THE EIGHTIES # 406: BERTING LABRA, PIA MORAN AND WENG WENG/ WITH DENCIO PADILLA, BETH SANDOVAL IN "THE CUTE... THE SEXY N' THE TINY" (1982)

"The Cute... The Sexy N' The Tiny" (1982)

Liliw Films International

1982 Metro Manila Film Festival Entry

Release Date December 25, 1982

Screenplay Pablo S. Gomez

Music Pablo Vergara

Produced by Pete and Cora Caballes

Direction Eddie Nicart

Cast Berting Labra, Pia Moran and Weng Weng/ Also Starring Dencio Padilla, Beth Sandoval, Bonnie 'Mong' De Jesus/ Introducing Tony Jay Consunji, Liza de Vera

THE EIGHTIES # 347: WENG-WENG (IN THE TITLE ROLE), ROMY DIAZ, NINA SARA, TONY CARREON, BEN JOHNSON, RENE ROMERO IN "IMPOSSIBLE KID" (1982)

"Impossible Kid" (1982)

Liliw Films International

Release Date July 23, 1982

Story Idea Cora C, Ridon

Screenplay Greg B. Macabenta

Cinematography Bhal Daus

Film Editor Edgardo (Boy) Vinarao

Music Pablo Vergara

Asst. Directors Mando Pangilinan, Oscar Redyes

Produced by Twinkle

Executive Producer Pete M. Caballes

Direction Eddie Nicart

Cast Weng-Weng (in the title role), Romy Diaz, Nina Sara, Tony Carreon, Ben Johnson, Rene Romero/ Also Starring George Geynes, Lee Scott, David Anderson, Neils Elcehorn, Jack Holtz, Jim Crumrine and SOS Daredevils/ with Ruben Ramos, Joe Cunanan, Romy Nario, Ben Morro, Boy Banes, Renato Morado/ Introducing Chicklet Moreno/ Special Participations- Lita Vasquez, Avel Morado, Jesse Lee, Amor Siron, Rolly Esteban, Vangie Evangelista and Efren Lapid

THE EIGHTIES # 309: WENG-WENG (IN THE TITLE ROLE), YEHLAN CATRAL, NINA SARA, MAX ALVARADO, ROMY DIAZ, MAX LAUREL IN "D' WILD WILD WENG" (1982)

"D' Wild Wild Weng" (1982)

Liliw Films

Release Date March 25, 1982

Story and Screenplay Cora R. Caballes

Executive Producer Pete Caballes

Direction Eddie Nicart

Cast Weng-Weng (in the title role), Yehlen Catral, Nina Sara, Max Alvarado, Romy Diaz, Max Laurel/ Special participation- Ike Lozada, Dencio Padilla/ Also starring Ernie Ortega, Robert Miller, Rene Romero, Joe Cunanan, Ben Moro, Fred Esplana, Jay Grama, Goliath, mando Pangilinan, Oscar Reyes, SOS Daredevils

THE EIGHTIES # 291: WENG WENG (AS AGENT 0-0), YEHLEN CATRAL, CARMI MARTIN, ANNA MARIE GUTIERREZ, BETH SANDOVAL IN "FOR Y'UR HEIGHT ONLY" (1982)

"For Y'ur Height Only" (1982)

Liliw Productions

Release Date January 30, 1982

Title Song- "Nilikha Ba Ako Upang Masaktan,"

produced by Light Star Prods., Inc.

Singer-Composer Maraya

Story and Screenplay Cora Ridon Caballes

Cinematography Bhal Cruz

Music Pablo Vergara

Direction Eddie Nicart

Cast Weng Weng, Yehlen Catral, Carmi Martin, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Beth Sandoval/ In a very special role- Tony Ferrer

Weng Weng and Yehlen Catral

 Weng Weng and Yehlen Catral

all photos- from various internet sources

THE EIGHTIES # 252: WENG-WENG (AS AGENT 00), YEHLEN CATRAL, CARMI MARTIN, ANNA MARIE GUTIERREZ, BETH SANDOVAL IN "FOR Y'UR HEIGHT ONLY" (1981)

"For Y'ur Height Only" (1981)

Liliw Productions

Release Date November 6, 1981

Story and Screenplay Cora Ridon Caballes

Cinematography Bhal Dauz

Theme song produced by Light Star Prods, Inc.

