Weng Weng

THE FORGOTTEN HERO OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA

In the 80s, Philippine Cinema’s contribution to the world was the micro-superstar Weng Weng. The pint-sized champion’s heroic act was to entertain depressed Filipinos collectively suffering from the madness of Martial Law, economic doom and artistic repression.

Even before Mike Myers conceived Austin Powers, Hong Kong film director Raymond Jury created the 1979 opus For Your Height Only. It had Weng Weng playing the dual roles of Austin Powers and Mini Me. The film had its world premiere on January 1st 1980 at the Manila International Film Festival. The film’s resounding success catapulted Weng Weng to stardom. The film was immediately bought by film buyers from all over, and like Freddie Aguilar’s Anak it was translated in several languages. One US release videotape was allegedly dubbed by a James Earl Jones sound-alike. The film ran in Tonga, Burkina Faso, Solomon Islands, Slovenia, Ukraine, Oman, and Qatar. If it didn’t, it shouldn’t have. The VHS and DVD version are in worldwide release and available on Amazon.com and Ebay.

So who is Weng Weng? Born on December 23, 1952 in Davao City. Wenceslao Wong was the son of a rice trader and a teacher. There are so many myths surrounding his life that it is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. According to an article that appeared in Kislap Magazine. In 1981m when Weng Weng was seven years old, he had to be carried to school in the backpack of his sister Wing Wing (Rowena). Barely 14 inches in height, his sartorial preferences ran to Ken doll clothes, which he could actually fit in. In spite of his height, he lived a fairly normal life. Except for occasional bullying from his schoolmates, and we all got through that. An excellent student, Weng Weng had a penchant for the dark poetry of Edgar Allen Poe and for Sioktong (a Chinese liqueur that allegedly promotes menstrual regularity). At the Matina Municipal High School, he won the annual Declamation Contest. Being half-Chinese, he also had an aptitude for martial arts and salsa dancing. In his high school yearbook, he was named the class Denny Terio.

It was when he migrated to Manila that things started to get rosy. He lived with relatives in Quezon City and planned to study Dentistry at the Ortañez University. But he soon discovered the bright lights of the city, specifically Timog Avenue, where showbiz personalities hung out. Raymond Jury discovered him singing My Sharona in a karaoke bar, and life was never the same. Note to self: check if there was karaoke in 1979.

For your Height Only is classic camp: so bad, it’s good. Dr. Van Curler, the inventor of the N-Bomb, is kidnapped by syndicate ringleader Mr. Giant. Agent double O (Weng Weng) is assigned to save the scientist, and the world, from doom. He is aided by the voluptuous Irma Alegre, who gets killed in the cross fire. There are lots of derivative gadgets and gizmos copied from James Bond flicks but this is more ingenious. They attach an empty can of mini-fire extinguisher to Weng Weng’s body as a personal propeller rocket, and turn a cheap black Bumbay umbrella into a parachute. If Bruce Lee is famous for his flying kick, Weng Weng has his four foot-kick that directly targets the opponent’s groin.

There were rumors that a local producer wanted to produce a prequel to the blockbuster For Your Height Only. It was to be called Littlefinger. But the negotiations failed and Weng Weng’s receding hairline and deteriorating liver condition caused concern among the producers. The project was shelved indefinitely.

Weng Weng faded into oblivion when the country regained its democracy. He died of cirrhosis of the liver in the mid-nineties. He is survived by his wife and five children. His passing went unnoticed, except for snippets in People’s Journal and Taliba.


But his spirit lives on in every Filipino man, woman and child whom he entertained when they needed it most. The Film Academy of the Philippines should accord him a posthumous award or something. If not for his B-movie masterpiece, Philippine cinema would be a mere footnote in the history of world cinema. Size one. Rent the tape or buy the DVD for 88 minutes of guaranteed fun and laughter, Better yet, see it as a group. You may need CPR.