Juan Dela Cruz History Guide

When the People Power Revolution erupted in February 1986, the man on the street—the man selling cigarettes, the jeepney driver, the housewife—became the hero. The international press, covering the fall of Marcos, repeatedly used the headline: "Juan dela Cruz Topples a Dictator." It was the ultimate vindication of the name.

He began writing short verses and anecdotes about this character in his magazine, the Philippines Free Press (founded in 1908). Initially used to describe anonymous individuals involved in petty crimes, the character eventually evolved to represent the typical, hard-working, and humble Filipino. juan dela cruz history

While there is some debate over the exact origin, it is widely accepted that Free Press editor Robert McCulloch Dick, a Scottish-American journalist, popularized the term in the early 20th century. Needing a generic name to refer to the Filipino masses in his stories—often in a tone that ranged from patronizing to observational—he adopted the old Spanish handle. When the People Power Revolution erupted in February