Doing things for the plot used to burn me badly. It always ended the same way: me lying on the floor, crying over choices I insisted were romantic when they were clearly reckless, while my cat stared at me with a look that suggested regret over choosing me as an owner.

I’ve gone through enough heartbreak that someone my age should have learned by now. I should know when to pause before making decisions that feel thrilling only because they are unhinged.

And yet, I still move through life the way I did in my early twenties, convinced that consequences can wait as long as I feel something in the moment.

I had always wanted to go to Cagayan de Oro. The city feels like a threshold, a gateway to Northern Mindanao, opening up to Camiguin and Bukidnon, two places I have romanticized endlessly through saved TikTok videos and screenshots meant for a future version of myself who finally had the time.

Travel felt like a good enough reason to go. It just wasn’t the real one.

It was for love

Four years ago, I noticed him after watching at finish line of an ultramarathon on one of the hardest trails in the Philippines.

There was something about that moment — about the way exhaustion and triumph lived in his body at the same time. That single image stayed with me. Attraction and curiosity followed.

After walking away from my “loml“, loss of my life, unfortunately, as Taylor Swift would put it, I decided to take a risk to start the year. I wanted to see whether my heart would open again, even slightly.

Armed with nothing but courage I wasn’t fully confident in and the OPPO Reno15 mounted on my Ulanzi tripod, I crossed 800 kilometers to see a “friend.”

I used the word carefully, knowing how much work it was doing. I also knew this trip would either become one of the best decisions I made this year or one I would have to process slowly over time.

Touchdown with intentions

I was already on assignment in Northern Mindanao. In almost a decade of traveling for work, I had never extended a stay. I flew in, did the job, and flew out because Manila always waited with something urgent.

This time, I rebooked my flight for the next day, telling myself that one more day was reasonable. A stop at Panagatan Restaurant in Opol, Misamis Oriental made it feel like I had slipped into my own 1989 (Taylor’s Version)-coded vacation.

Blue skies stretched endlessly above a calm sea. The air felt cool against my skin, though there were no birds cutting through the frame.

I sat there soaking in sunlight, staring at the view as it unfolded in front of me. For the first time in a long while, I felt welcomed. I caught myself thinking that life might actually be okay. I could breathe.

Like in the song “Clean,” except this time I was twelve months sober from a love that almost broke me.

A table for one

I checked in at Red Planet because every hotel I genuinely wanted to stay at was fully booked. What remained were family rooms priced at over US$150.

The room I ended up with was simple, featuring a queen-sized bed and costing less than US$40. There was barely enough space for my drum-like American Tourister luggage, but the bed was wide and welcoming.

I spread myself out and slept like a starfish, the way you do when no one is watching.

Just under two kilometers away sat Cucina Higala, known for serving modern Filipino cuisine rooted in Mindanao heritage. A friend from Cagayan de Oro had told me never to miss it, no matter how packed it got.

Of course, I listened.

Lunch there felt indulgent in the best way. The interiors made it feel like someone’s home rather than a restaurant. Even the bathroom caught my attention, tucked into a corner and washed in shaded daylight.

Everything worked together. The low murmur of diners layered with laughter; the smell of food arriving at nearby tables; the clink of cutlery against plates.

There was a sense that time moved slower here, encouraging you to stay longer than planned. I finally understood why the locals insisted going there.

Waiting at six

Before dusk settled in, I headed to Uptown to meet a friend. I wanted to catch up and ground myself. Eventually, I admitted why I was really in the city.

We sat at Milestone Coffee + Kitchen in Uptown, cups of tea and coffee between us. They also have a branch downtown, but Uptown felt easier, more relaxed, like the right place to unravel stories and gossip that carried weight.

The truth was simple: I was there to see someone I had an interest on for years, and we were supposed to meet at six.

I was terrified of being stood up. Crossing land, sea, and sky for a man was something I had never done before. I believed we would meet because he said we would, but I still asked my friend for recommendations on where to go, just in case.

Backup plans felt necessary. I just needed to know there was something to hold onto if my heart cracked open in public.

After sunset

Thankfully, he picked me up at Milestone Coffee + Kitchen and met my friend. We rode back toward downtown through the diversion road, him on his brand-new Yamaha Fazzio in Matte Orange.

His motorcycle had a name. Ophelia. He bought it in October, right before Taylor Swift released her album The Life of a Showgirl and the single “The Fate of Ophelia.”

My 1989-coded escapade shifted into something “Opalite”-coded, as if I had wandered into a version of my own People We Meet on Vacation moment and somehow found my Alex Nilsen-slash-Travis Kelce.

We strolled along the boulevard where people walked, ate, laughed, and leaned into the night market energy. Some sat by the riverside, letting the evening pass without urgency.

I drank fresh coconut juice from a stall that stayed busy even at ten in the evening, while everything across the street had already closed. It tasted exactly like the moment felt — unexpected and sweet.