Song title- Nilikha Ba Ako Upang Masaktan

Singer-Composer- Maraya

Music Pablo Vergara

Executive Producer Peter M. Caballes

Direction Eddie Nicart

Cast Weng-Weng (as Agent 00), Yehlen Catral, Carmi Martin, Anna Marie Gutierrez, Beth Sandoval/ In a special role- Tony Ferrer

THE EIGHTIES # 196: THE HAGIBIS (SONNY PARSONS, MIKE RESPALL, BERNIE FINEZA, JOJI GARCIA, MON PICAZO) AND MYRNA CASTILLO IN "LEGS, KATAWAN, BABAE" (1981)

"Legs, Katawan, Babae" (1981)

Margarita Productions

Release Date July 2, 1981

Screenplay Tony S. Mortel

Music George Canseco

Direction Tony Ferrer

Cast The Hagibis (Sonny Parsons, Mike Respall, Bernie Fineza, Joji Garcia, Mon Picazo) and Myrna Castillo/ Also Starring Nick Romano, Victor Bravo, Mike Cohen, Rey Sagum, Val Iglesia, Renato Robles, Vic Varrion, Ben Dato, Rusty Santos, Alex Bolado/ with Marissa del Mar, Monica Locca, Edna Gatchalian, Laarnie Enriquez and Dinah Dominguez/ Guest stars- Jess Lapid, Jr., Weng-Weng, Max Alvarado

THE EIGHTIES # 188: DOLPHY, LITO LAPID, WITH YEHLEN CATRAL, NINA SARA, PANCHITO, MAX ALVARADO, ROMY DIAZ, WENG-WENG AND PAQUITO DIAZ IN "DA BEST IN DA WEST" (1981)

"Da Best in Da West" (1981)

RVQ Productions

Release Date June 12, 1981

Story Roy Vera Cruz

Screenplay Ben Feleo

Cinematography Alfonso Alvarez

Music Dominic

Direction Romy Villaflor

Cast Dolphy, Lito lapid/ Also Starring Yehlen Catral, Nina Sara, Panchito, Max Alvarado, Romy Diaz, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Weng-Weng, Max Vera, Teroy de Guzman, Tony Carrion, Luis San Juan, Conde Ublado, Amay Bisaya, Naty Santiago and Paquito Diaz/ Featuring Georgie Quizon, Don Pepot, Johnny Madrid, Florence Carvajal and Dely Atay-Atayan/ Co-starring Er 'Canton' Salazar, Ben Johnson, Manny Tibayan, Robert Rivera, Fred Esplana, Jay Grama, Eddie Nicart, Jun de Guia, Joe Cunanan, Sancho Tesalona, Avel Morado, Robert Talby, Steve Alacarado, Jose de Andres & Ruben Ramos/ with a hundred of stuntmen and cast of thousand extras

THE EIGHTIES # 183: WENG- WENG (IN HIS FIRST STARRING ROLE), RAMON ZAMORA, PHILIP GAMBOA, DANTE VARONA IN "AGENT 00" (1981)

"Agent 00" (1981)

Liliw Productions

Release Date May 29, 1981

Written for the screen Ma. Cora R. Caballes

Music Pablo Vergara

Direction Eddie Nicart

Cast Weng-Weng (in his first staring role), Ramon Zamora, Philip Gamboa, Dante Varona

(Photos- from internet sources)

THE EIGHTIES # 141: DOLPHY, PANCHITO, CARMI MARTIN, PAQUITO DIAZ, RODOLFO 'BOY' GARCIA, ANNA MARIE GUTIERREZ AND ROD NAVARRO IN "STARIRAY" (1981)

"Stariray" (1981)

RVQ Productions

Release Date February 13, 1981

Story Roy Vera Cruz

Screenplay Vic Felipe

Cinematography Alfonso Alvarez

Choreography Lito Calzado

Music Dominic Salustiano

Direction Romy Villaflor

Cast Dolphy, Panchito, Carmi Martin, Paquito Diaz, Rodolfo 'Boy' Garcia, Anna Marie Gutierrez and Rod Navarro/ Also Starring Bentot, Teroy de Guzman, Renato Robles, Conde Ubaldo, Georgie Quizon, Er 'Canton' Salazar/ Guest stars- Ading Fernando, Balut, Don Pepot, Matimtiman Cruz, Amay Bisaya, Pamela Amor and Weng-Weng/ with Lito Calzado, Panchito, Jr., Fred Esplana, Jay Grama, Manny Samson, Rolan Falcis/ Featuring Ferrarie Models/ in a special role- Edgar Quizon, Marissa Delgado

