For the second year in a row, the University of the Philippines Pep Squad wins the UAAP Cheerdancing competition, successfully defending the crown they wrested last year from archrival UST’s Salinggawi Dance Troupe.

Before the announcement came, I thought there was going to be an upset from Adamson Uni, which did a pretty good routine. But when the Tigers were declared runners-up, I knew the Maroons have won it again. Yay! (Photo from Phil Daily Inquirer/ Edwin Bacasmas)

In a different competition, the Philippines’ “Melancholia” directed by Lav Diaz won the Orizzonti prize for feature film in the 65th Venice International Film Festival. Last year, Diaz won the Special Mention prize in the same competition for his entry “Kagadanan sa Nanwaan Ning mga Engkanto (Death in the Land of Encantos).”  Congrats to Lav and the rest of the cast & crew! (wire photo from Getty Images Europ/ Dan Kitwood)