We ended the night drinking beer we bought from a convenience store, like teenagers sneaking alcohol because our parents would disapprove. It was simple and familiar… and it tasted like home.

On borrowed time

The next morning, I knew it was already my last day in the city. While he was working, like actual adults and not the versions we see in movies, I packed up, freshened up, and walked to Limketkai to grab coffee and brunch.

I took my morning slowly. I journaled in my pocket notebook, listening to “Past Lives” by sapientdream and Slushii, sipping my coffee while watching people move through their own lives.

It felt grounding to exist without urgency, even if only for a few hours.

When my beau finally gave the signal to visit his farm, where I could leave my luggage before heading to the airport, I checked out of the hotel and went on what felt like an almost hour-long ride.

The farm was only about a fifteen-minute drive from the airport, which meant we still had time, real time, to spend the rest of the day together.

I toured his farm on foot and watched livestock being cared for with a gentleness that made me feel like I had stepped into a version of life far removed from mine.

I felt like a Disney princess playing with animals, temporarily forgetting that I had a return flight waiting for me.

We ate together, and at some point I fell asleep on the hammock, only waking up when he gently shook me so we could go to his favorite place.

At the edge of the day

The beach was so close to the airport that my heart sank the moment I saw it. Leaving the city suddenly felt very real. Leaving him even more so.

The entire encounter felt People We Meet On Vacation-coded, and yet I kept hoping this was not just a vacation fling, that he wasn’t merely a vacation boyfriend meant to exist only within a fixed timeline.

I relished the sight of the sea, his favorite spot as he told me, where he went to clear his mind whenever life felt overwhelming.

The water was turquoise, vivid against the rocks, and it was impossible to ignore. The sound of waves crashing against the cliffside rocks and the cool hum of the breeze wrapped around us as we talked.

We pondered about life, about where we were heading, about what this meant, and what it realistically could not be.

That was when I realized there was distance between us, not only measured in kilometers. We were two people meeting at different points in our lives, emotionally and mentally out of sync despite how naturally everything else fit.

We both rejected the idea of dating, even after acknowledging how rare it felt to find someone who matched our freak so effortlessly. I knew this could grow into something more if one of us was brave enough to go the distance.

I also knew that maybe neither of us was in the right place to choose someone else when our own dreams still demanded so much attention.

Goodbyes timed by the sky

The sky turned pink and purple as I headed to the airport. He followed behind me riding Ophelia, while I sat inside a tuktuk, a small motorized, three-wheeled rickshaw carrying me and my luggage through the last stretch of the city.

Rain had been forecasted all day. We both knew it. And yet somehow, the universe held it back, letting us have the beach, conversations, laughter, and pauses.

It waited until everything that mattered had already happened.

He made sure I got to the airport safely. Only after I gave him a tight squeeze and finally let go did the rain arrive, as if on cue, like it understood timing better than either of us.

It was an evening flight, and I looked like a deranged person wearing sunglasses, crying while sipping floral tea at Bo’s Coffee, staring out at the runway as planes lined up for departure.

I kept asking myself why distance suddenly frightened me when I had already crossed eight hundred kilometers for him.

Somewhere above the clouds, the answer floated heavily. I did love him. I just never said it out loud because I was afraid of what it would demand, and I was afraid of opening my heart again to someone I wasn’t even sure I would meet again.

For a moment, I felt loved and desired, and remembered what it felt like to be chosen, even briefly.

When I arrived in Manila, I looked through the photos captured on my OPPO Reno15 and smiled, seeing how a smartphone held on to a fleeting moment of love, written on sand and washed away exactly in time.

Believe me or not, I only had one encounter with an OPPO Reno phone, and it was the Reno10 Pro from 2021. However, my time with it was very short.

Almost five years in, I was finally given the chance to hold the Chinese brand’s latest and greatest Reno.

Without beating around the bush, here’s my first time with the OPPO Reno15 Pro.

First Look

The moment I unsealed its sturdy packaging, the OPPO Reno15 Pro greeted me in this shining, shimmering blue backing.

Dubbed as the “Aurora Blue” colorway, it instantly reminded me that I’m still not over that Aurora Borealis scene in the latest hit K-Drama “Can This Love Be Translated?” starred by Kim Seonho and Go Younjung.

I said it before and I’ll say it again, flashy finishes are the least of my options when choosing for a new phone. Still, this finish wins over the less impressive Dusk Brown shade.

Just like that dazzling northern lights, the Reno15 Pro shows off its aurora accents depending on how the sun hits it.

In the faintest of light, that aurora simply vanishes. Even so, the OPPO Reno15 Pro still shines through with its specks of glitter.

That’s more evident when you bring the OPPO Reno15 Pro indoors — be that your cool room (literally) or a warmly-lit café.

 

Its camera cutout may not be the most unique out there, but it’s uniformed enough to look clean. After all, a phone’s camera arrangement isn’t what defines the overall performance of its cameras.

