ... uh... welll... display of her nice body. But, she wasn't a bomba star. I actually wrote teleplays about teens and the best cast to use was Frieda, because she could also act. The first one I wrote was about teen pregnancy and the episode was a revelation, because people only thought of her as a dancer, yet when she acted, they couldn't believe how good she was (I couldn't believe it either). Though afterwards, she disappeared from the scene. She must have left the country.
firnamovie ni paraluman ako meron ay..hongkong holiday then nasundan ng ipinagbili ko ang aking anak,lydia...mother and daughter...at isang 1980's na movie niya with christopher de leon...
ReplyDeletetribute sa kanya ay pinanood ko ang hongkong holiday,1957 ng nabalitaan kung namatay siya.
remraf911@yahoo.com
meron din ako kay tita munoz...ang talambuhay ni rudy concepcion,1952 ng sampaguita pics....not really sure sa title...sensiya na
ReplyDeleteremraf911@yahoo.com