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Climate action
Young climate activists stage a “die-in” in Lafayette Park across the White House on Earth
Day on April 22. The Washington, D.C., protest was meant to highlight the lack of urgency in
tackling climate change—even as experts warn that the time in which its effects can still be
mitigated is quickly dwindling—and was one of dozens of actions in cities around the globe
that called on leaders to take stronger action, and to bring an end to the use of fossil fuels.THE BULLETIN
Gaming fame in Philippines electionsmore than 130,000 people gathered
in downtown Pasig, a city just outside the
Philippine capital of Manila, singing Ariana
Grande’s “Break Free” in March as part of a
political rally organized by presidential can-
didate and current Vice President Leni Ro-
bredo ahead of the May 9 presidential elec-
tion. While the rally caught the attention of
Grande, who shared a clip on her Insta gram,
it did little for Robredo’s election hopes,
with polls showing her trailing front runner
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.STAR SEARCH Philippine elections have
been heavy on the entertainment fac-
tor since the ouster of dictator Ferdinand
Marcos —Bongbong’s father—in 1986. But
the crossover between showbiz and politics
has reached a new level. Currently five sit-
ting Senators (out of 24) enjoy some sort of
fame outside of politics, including onetime
world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao,
who is also running for President. At least
36 celebrities are seeking public office in the
Southeast Asian nation of 110 million.BIG DRAMA Just as fans of teleseryes (Phil-
ippine dramas influenced by Mexican tele-
novelas) talk about bombshell revelations
over dinner, families and neighbors dis-
cuss televised Senate hearings. Action stars
hold particular sway: outgoing President
Rodrigo Duterte leaned into his nickname
“Duterte Harry”—a reference to the brutal
1970s detective played by Clint Eastwood.MODERN FAMILY Bongbong Marcos is capi-
talizing on star power in a different way; his
campaign has been light on policy, and he’s
skipped televised debates. Instead he’s lean-
ing on his famous family’s name, portraying
his father’s authoritarian regime as stable—
despite human-rights abuses. Ultimately it’s
about breaking through the noise of the Phil-
ippines’ many social ills, including poverty
and corruption. Says Anna Pertierra, an an-
thropologist at the University of Technology
Sydney: “Many voters may not really feel
like a traditional politician is going to solve
the problems that they feel that they’re ex-
periencing.” —chad de guzmanNEWS TICKER
closed its border
with the Gaza Stripviolent
escalations by Israeli
police“strengthen and
develop” his country’s
nuclear arsenal as
fast as possible.
declared an Ebola
outbreak