Weng Weng

Dela Cruz is Philippines’ first international celebrity. First Lady Imelda Marcos who invested a lot of resource in Filipino Cinema, organized the first Manila International Film Festivals to promote the local productions to the rest of the world. Dela Cruz became the mediatic center of attention, making one appearances a day at the festival performing stunts, with exercise and Martial Arts demonstrations. This led for his film For Your Height Only to outsell every other local films by very large margin and made and to this day is Philippines cinema's most exported film.

Renewed interest on dela Cruz's led to two critically acclaimed documentaries. In 2010, Mark Hartley's Machete Maidens Unleashed! a documentary film that dealt with the Filipino movie exploitation craze of the 1970s and 1980s, paid a special homage to dela Cruz's movie career. The basis of the first film was the 2007 rough cut of Andrew Leavolds's The Search for Weng Weng released in 2013, about discovering dela Cruz's life.

On dela Cruz's work conditions, Rez Cortez, Nelson Anderson, Roland Dantes, Franco Guerrero, Rusty Santos, and Eddie Nicard found the financial treatment of dela Cruz appalling. For dela Cruz, Nicart said the Caballes provided shelter, care, travelled the world, while under paid at $500 per films with a per diem. Nicart said the Caballes were wealthy and treated dela Cruz like a dog. They would be friendly to him, but would ask him to leave the room in any business meeting or when inconvenient. On that matter Anderson felt that dela Cruz was treated like puppet by everyone and the Caballes were too possessive not allowing him to grow and think for himself. Cortez said, while working on the first film where dela Cruz received the top billing, he suspected that dela Cruz wasn't well compensated. Cortez knew dela Cruz's producers took care of his basic needs, but found it strange when he saw dela Cruz arrive on set in a utility vehicle and not his private car. While feeling dela Cruz deserved a better compensation, Cortez concluded that he was probably happy, considering where he came from and to get a great deal of life experiences. Film editor Edgardo "Boy" Vinarao, said that from his point of view dela Cruz was treated like a little prince. According to the filmmakers of the documentary The Search for Weng Weng, when they tracked down the couple to get their account, Peter had died in 2007 while Cora never responded on the matter.

With the passing of time, dela Cruz became a cult film icon. Online, some of his movies and clips of them went viral. By the 2000s, a lot of information published about him was unclear or hyperbolic mythos, some with accounts that support them. Research about his life led to the making of two successful documentaries Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010), and The Search for Weng Weng (2013).

In the mid 2000s, with the arrival of the Internet and YouTube, various clips and films in their entirety starring dela Cruz were uploaded. Gradually, he found a new audience as a cult film star. At the time dela Cruz's life was vague, while some elements of it had a base in reality, most of what was written about him was myth. Around this time director Andrew Leavold started to make a documentary to discover his life behind the Weng Weng label. The discoveries about him led to two theatrically released documentaries. First it inspired Mark Hartley's Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010) which focuses on the history of films made in the Philippines during dela Cruz's active years, and had a segment dedicated to him. The second one about his life, The Search for Weng Weng (2013), was directed by Leavold, who also followed it up with a book by the same name, on details that didn't make the final cut or discovered later. Both films were prominent on festival circuits and critically acclaimed.

On August 29, 1992, Ernesto dela Cruz, age 34, died in Pasay City, of a heart attack. As described by his brother on that morning dela Cruz, who was already bedstricken due to a previous heart attack, fell from his bed and was found unconscious. Dela Cruz was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The official cause is heart attack due to hypertension.

Peter and Cora Caballes retired from filmmaking circa 1987, and dela Cruz returned to his hometown and lived in poverty, under the care of his mother and brother Danny. Celing dela Cruz, said that Weng Weng inspostor appeared on tv for an undetermined amount time. Circa 1990, dela Cruz had a stroke which left him invalid, with half of his body paralyzed until his passing in 1992.

In January or February 1986, dela Cruz appeared at a Ferdinand Marcos' reelection rally showing support. Around that time, dela Cruz received a trophy from the Starlight Cultural Foundation - Pasig Cultural Affair for International Action Star of Showbiz World. The trophy is dated on February 22, afterward no public appearance by dela Cruz is known.

