Weng Weng was a Filipino actor who became famous for his roles in action movies in the early 1980s. He was listed in the Guinness World Records as the shortest adult actor in a leading role, standing at only 2 feet and 9 inches (0.83 meters) tall. He was also a martial artist and a stunt performer, who impressed audiences with his skills and charisma. But behind his fame and popularity, there was a sad and mysterious story of his life and death.
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Weng Weng’s Early Life and Career
Weng Weng was born as Ernesto de la Cruz on September 7, 1957, in Baclaran, Parañaque, Philippines. He was the youngest of five children of an electrician father and a laundrywoman mother. He had a medical condition known as primordial dwarfism, which caused him to be extremely small since birth. According to his brother Celing, Weng Weng spent the first few months of his life inside a shoe box, where his parents kept him warm and fed him with a dropper. He was also dressed up as the Santo Niño, the image of the Holy Child, for the annual Baclaran parade, as his mother was a devout Catholic.
Weng Weng developed a fascination with action films and martial arts as a child. He joined karate classes and learned quickly, impressing his instructor and the neighbors with his acrobatics and pull-ups. He was discovered by an independent film producer named Peter Caballes, who cast him in his first role as Baby Moses in a 1972 Filipino Bible epic called Go Tell It On The Mountain. He later appeared in films with Ramon Zamora and Dolphy, two popular Filipino actors.
Weng Weng’s breakthrough came in 1981, when he starred in Agent OO, a spoof of James Bond movies, where he played a secret agent who used gadgets and weapons to fight villains. The film was a hit and spawned a sequel, For Your Height Only, which was shown at the Manila International Film Festival and outsold every other local production on foreign sales. Weng Weng became an international sensation, especially in countries like Hong Kong, Japan, France, and Australia. He also starred in other films such as The Impossible Kid, The Wild Wild Weng, and The Cute… The Sexy n’ The Tiny, where he showcased his comedic and romantic talents.
Weng Weng’s Decline and Death
Despite his success and fame, Weng Weng did not enjoy a comfortable and happy life. He was reportedly exploited and underpaid by his managers, Peter and Cora Caballes, who controlled his finances and career. He was also isolated from his family and friends, who rarely saw him or heard from him. He was often treated as a novelty or a joke, rather than a serious actor or a person. He faced discrimination and ridicule because of his size and appearance.
Weng Weng’s health also started to deteriorate in the late 1980s. He gained weight and developed hypertension, which is a common complication of primordial dwarfism. He also suffered from a severe allergic reaction to crabmeat, which affected his breathing and heart. He became depressed and drank heavily, according to some reports.
On August 29, 1992, Weng Weng died of a heart attack at the age of 34. He was buried in a public cemetery in Pasay City, without a proper funeral or a tombstone. His death was barely noticed by the media or the public, who had forgotten about him and his movies. His family was left in poverty and grief, without any compensation or recognition for his work.
Weng Weng’s Legacy and Rediscovery
Weng Weng’s story was largely unknown and ignored for many years, until a few film enthusiasts and researchers began to look for him and his films. In 2006, Australian filmmaker Andrew Leavold visited the Philippines and interviewed Weng Weng’s brother Celing, as well as other people who knew or worked with him. He also collected and restored some of Weng Weng’s films, which were rare and hard to find. He made a documentary called The Search for Weng Weng, which was released in 2013 and won several awards. The documentary revealed the tragic and mysterious story of Weng Weng’s life and death, as well as his impact and influence on Filipino and world cinema.
Weng Weng’s films have also been rediscovered and appreciated by new generations of fans, who admire his skills, charisma, and humor. His films have been screened at various film festivals and events, such as the New York Asian Film Festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival, and the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. His films have also been released on DVD and online platforms, making them more accessible and available to the public.
Weng Weng’s story is a reminder of the challenges and struggles that people with dwarfism face in society, as well as the potential and talent that they have. Weng Weng was a pioneer and a legend, who broke barriers and stereotypes with his films and performances. He was a larger-than-life figure, who deserves respect and recognition for his contributions to the film industry and culture.