First Date

Although 8.13mm isn’t “thin” in today’s standards, holding and keeping the OPPO Reno15 Pro for prolonged periods never felt a sore. Its aerospace-grade aluminum frame may just be one among many factors.

One after another, that 6.32-inch AMOLED 120Hz display is a huge complement to the hands. It fits my huge palms, more so, pockets of all sorts. This sweet screen size is also a breath of fresh air in a vast world of large slabs.

When hit by that harsh sunlight, it’s more than bright– up to 3600 nits of peak HDR brightness if I must insist. And, no matter what kind of content I consume, it’s truly crisp, clear, and even color-accurate.

Being powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 8450 SoC alongside OPPO’s ColorOS 16 is what made me stuck longer. It honestly felt like I’m in a smooth ride without any road traffic.

The OPPO Reno15 Pro has a great harmony between its software snappiness and fluidity. Animations flow without feeling rushed — much like enjoying date nights without being pressured to catch the last bus trip back home.

Speaking of staying out late for a date, the Reno15 Pro lasted me more than enough. And, despite its petite form, it managed to fit in a 6200mAh battery inside.

The screen size to battery ratio is just a perfect match. Not only it fits in most (if not all) hands and pockets, it also meant being able to squeeze in more battery to make the most out of your day, night, and even midnight.

If juice gets squeezed out, its 80W SuperVOOC charging will truly save the day!

That doesn’t even end there. With triple IP ratings (IP66, IP68, IP69), you’re more than assured that it’s durable enough in occasional (and accidental) phone drops.

First Impressions

The OPPO Reno15 Pro, despite being categorized as a midrange device, already feels like a solid vanilla flagship.

Much like any other first dates, its overall appearance is just on the surface level. What made me invested more to know the Reno15 Pro further are none other than its intrinsic qualities.

That includes that screen size (or form factor) on the sweet spot plus oh-so-fluid ColorOS. Moreover, its powerful core paired with a humongous battery that will truly last you long.

While I may not have included any photo sample in this early look, I can already assure you that it has one of the greatest camera performers for its class. And actually, it is for another story 😉.

My first time with an OPPO Reno smartphone not only made me impressed. This phone also enticed me to consider switching to the OPPO system when another review opportunity arises.

SEE ALSO: OPPO Reno15 Pro: Camera Review

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Do you ever get tired of carrying a heavy laptop and all its accessories every single day? Compare that with something as light as this. HUAWEI is back once again with the latest better-than-ever HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S 2026.

HUAWEI calls this a 4-in-1 better-than-ever productivity tablet because it’s got four components in one convenient package.

You have the tablet itself, the Smart Magnetic Keyboard, the Mouse, and the M-Pencil 3rd Gen.

With the free Smart Magnetic Keyboard, you can use the MatePad in a variety of ways like laptop form, studio form, and split form. The Mouse completes the PC-like experience by letting you work in split-screen views. Finally, the M-Pencil 3rd Gen features 10,000+ levels of pressure sensing and ultra-low latency.

Especially in laptop form, one of the best ways to use the MatePad 11.5 S is WPS Office 3.0. I wish I knew about this sooner, because I still pay every year for Microsoft 365.

On the other hand, WPS Office 3.0 is a completely free suite of productivity apps. Plus, it’s 100% compatible with 42 filetypes, so you don’t have to feel that you’re switching to something new. You can work on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs, just as you would a PC.

And you can handle them all at the same time.

In the Philippines, it gets really sunny. Using a screen outdoors or even by a window is impossible. Thankfully, HUAWEI is back with the improved 11.5-inch Ultra-Clear PaperMatte Display.

It’s also much clearer. You can hardly see the pixels even when you zoom in. Glare and reflections have been reduced by 50 percent, so you don’t strain your eyes after a long day.

Using the tablet’s screen is a breeze, since it’s compatible with the M-Pencil 3rd Gen and the M-Pencil Pro. And there’s so much you can do with the M-Pencil. It also feels and sounds like writing on actual paper.

You can also fulfill your need for creativity with the free GoPaint app, which even has pro features. I’m not even an artist, but this app can bring all my doodles to life. It features realistic brushes, an intelligent color card to grab the perfect colors, and an animation frame to liven up static images.

When you’re on break, the MatePad 11.5 S is just as good for entertainment.

The Ultra-Clear PaperMatte Display makes everything so alive whether you’re watching a show or playing games.

The new cooling architecture helps keep things in perfect shape for heavier tasks.

Finally, you don’t have to worry throughout the day because it has an 8800mAh battery and 40W SuperCharge. And it has all that juice even if it’s only 6.1mm thin and weighs only 515 grams.

Its premium metallic unibody design comes in two colors: green and gray.

With the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 S, you don’t need to keep bringing a heavy laptop with you anymore. This can do everything already.

This 4-in-1 productivity tablet is all you’ll need to work, learn, create, and play.

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This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Huawei Philippines.