5 surprises that made 2016 awesome

MANILA, Philippines – In just a couple of weeks we’ll be bidding adieu to 2016, a year that for many of us proved quite the challenge – a rollercoaster ride with unexpected twists and turns, if you will.

Yet, despite all the dips, clashes, and the rush of different emotions – sometimes all in rapid succession, too –  good things did happen this year. They’re the proverbial rays of sunshine to a seemingly cloudy and bleak year. 

Below, we list down 5 surprises from 2016 that are definitely worth remembering:

Leo won his first Oscar

Leonardo DiCaprio has proven time and again that he’s more than just a pretty face, having been consistently recognized as one of the best actors to come out of Hollywood by peers and adoring fans alike. Still, the elusive Oscar had always remained out of his grasp. Leo’s failed bid had become so notorious that it’s been immortalized through several memes courtesy of the ever-imaginative netizens.

But that was until this year. At the end of February, after garnering 6 nominations throughout his career, Leo finally snagged the well-deserved Best Actor Oscar for his heart-stopping work in The Revenant. (WATCH: Leonardo DiCaprio wins Best Actor at Oscars 2016)

Needless to say, this moment was celebrated not just by Leo but by his fans and friends as well. (READ: Stars, netizens react to Leonardo DiCaprio’s first Oscar win)

Hidilyn Diaz made history in the Olympics

Filipino female athletes began competing in the Olympics in 1956, 32 years after the Philippines joined the world’s biggest sporting event. But it wasn’t until August this year when a Filipina finally took home a medal.

Hidilyn Diaz from Zamboanga City snagged a silver in the women’s 53kg weightlifting division of the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Additionally, Hidilyn’s win ended the Philippine’s 20-year Olympic medal drought – the last time the country got a medal was in 1996, when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco won a silver in the light flyweight boxing division.

Hidilyn is only the 10^th Filipino to ever win an Olympic medal. (READ: INFOGRAPHIC: Meet the Philippines’ Olympic medalists)

Giant pandas no longer endangered

They’re ubiquitous, iconic, and adorable animals that brighten our feed everyday, but did you know that giant pandas, the rarest member of the bear family, have been classified “endangered” for the last 16 years in The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species – a mere 3 steps away from “extinct?” In 2014, only 1,864 giant pandas were said to have been found in the wild in China.

Thankfully, the giant panda’s status was downgraded just last September to “vulnerable” after their population rose by 17% this year. Yay for more fluffy pandas! (READ: Giant pandas no longer ‘endangered’ in China)

PH films, actors bag first-time wins from international festivals

This year has been a good run for Filipino filmmakers and actors, with many films making waves in some of the world’s biggest festivals such as the Busan International Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Most notable, however, were the victories brought home by Lav Diaz’s Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left), which won the Golden Lion Award from the Venice Film Festival, and Jaclyn Jose’s Best Actress nod from the Cannes Film Festival, for her stint in Brillante Mendoza’s latest opus, Ma’ Rosa. Both awards were first for the Philippines!

Weekly surprises

The good surprises just keep going. We still have less than a month in 2016 left, after all, and a lot of things can still happen! Keep an eye out for seasonal surprises from telcos that want to thank their loyal subscribers.

Smart recently kicked off its #SmartLove campaign to give loyal subscribers amazing surprises, both big and small, starting off by raffling off a hangout session for fans of reel and real life couple James Reid and Nadine Lustre, as well as free tickets to watch DJ Snake, Zedd, Yuna, and other musicians in overseas concerts.

But if you missed this, don’t fret! There are more prizes up for grabs, including discounts from Lazada and Zalora, premium access to iWantTV, Airbnb vouchers, Uber rides, and so much more! For more information on the surprises, follow Smart Communications on Facebook or visit www.smart.com.ph/smartlove

What good things will YOU remember most about 2016? Tell us! – Rappler.com