Dela Cruz became a Marcos family's friends. President Ferdinand Marcos gave dela Cruz the title of agent. Dela Cruz endorsed Marcos for his 1986 reelection, and dela Cruz last known appearance was at one of his rally. According to director Dante Pangilinan, dela Cruz got to know them because Cora Caballes is the niece of General Prospero Olivas. According to Marcos' daughter Imee the whole family fell in love with him because dela Cruz's personal sense of humor was infectious. She went on to say that it was with her brother Bongbong with whom dela Cruz was the closest. Former first lady Imelda Marcos said the following about dela Cruz: The appearance of Weng Weng showed the great Filipino spirit. They can make a hero of a disabled, distorted guy. So everybody had a chance. They have such a democratic attitude. The Filipino have no prejudice. He entertained us. He was distorted but he could make us laugh and make us happy. What a talent, to have almost nothing and then to make people happy, I salute.

In 1983, dela Cruz was announced as one of the supporting actors in another action film by Liliw Production Tatak: Magnum starring local actor Nelson Anderson who at the time was under a contract with them. It is unknown if dela Cruz filmed any scenes for the film, since he is not in the finished product.

Following his success dela Cruz appeared in three more films D'Wild Wild Weng (1982), The Impossible Kid (1982), his final performance as Agent OO, and The Cute... The Sexy n' The Tiny alongside Berting Labra and Pia Moran. Eventually Peter and Cora Caballes changed professional paths and dela Cruz never worked again in the media industry. Dela Cruz spent the rest of his life with his family in Baclaran and died at the age of 34 in 1992.

On March 25, 1982, D'Wild Wild Weng started its theatrical run. In the film, dela Cruz and his co-star Gordon (Max Alvarado) are sent to the countryside to investigate the murder of Santa Monica’s mayor. On July 23, The Impossible Kid premiered, with dela Cruz returning in the role of Agent OO. The character now worked for the Manila branch of Interpol. On December 25, dela Cruz acted as one of the three leads in The Cute... The Sexy n' The Tiny alongside Berting Labra and Pia Moran.

Agent OO's sequel For Your Height Only (1981) turned dela Cruz in an international star and gave him the notoriety to become a unique figure in cinema. After it's local release, first lady Imelda Marcos organised a lavish film festival in the hope to present Filipino films to foreign distributor. At the event, For Your Height Only outsold every other films on foreign sales, while dela Cruz was the mediatic center of attention and the breakthrough celebrity. In the Philippine it is still their highest exported film, and within their acting community dela Cruz's international reach hasn't been topped.

In 1981, dela Cruz appeared in many films. His first release that year, on February 13, was a supporting role in Dolphy's comedy vehicle Stariray. On May 29, Agent 00 was released with dela Cruz in the lead role, a role that dela Cruz would revisit. To prepare him for the role director Eddie Nicart, an accomplished actor and stuntman who would direct all of dela Cruz's leading roles from that point on, gave him the same training he got with the SOS Daredevils a stuntman training company. As well as taking care of dela Cruz's training for the rest of his career, Nicart also expanded his training in karate and acting. Nicart doubted dela Cruz's suitability for the role due to his intellectual and physical limitations, but changed his mind when he realized how collaborative he could be, and how his bravery allowed him never to refuse a stunt. On June 12, Da Best In Da West was released with Dolphy starring and dela Cruz in a minor role. On the 2nd of July, dela Cruz played a small role participating in a musical number in Legs... Katawan... Babae! a musical film vehicle for the local disco group Hagibis.

