Juan dela Cruz facts for kids

Juan dela Cruz is a special symbol for the Philippines. He is like a cartoon character or a drawing that stands for all ordinary Filipinos. You can often see him wearing a traditional salakot hat, a Barong Tagalog shirt, long pants, and tsinelas (slippers).

Who is Juan dela Cruz?

Juan dela Cruz is known as the national personification of the Philippines. This means he is a made-up character who represents the entire country and its people. He is often used to show what the average Filipino person is like.

What Does He Represent?

Juan dela Cruz often shows the feelings and opinions of the Filipino people. He can represent their struggles, hopes, or even their anger. He helps to tell stories about the country in a simple way.

Where Do We See Him?

You might see Juan dela Cruz in political cartoons or drawings. In the past, during the American period, he was often shown with Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is a similar symbol for the United States. These drawings would show how Filipinos felt about American influence.

Today, Juan dela Cruz is still used to talk about important issues. He helps people understand what ordinary Filipinos think about their government and society. Sometimes, people just say "Juan" to mean all Filipinos.

Juan and María dela Cruz

The name "Juan dela Cruz" comes from Spanish and means "John of the Cross". It is a very common name in the Philippines. Because it is so common, it is used to mean an anonymous or unknown Filipino person. This is like how "John Doe" is used for an unknown person in the United States.

If the person is female, the name María dela Cruz is used instead. She represents the average Filipino woman.

Images for kids

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  A poster from the United States Information Agency showing Juan dela Cruz ready to protect the Philippines from communism.

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  An example of a Philippine passport with "Maria dela Cruz" as the made-up owner.