THE EIGHTIES # 92: DOLPHY, NIDA BLANCA, WITH PANCHITO, PAQUITO DIAZ, CARMI MARTIN, ANNA MARIE GUTIERREZ IN "THE QUICK BROWN FOX" (1980)

"The Quick Brown Fox" (1980)

RVQ Productions, Inc.

Release Date November 6, 1980

Cinematography Claro Gonzales

Music D'Amarillo

Direction Jett C. Espiritu

Cast Dolphy, Nida Blanca, Panchito, Paquito Diaz, Carmi Martin, Anna Marie Gutierrez/ Also Starring Jing Abalos, Teroy de Guzman, Tsing Tong Tsai, Conde Ublado/ Featuring Weng Weng/ Co-starring Max Vera, Arturo Moran, Panchito, Jr., Er 'Canton' Salazar, Benny Mack, Boy Pineda, Nonong de Andres, Jay Grama, Fred Esplana, Ben Manalo, Boy de Castro, Atong maximo, Paquito Bautista and Lea Dominguez/ Guest stars from Hollywood- Roy Aoyama, Patrick Adibe, Ibrahim Muhamid, Danilo D' Ora, Tim Davies, James Gaines, Protacio Dee, George Weber, Jr,.

THE SEVENTIES # 1076: RAMON ZAMORA AND WENG-WENG IN "CHOPSUEY MET BIG TIME PAPA" (1978)

"Chopsuey Met Big Time Papa" (1978)

Liliw Productions

Release Date February 3, 1978

Screenplay Cora Ridon Caballes

Music Anthony Castillano

Produced by Twinkle

Direction Dante (Boy) Pangilinan

Cast Ramon Zamora and Weng-Weng

THE SEVENTIES # 1000: REZ CORTEZ, RAMON 'BOY' BAGATSING, INGRID SALAS, YOYOY VILLAME, WENG-WENG AND VIVIAN VELEZ IN "SILA... SA BAWA't BANGKETA" (1977)

"Sila...Sa Bawa't Bangketa" (1977)

Liliw Productions

Release Date April 9, 1977

Story and Screenplay Cora C. Ridon

Cinematography Nestor Orense

Music Kuya Momo

Produced by Twinkle

Direction Dante 'Boy' Pangilinan

Cast Rez Cortez, Ramon 'Boy' Bagatsing, Ingrid Salas, Yoyoy Villame, Weng-Weng, Joy Navarro, Michael Vallar, Marie Grace Santos, Linda Castro, Sarah Gumabao and Vivian Velez/ Also Starring Tony Orbeta, Angel Confiado, Gil Arceo, Leo Longalong, Larry Esguerra, Amay Bisaya, SOS Daredevils/ Introducing Danny Glenmore/ Featuring Ruel Romano/ Special guest- Odette Khan, Rudy de la Pena

THE SEVENTIES # 896: GEORGE ESTREGAN, DANTE VARONA, RAMON 'BOY' BAGATSING JR., MARIE ANTOINETTE, LITA VASQUEZ AND DARIA RAMIREZ IN "SILANG MATATAPANG" (1976)

"Silang Matatapang" (1976)

Prima Productions

A Liliw Films Presentation

Release Date March 26, 1976

Cinematography Nestor "Popoy" Orense

Music Kuya Mimo

Produced by Cora C. Ridon

Story and Direction Jun Cabreira

Cast George Estregan, Dante Varona, Ramon 'Boy' Bagatsing, Jr., Marie Antoinette, Lita Vasquez and Daria Ramirez/ with Weng-Weng, Sidney Schneider/ Also Starring Freddie Robles, Larry Esguerra, Gil Arceo, Leo Longalong, Lito and Santy Hermosa, Totoy Tan, Boni Fernandez, Greg Sayo, Ben Sanchez, SOS Daredevils and Dick Israel/ Guest stars- Tintoy, Romie Medalla/ Special Comeback role- Manding Claro

WENG WENG and RAMON ZAMORA, 1982 MIFF BEST SELLERS

The year: 1982

Three action films starring local midget black-belter Weng Weng were sold to a German producer-distributor based in Frankfurt, Germany, Kurt Palm. The films--- Agent 00, For Your Height Only and Wild Wild Weng--- were sold at $20,000, $30,000 and $40,000 respectively, according to Peter Caballes, executive producer of Liliw Productions, owner-producer of the films. The third movie is still to be filmed.