It was dela Cruz final release of 1981 For Your Height Only, released on the 2nd of September in the Philippines, that would turn him into a legend. Dela Cruz returned as secret agent code-named Agent 00. The film was a local hit and at Imelda Marcos' first Manilla International Film Festival he became a global sensation. The objective of the festival was to promote Filipino films for them to be distributed worldwide. A lavish event took place, major entertainment figures were present including Priscilla Presley, Franco Nero, Brooke Shields, Jeremy Irons, etc. Local filmmakers saw it as a real opportunity to showcase their talents, however dela Cruz became the mediatic center of attention. Dela Cruz did so by making daily appearances demonstrating stunts, martial arts, and exercises. For Your Height Only outsold every other film for international distribution. Film distributor Tony Maharaj who bought the film for the West Indies said the film opened at number one on the same day as Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark and remained there for two weeks. Dela Cruz becoming a regular on variety shows was briefly the biggest star in his own country as well as the first international celebrity from the Philippines. Marcos' daughter Imee said dela Cruz's success shocked and shattered everyone's artistic aspirations. Filipino film historians Teddy Co and Ed Lejano said that in the film industry the Weng Weng image was uncomfortable since at the time they had no other international figures. According to director Eddie Nicart, locally there was a short lived Weng Weng craze, where crowds would cheer dela Cruz's pseudonym.

Producer Peter and Cora Caballes were married when they discovered dela Cruz. During dela Cruz's prime, their account was that they adopted him ten years prior to the release of For Your Height Only (1981) to help him. In 1982 they released their last film with dela Cruz. According to both Nicart and film distributor John Kater, the couple separated. Peter left Manilla and Cora ran successfully as a city councilor.

On dela Cruz's work ethic, director Nicart, a former actor and stuntman, had doubt on dela Cruz leading a film due to his limitations and also his inability to read a script. Prior to the shoot of their first film Agent OO (1981) and for the rest of dela Cruz's career Nicart trained him with the stunt company SOS Daredevils. To further dela Cruz's abilities, they gave him acting, karate, fight choreography, and stunts lessons. Nicart found him to be so collaborative and fearless, having never refused any stunt, that soon enough he sensed that dela Cruz would become famous. On dela Cruz's talent, Dolphy praised his sense of humor and physical skills, while Guerrero thinks highly of his acting abilities.

Prior to the release of Agent OO (1981) director Eddie Nicart's account, who was an accomplished stuntmen and martial artist took over for his training with the stuntmen organisation ''SOS Daredevils''. It was told to him that dela Cruz was a black belt in Karate, he didn't believe it. He credited dela Cruz to have some skills but not on the level to be a leading men. With Nicart, dela Cruz had to restart back from white to black belt by their standards, while teaching him stunts. Nicart observed that even being mentally slow dela Cruz learnt quick because of his was cooperativeness. He concluded that dela Cruz became a real black belt in Karate with them and a first rate stuntmen who performed all of his own stunts fearlessly.

According to local comic star Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr., better known as Dolphy, he had a friendship with Peter Caballes who introduced him to dela Cruz. Quizon felt he could use dela Cruz in a comedy film and hired him to act for his company RVQ Productions. Their first collaboration was the spy-spoof film The Quick Brown Fox. Dela Cruz played Quizon's sidekick and the movie was released on the 6th of November 1980.

In 1978, dela Cruz shared the top billing with actor Ramon Zamora in Chopsuey Meets Big Time Papa.

Celing and Filipino actor Franco Guerrero said that dela Cruz never had any romantic relationships. Guerrero said that dela Cruz said he would brag about sexual exploit but never saw his actual girlfriends. Director Dante Pangilinan said that dela Cruz had his first kiss on the set of Sila... Sa bawat bangketa (1977) after he asked him if he could get an onscreen kiss. When he said yes, dela Cruz was both delighted and nervous. Yehlen Catral, who played the damsel-in-distress in a dela Cruz film, said she helped him introduce himself to women. According to director Eddie Nicart if dela Cruz would get free from the set, he would immediately go where there is drinks and women, and would consistently ask their whereabouts.

In 1976, dela Cruz billed as Weng Weng, which would be his pseudonym for the rest of his career, co-starred in Silang Matatapang and Sila...Sa Bawat Bangketa.

Dela Cruz started to work almost exclusively with Liliw Production. He begun with an uncredited role in Silakbo, released October 17, 1975.

