Philippine actor files candidacy for presidential election

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

A Philippine action movie star who is an ally of disgraced former leader Joseph Estrada filed his candidacy for the presidency Friday, presenting what could be the strongest challenge to incumbent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Hundreds of supporters of actor Fernando Poe Jr., also known as "Da King" and "FPJ," rallied outside the Commission on Elections office, chanting "FPJ! FPJ!"

The 64-year-old Poe, who has starred in several blockbusters and was the national "box office king" for several years, has never held office before and has not yet disclosed his platform. His candidacy draws parallels to that of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was elected California governor last year.

Poe agreed last month to run on behalf of a three-party opposition coalition after supporters said they gathered 2 million signatures supporting his bid. He is considered a serious threat to Arroyo's election hopes because of his popularity.

More: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/02/international1342EST0541.DTL

What in the hell is it in acting that makes one a good elected official?

Hmmmm. Could it be that some people need an actor in certain positions to spew BS efficiently?

[MR. ELECTABLE]

1. People in Philippines are easily fooled

According to my wife, who lived in the Phillippines until a couple of years ago. (She's still a citizen, gotta wait a couple of years until she can apply here.)

From what she's told me, movie star worship is even bigger there that it is here-- and apparently most people are either uneducated or just don't care enough in their voting duties that things like this can happen. She proudly proclaimed that in the US it seems that politics is taken much more seriously, and that something like that would never happen here. And then came the gropenator. Boy she really hates that guy-- accosted his supporters at her work place, cause she's already lived through that already. She was actually one of the political leaders at her school that helped organize marches against Estrada.

Estrada was also a movie star, and from what she tells me his administration wrecked the economy and was so corrupt that the people revolted and threw him out of office. He's in prison now-- there was an attempted coup last summer which was probably funded by Estrada which would have allowed him to go free. Poe is probably being funded in part by Estrada.

Arroyo isn't much better though-- she's the daughter of a former president and a Bush puppet....