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.
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