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classes, where he learned quickly, and impressed his instructor, so much so that the instructor would perform demonstrations with dela Cruz to promote the school. During one of these demonstrations, dela Cruz was noticed by producer and actor Peter
Caballes of Liliw Productions. Dela Cruz's mother,
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Dela Cruz was born to
Felicito Jose dela Cruz, an electrician (1914–1968), and Rita De Guzman dela Cruz, a laundry woman (1919–1989), the youngest of five brothers, on September 7, 1957. As described by dela Cruz's brother Celing, his early life went as follows. When his mother was pregnant, she
213:. Eventually, his managers 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.
396:
After his death, Weng Weng films gained a cult status. Details on dela Cruz's life were vague, while some claims have a base in reality, some of it is myth. The discoveries about him led to the release of two documentaries
216:
Dela Cruz has since became a cult film icon after some of his movies went viral. By the 2000s, a lot of information published about him was vague. Research about his life led to the making of two successful documentaries:
257:
According to Celing, as a child dela Cruz was fascinated with action films and started to study them. Neighbours of dela Cruz began to notice him climbing on clothing lines doing acrobatics and pull-ups. Dela Cruz joined
246:, it caused him to reach the height of only 2 feet 9 inches (0.83 meters) tall. Being devout Catholics, dela Cruz's mother showed their devotion to their faith by dressing and parading a young dela Cruz as
308:, was friends 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
341:
released on
September 2, with dela Cruz returning as secret Agent OO. At the Manila International Film Festival, the film outsold every other local productions for international distribution.
242:
bottle". His premature state forced dela Cruz's parents to place him in a shoe box under a light as a rudimentary incubator, feeding him with a dropper. With a medical condition known as
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parade. Dela Cruz became popular in the neighborhood and his mother felt he should become an actor. In 1968, dela Cruz's father died after falling down a ladder at work.
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In 1976, dela Cruz received his first billing as Weng Weng, which would be his pseudonym for the rest of his career, when he co-starred in
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Peter and Cora
Caballes retired from filmmaking circa 1987, and dela Cruz returned to his hometown, under the care of his family.
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who had a hard time raising five boys, allowed him and his wife Cora to take dela Cruz under their helm for an acting career.
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premiered, with dela Cruz returning in the role of Agent OO. On
December 25, dela Cruz shared the top billing with
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didn't know until the doctor informed her, and when she gave birth, his size was "no bigger than a small
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Dela Cruz began to work almost exclusively with Liliw
Productions. He began with an uncredited role in
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403:(2010) which focuses on Philippine's film during his active years. The second one about him,
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was released. Starring Quizon, with dela Cruz in a minor role. On July 2, the musical film
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premiered. Dela Cruz plays a supporting role, in a comedy starring Quizon. On May 29,
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178:(1981). At the Manila International Film Festival, dela Cruz's starring role in the
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Dela Cruz played Quizon's sidekick. The movie was released on
November 6, 1980.
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During this time, dela Cruz was announced as one of the supporting actors in
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was released. In it dela Cruz plays the lead as Agent OO. On June 12,
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891:"In search of Weng Weng, the pint-sized James Bond of Filipino film"
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at 83 centimeters (2 ft 9 in) tall. Born in what is now
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Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Discos, westerns, and disco westerns".
428:
305:
259:
171:
1018:
Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The death of the Pinoy action king".
811:"Hailing the DVD Distributors: The Best Vault Raiders of 2005"
188:(1981) outsold every other local production on foreign sales.
444:
103:
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Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly".
734:
Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly".
656:
Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly".
581:
Leavold, Andrew (2017). "The short, the fat and the ugly".
383:
994:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 181–182.
763:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 119–121.
660:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 100–101.
610:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 230–231.
271:
585:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. pp. 98–99.
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No public appearance by dela Cruz are known after 1986.
443:
On August 29, 1992, Ernesto dela Cruz, age 34, died in
1174:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 100.
1146:"Docus on Duterte, Imelda Marcos submitted to Oscars"
1022:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 199.
969:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 239.
944:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 238.
919:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 237.
788:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 234.
713:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 233.
685:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 232.
635:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 231.
560:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 230.
535:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 229.
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Comic actor
Rodolfo Vera Quizon Sr., better known as
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In 1978, dela Cruz shared the top billing with actor
1220:(Book). Australia: The LedaTape Organisation, 2017.
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1094:"[Fantasia Review] The Search For Weng Weng"
738:. Australia: The LedaTape Organisation. p. 94.
143:(September 7, 1957 – August 29, 1992), known by the
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392:1993–present day: posthumous success and aftermath
965:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
940:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
933:
915:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
727:
709:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
681:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
631:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
606:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
556:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
531:Leavold, Andrew (2017). "Weng Weng filmography".
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35: and the surname or paternal family name is
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353:was released, starring dela Cruz. On July 23,
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517:(DVD). USA: Wild Eye Releasing. 760137943594.
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412:Research made showed that dela Cruz's films
377:(1983), but he is not in the finished film.
191:Following this, dela Cruz appeared in the
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1068:"Film Review: 'The Search for Weng Weng'"
384:1987–1992: return to obscurity and death
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409:(2013). Both films were well received.
272:1975–1981: Early roles and breakthrough
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1144:Adonis, Meg (November 18, 2019).
1045:Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)
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369:The Cute... The Sexy n' The Tiny.
16:Filipino actor and martial artist
809:Kehr, Dave (December 30, 2005).
418:The Cute... The Sexy n' The Tiny
203:The Cute... The Sexy n' The Tiny
134:83 cm (2 ft 9 in)
1092:Amanda Waltz (August 2, 2014).
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1203:(DVD). Umbrella Entertainment.
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280:, released October 17, 1975.
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299:Chopsuey Meets Big Time Papa
141:Ernesto de Guzman de la Cruz
67:Ernesto de Guzman de la Cruz
7:
839:"Search For Weng Weng, The"
345:1982–1986: action film star
10:
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1292:Sportspeople with dwarfism
1287:Male actors from Parañaque
1212:(DVD). Wild Eye Releasing.
1201:Machete Maidens Unleashed!
1119:"The Search for Weng Weng"
400:Machete Maidens Unleashed!
220:Machete Maidens Unleashed!
18:
1277:Filipino male film actors
895:The Sydney Morning Herald
329:Legs... Katawan... Babae!
289:Sila...Sa Bawat Bangketa.
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250:each year for the annual
201:(1982), as Agent OO, and
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1282:Filipino martial artists
1218:The Search for Weng Weng
1210:The Search for Weng Weng
1172:The Search for Weng Weng
1020:The Search for Weng Weng
992:The Search for Weng Weng
990:Leavold, Andrew (2017).
967:The Search for Weng Weng
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786:The Search for Weng Weng
784:Leavold, Andrew (2017).
761:The Search for Weng Weng
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711:The Search for Weng Weng
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533:The Search for Weng Weng
514:The Search for Weng Weng
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406:The Search for Weng Weng
226:The Search for Weng Weng
150:, was a Filipino actor,
315:On February 13, 1981,
1150:newsinfo.inquirer.net
1272:Actors with dwarfism
337:For Your Height Only
310:The Quick Brown Fox.
185:For Your Height Only
170:, dela Cruz studied
865:"Today at Fantasia"
433:The Quick Brown Fox
349:On March 25, 1982,
244:primordial dwarfism
815:The New York Times
477:Inquirer Lifestyle
473:"Weng Weng Lives!"
356:The Impossible Kid
325:Da Best In Da West
198:The Impossible Kid
1216:Leavold, Andrew.
1208:Leavold, Andrew.
1125:. August 31, 2015
511:Leavold, Andrew.
479:. January 4, 2014
285:Silang Matatapang
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123:Years active
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449:heart attack
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160:short person
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98:(1992-08-29)
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1262:1992 deaths
1257:1957 births
1193:Works cited
158:. He was a
29:family name
25:middle name
1251:Categories
820:August 25,
459:References
248:Santo Niño
233:Early life
205:alongside
180:Agent OO's
145:stage name
73:1957-09-07
37:de la Cruz
1238:Weng Weng
1052:March 22,
483:March 16,
365:Pia Moran
211:Pia Moran
168:Parañaque
148:Weng Weng
126:1972–1984
81:Parañaque
48:Weng Weng
33:de Guzman
1155:March 1,
900:March 1,
869:Cult MTL
414:Agent OO
321:Agent 00
317:Stariray
252:Baclaran
229:(2013).
195:(1982),
176:Agent OO
164:Baclaran
19:In this
1072:Variety
451:due to
447:, of a
426:ABS-CBN
422:U-matic
278:Silakbo
182:sequel
115:Actor,
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306:Dolphy
267:Career
260:karate
172:karate
154:, and
131:Height
23:, the
445:Pasay
439:Death
104:Pasay
85:Rizal
1242:IMDb
1222:ISBN
1176:ISBN
1157:2020
1131:2020
1123:IFFR
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1079:2020
1054:2020
1024:ISBN
996:ISBN
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876:2020
850:2020
822:2018
790:ISBN
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612:ISBN
587:ISBN
562:ISBN
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485:2020
416:and
363:and
287:and
240:Coke
209:and
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