Ernesto dela Cruz (September 7, 1957 – August 29, 1992), better known as Weng Weng, was an actor, stunt performer, martial artist, and Philippines' first international celebrity. Only 83 cm (2 feet, 9 inches) tall, dela Cruz is the first to be listed in the Guinness World Records as the shortest adult in a leading role. Born in Baclaran, Parañaque with a primordial dwarfism condition, dela Cruz started exercising and studied karate. In the mid 1970s, dela Cruz was noticed by film producers Peter and Cora Caballes of Liliw Productions, and got the pseudonym Weng Weng. Following this, dela Cruz played supporting roles in films, and shared his first top billing with Ramon Zamora in Chopsuey Meets Big Time Papa (1978). Dela Cruz's first lead in the action film spoof Agent OO (1981) was followed by two sequels. It became dela Cruz's most well known role, where he demonstrated skills in stunts and martial arts.

Dela Cruz had several friendships throughout his career. Guerrero describes that the first time he met dela Cruz children were around who did not know what to make him, and when dela Cruz spoke the little girls got scared. He found dela Cruz hilarious. A fond memory he holds, is that dela Cruz often taunted him to go sparring, where he would pretend to be way too scared to go along. Anderson's account of his friendship with dela Cruz was at the time when both were under contract with Liliw Production. He said it was polluted by the possessive attitude of producers Peter and Cora Caballes. When he started socializing with dela Cruz, he noticed the his potential and felt he was put down by others. He recalls bringing dela Cruz at an Art house cinema to introduce him to Italian neorealist films. Dela Cruz was enthralled by them. Together they watched Luis Buñuel's Los Olvidados (1950), Federico Fellini's La Strada (1954), and François Truffaut's The 400 Blows (1959). Dela Cruz was particularly fond of Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves (1948), on his first viewing he cried. They agreed to make an action comedy remake with a human touch. Anderson also talked about dela Cruz's fearlessness. When he gave dela Cruz a ride on his motorcycle, dela Cruz was upset when he asked him to wear a belt and a helmet. He also recalls that a man once tapped his hand on dela Cruz's head, who stood up for himself. It led to a situation where Anderson had to separate them. Shortly after Anderson voiced concerns regarding both dangerous working conditions and mispayments to the Caballes, they separated them. They would tell him that dela Cruz was absent when he wasn't. Anderson parted ways with the company, never to see dela Cruz again. Catral stated she had affection for dela Cruz. On set, she said he was the only worthwhile individual to hang out with. She added that when she stopped acting only he and Dolphy were worth saying goodbye to. Celing said that fellow actress Lotis Key attended dela Cruz's funeral.

At the time, according Nelson Anderson, the production house received the photos of a then unknown Jean-Claude Van Damme, and were creating a film where Van Damme would have acted with both Anderson and dela Cruz. Also during his tenure at Liliw Production, Anderson also said that he and dela Cruz developed a friendship and introduced him Italian neorealist films. Loving this new genre, both made plans to make a dramatic characters based action comedy remake of Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves (1948). Anderson had a financial dispute with the company and the projects were never made. Both director Bobby A. Suarez and actress Marrie Lee said they were working with dela Cruz on a project that never materialized. In it dela Cruz would have played his own version of Superman.

Dela Cruz was born to Felicito Jose dela Cruz, an electrician (1914-1968) and Rita DeGuzman dela Cruz, a laundry woman (1919-1989), the youngest of five brothers, on the seventh of September 1957. As described by dela Cruz's brother Celing, dela Cruz's early life went as followed. When his mother was pregnant she didn't know until the doctor told her so, and when gave birth, his size was “no bigger than a small coke bottle”. This forced dela Cruz’s parents to place him in a shoe box under a light feeding him with drops. With a medical condition known as primordial dwarfism, it caused dela Cruz to grow to a height of 2 feet and 9 inches (0.83 meter) tall. Being devoted Catholics, dela Cruz's mother showed their devotion to their faith by dressing and parading a young dela Cruz as Santo Niño each year for the annual Baclaran parade. Dela Cruz became popular in the neighborhood and his mother Rita felt he should become an actor. By 1968, dela Cruz's father died due to falling down a ladder at work