The sale, one of the first, if not the very first, successful deals closed by a Filipino producer at the MIFF (Manila International Film Festival) film market, was confirmed by PMPPA officials.
(More on the article, click below)

see: Weng Weng: The Pinoy Midget James Bond

Return of the Dragon, a Ramon Zamora starrer produed in 1974 by FGO Productions, was among the hottest selling kungfu flicks at the MIFF film market. Four deals were closed with foreign buyers, while several more are still under negotiation, according to Felipe G. Ortega, FGO executive producer.
(More on the article, click below)

See Ramon Zamora: The Original Pinoy Bruce Lee

Starwatch/ January 25, 1982
(Click image to enlarge)

WENG WENG: SUPERSTAR OF THE 1982 MIFF

The year: 1982--- The two-and-a-half foot Weng Weng, better known to Filipino movie fans as “Agent Double 0,” has suddenly become the hottest Filipino film personality. Thanks to the Manila International Film Festival, Weng Weng faces a future career as an international movie star. For the full article, click the image below.

Thanks to: James de la Rosa- PELIKULA ATBP

see the Films of Weng Weng
Visit Andrew Leavold's The Search for Weng Weng

WENG-WENG : PINOY MIDGET JAMES BOND

Filipino cult midget known for his character as “Agent 00″ in ’80s films. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “Shortest Adult Actor in a Leading Role” at 2’9”/0.83 m.

Weng Weng was born Ernesto de la Cruz, the youngest of five brothers, on 7th September 1957 in Balacaran, a district of Pasay City (now part of the sprawling 17-city Metro Manila). A condition known as primordial dwarfism caused him to be born, in the words of his brother Celing, "no bigger than a coke bottle", and he spent the first 12 months of his life in an incubator. He was not expected to live.

A cheerfully mischievous child, his family nicknamed him Weng Weng, an epithet usually reserved for toy dogs. He was obsessed with martial arts and trained almost daily, until his instructor contacted film producer Peter Caballes and said, "You just have to see THIS."

Peter Caballes then introduced Weng Weng to the King of Philippines Comedy, Dolphy, who cast him as his kung-fu kicking sidekick in his spy caper The Quick Brown Fox (1980).

Weng Weng, meanwhile, was a frequent visitor of the Marcos family at the Presidential Palace, where he was made an honorary Secret Agent by future President General Ramos, and was presented with a badge and a 25-callibre pistol. This act may have been the direct inspiration for Weng Weng's first starring role as Agent OO in the James Bond parody For Y'ur Height Only, produced by Peter and written by Cora Caballes for their company Liliw Productions. Eddie Nicart, renowned stunt director for the SOS Daredevils, trained Weng Weng every day for three months to be a professional stuntman, and was given his first opportunity to direct.

Weng Weng became an instant superstar, appearing on TV and at parties, film festivals, movie openings. Liliw Productions quickly cranked out a much less successful Agent OO sequel, The Impossible Kid (1982), and a modern Pinoy western D'Wild Wild Weng (1982), starring Weng Weng as a government agent known as "Mr Weng", which doesn't appear to have made it beyond the Philippines borders. There may be other Weng Weng film appearances, including a starring role in Agent OO (c.1981) and a guest cameo alongside the stick-thin Palito's character "James Bone", but even in the Philippines information is sketchy at best, if not non-existent.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911067/bio by Andrew Leavold

Visit Andrew Leavold weblog at http://andrewleavold.blogspot.com/

Sila... Sa Bawa't Bangketa (1976)

Chop Suey Met Big Time Papa (1978)

The Quick Brown Fox (1980)

Stariray (1981)

Agent 00 (1981)

For Y'ur Height Only (1981)

D' Wild Wild Weng (1982)
 

Impossible Kid (1982)

The Cute... The Sexy N' the Tiny (1982)

Da Best in Da West (1984)