Philippine Schwarzenegger
The week's news at a glance.
Manila
The Philippines’ biggest action hero, known as “Da King,” announced this week that he would run for president. Fernando Poe Jr., a high school dropout who became a multimillionaire film star, has no political experience but is already leading incumbent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the polls. Poe kicked off his campaign with a theatrical rally featuring movie stunt men and scantily clad dancers. The Philippines has had an actor president before. Josef Estrada was a popular leading man before his 1998 election. He was ousted and jailed in 2001, following massive protests against his corrupt administration, and then–Vice President Arroyo took over.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Crossword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff