Features

The Credit Card that kept me on top of my spending – even overseas!

Went over budget, but knew right away that I did

Published

August 19, 2025

I go on these media trips year after year. Some are fully sponsored, others only partially. Yet no matter what the arrangement, I’ve often ended up unsure about how much I actually spent.

I’ve never been the type to meticulously track expenses (not ideal, I know). But during two of my most recent trips, I finally had a better grasp of where my money was going — thanks to the Maya Black Credit Card.

So, what is Maya Black Credit Card?

The Maya Black Credit Card is Maya’s sleek new premium card that ditches the old-school rules around who gets access to credit.

Instead of relying on traditional credit checks, Maya uses your in-app data and AI-powered models to figure out if you’re eligible. You can apply right from the app, get approved fast, and even start using a virtual card instantly.

The physical card? It’s numberless and shows up at your doorstep in a few days — all managed straight from your phone.

What makes it even cooler is how it’s designed so everyone’s invited, even if you’re still building your credit history. If you’re still working on your credit score, you can get Maya Black Express. It has the same perks as Maya Black, but instead of basing your limit on credit history, Maya bases it on the amount you set aside in your Maya account, and that money still earns while it’s there.

And because it’s still a black-tier card, you get the perks — real-time Maya Miles with every purchase, airport lounge access, and global acceptance via Visa.

Basically, Maya’s making credit cards feel a little less intimidating and a lot more accessible.

Maya made me look

The real game-changer for me wasn’t just the card itself — it was the habit I developed around checking the Maya app. Unlike my regular banking app, Maya’s already part of my daily routine. I open it often, whether to pay bills or just check my balance.

So, when I used the Maya Black Credit Card for my primary expenses on a couple of recent overseas work trips, I ended up monitoring my spending without even trying.

It also helped that I went to cities where credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere.

Taipei for Computex

This was my first true test. If I remember correctly, I had just received the Maya Black card before the trip. You could say it was a trial by fire.

First hurdle: topping up my EZ Card — Taiwan’s almost do-it-all reloadable card. I had to use cash for that one thing because I wanted to keep it strictly for public transport. That was the only time I needed physical money. Every other transaction went through Maya Black.

From my onigiri-and-iced coffee breakfasts to Uber rides and even that one dinner I had to cover for the team — everything was on the card.

That level of convenience? Unmatched. And at the end of each day, I could easily pull up the Maya app to see where my money went.

Now, I wish I could say it helped me rein in my spending on this trip. But since I’d already paid for everything out of pocket, I figured — no need to add more pressure on myself.

New York, though, was a different story.

Unpacked in New York City

This one was a bigger challenge: a more expensive city, more places to go, and way more temptations. I already knew I’d go over my target budget — but the difference was, I knew exactly when it happened.

The Maya app didn’t just show me the numbers — it made me more conscious of my habits. I started making smarter choices (well, mostly) because I didn’t want to face a giant wall of red transactions after the trip.

Smarter, in this case, mostly meant cutting unnecessary spending. I limited my Uber rides to when I really needed them. The rest of the time, I just took in the city — walking around and soaking it all in.

For dining, I made sure I got my money’s worth — or just tagged along with the delegation. The tipping culture in New York? Let’s just say it’s not something my third-world salary was fully prepared for. But I digress.

Another underrated feature: Maya sends SMS alerts with every transaction. So, I felt the pang of each swipe in real-time — no need to even open the app sometimes.

Best for travel

Overall, the Maya Black card proved to be a reliable travel partner — helping me “manage” my expenses. And I say “manage” in quotes because it wasn’t about strict budgeting. It was more like tracking my behavior and knowing what to improve next time.

There were three key features that stood out:

Instant updates

It felt like having a live expense tracker in my pocket. No guesswork. Just open the app and see where you’re at — any time of the day.

Currency Conversion Clarity

Foreign currency transactions are automatically shown in pesos, so I didn’t have to guesstimate or pull out a calculator just to see if something was worth it.

Security

The card is numberless, and everything’s managed in-app. If anything happens, I could freeze it instantly with a tap. That gave me peace of mind the whole time.

I’m still not the kind of person who logs every peso in a spreadsheet. But Maya Black made me just aware enough to be a more mindful spender — without turning it into a chore.

That’s a win in my book.

Should you get a Maya Black Credit Card?

If you’re someone who travels for work, doesn’t obsess over budgeting, but wants to be more mindful of spending — Maya Black makes that easy.

It’s not just about perks or design. What really makes it work is how seamlessly it fits into your existing app habits. That’s where it sticks.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Maya.

Related Topics:Maya Maya Black Maya Black card

Features

OPPO Find X9 Pro in Mexico

Best Camera Phone For Travel?

Published

December 15, 2025

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

To find your GadgetMatch you first need to think about your needs.

As a frequent traveler, Michael Josh’s GadgetMatch is a phone that he can take with me on ALL his trips.

Insert the latest and greatest OPPO Find X9 Pro.

On a recent trip to Mexico, he took thousands of photos and tested it out.

Features

Make every peso count on your holiday trip with Wise

Make every peso count

Published

December 15, 2025

GadgetMatch

Dreaming of a holiday abroad but worried about hidden costs eating into your budget?

This Christmas season, overseas vacations are always a great idea — whether it’s solo or a group trip with friends, or with loved ones and family.

Exploring new food, culture, and shopping abroad is the ultimate reward for a year’s hard work.

However, airfare, accommodation, and other expenses can quickly make such trips costly. Add to that extra charges, like transaction fees and fluctuating conversion rates.

Thankfully, there are several ways to make every peso count when traveling. Wise, a global technology company, offers smart tips to spend and manage money internationally better so you can make your trip more affordable and enjoyable.

Track your expenses

The simplest way to build up for a long-awaited holiday trip is to budget ahead and start saving as soon as you can.

You can start by tracking your daily expenses with budgeting apps. You’ll see how small purchases add up, giving you the awareness to budget more effectively.

For instance, daily spending habits like buying coffee outside can add up quickly. A PhP 200 coffee a day at a major chain equals PhP 6,000 a month, or even PhP 72,000 annually. That’s more than enough for a three-day family trip to your dream destination.

Outside of travel, that can become your funds for Christmas gifts, new clothes, and further treats for yourself.

Deposit travel savings into a separate account

Knowing that you will travel in the future, the next step is to decide where to keep it. You can transfer a portion of your 13th month pay or Christmas bonus to a separate account to grow your travel fund.

This is where Wise comes in handy. For travels, it holds money in more than 40 currencies. The Wise Jar feature also helps users organize money for different trips. It’s a great way to protect funds, stay consistent, and prevent overspending.

Once you’ve secured your travel fund, the next challenge is making sure you spend it wisely abroad.

Prioritize experiences over expenses

A simple mindset of valuing experiences and creating memories over material things like souvenirs can go a long way.

Sure, happiness looks different for everyone, but there are several budget-friendly activities abroad that offer the authentic experience. There are free walking tours and tourist pass bundles for a lower price.

And with just your smartphone or portable camera, those moments will stay with you long after the trip ends.

Be wise with payments

Moreover, it’s easily tempting to use a credit card and pay in pesos when buying goods or shopping internationally. However, while that sounds convenient at first, you could incur additional fees without even realizing it.

Traditional cards charge up to 3% in foreign transaction fees. Plus, conversion rates always fluctuate. Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees when paying via merchants’ POS or withdrawing cash at foreign ATMs also hurt as they’re usually marked up.

Fortunately, the Wise multi-currency card lets users hold and spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market exchange rate, minus hidden fees. It allows you to spend like a local and bypass foreign transaction fees.

For instance, a smartwatch priced at US$ 85 could cost you PhP 5,100 if you pay in pesos. But if you pay in USD using Wise’s mid-market rate, you’d spend only around PhP 5,004.8. This allows you to save roughly PhP 100 on a single purchase.

Multiply that across meals, shopping, transport, and other daily expenses and you could save thousands in a single holiday.

Tap to pay when abroad

Lastly, and as mentioned above, the Wise card can be added to your Google Wallet. This makes it seamless for travelers to pay abroad.

Not only can you pay in over 40 currencies at the real exchange rate without extra fees, but you don’t have to carry a physical card either. You just need an Android phone or smartwatch to pay.

To add a Wise card to Google Wallet and pay with Google Pay, customers can:

Open the Wise app
Tap the Card tab to view all available cards
Select their card to add, then tap “Add to Google Pay.”

Ready to travel smart this holiday season? Download Wise now and make your dream trip happen — without hidden costs.

Features

Inside the music festival scored by fireworks and heartbreak anthems

Capturing the JBL Sound Fest 2025 through the lens of the OPPO Find X9

Published

December 11, 2025

MJ Jucutan

Attending the JBL Sound Fest 2025 felt like entering a tropical Coachella built on cold winds and adrenaline.

The air carried the pulse of a crowd that came to celebrate music and the people who keep its magic alive.

Lines curled around the Parklinks open grounds long before sunset. Fireworks lit the sky above when the show started.

People came dressed as if the night itself was an event worth courting. Sequins tried to outshine stage lights while denim jackets and jeans fought the cold.

I had missed the Sound Fest two years in a row because my life had revolved around training schedules and a calendar that refused to breathe.

This year, Cup of Joe appeared on the lineup like a sign I could not ignore. Then, the roster looked like a music scene ready to let you sing your heart out.

There was Kat DJ, Sean Archer, December Avenue, Flow G, Ashtine Olviga, HORI7ON, and Rico Blanco.

A car-mageddon worthy of a pre-show

The festival took over the Parklinks Open Grounds on December 6.

I stayed at EDSA Shangri-La and believed it would take twenty minutes to get there. Metro Manila’s traffic jam had other plans, though.

My plus one arrived to pick me up at 6:30 p.m., exactly when the show started. I knew the gates opened at four and I could have avoided the rush, though I underestimated the gridlock that wrapped itself around the city that afternoon.

Friends I gave VIP passes to texted me before cellular reception collapsed. They said the grounds looked like a festival pulled from a fever dream; like a mini Coachella filled with sequins and crop tops.

I wanted to be there early enough to take it all in, but I was in a car on EDSA holding a Shake Shack sandwich like a pre-battle ration.

We reached Parklinks at 8:30 p.m. December Avenue had just stepped on stage. Missing half the festival never felt so worth it. I was squealing while running towards the gates.

When old songs return without breaking you

December Avenue and Cup of Joe revived my faith in OPM in 2023.

Their songs felt like chapters from a life I lived too loudly. They reminded me why music can hit like a diary written by someone who never met me but somehow knew exactly what I felt.

Their songs scored the rise and ruin of a relationship that made my heart misbehave. “Huling Sandali” was my heartbreak anthem, when I would sit with the ache of loving someone who could not name what we were.

Hearing it live did not break me the way it used to. It felt like meeting an old version of myself and recognizing that I survived him.

My voice remembered the lyrics even when my heart no longer carried their weight. For the first time, hearing “Bulong”, “Eroplanong Papel”, “Saksi ang Langit” live felt like hearing stories rather than seeing them as scars.

Tastes like gin, stage lights, and people you love

Flow G’s set shook the earth. I followed the vibrations to the concessionaire area to find my cousin, who was battling a water line that stretched across the field. We spent the wait taking photos and laughing at the crowd energy that kept rising.

When Ashtine Olviga sang, I returned to SVIP and surrendered to Rose Quartz Gin & Tonic. Friends drifted in and out of the circle like constellations forming and dissolving.

There were conversations shouted over bass drops, and moments caught in the glow of the crowd’s light sticks.

Then HORI7ON arrived. The crowd ignited and people surged forward. When they performed “Like JENNIE”, the energy shot through the audience as if someone plugged the entire field into a power source.

I might have screamed a little too loud and danced more than I planned.

The headliner of my heart

Cup of Joe entered the stage while I was in a portalet, which is the most on-brand plot twist my life could deliver.

I sprinted like an athlete in the last five hundred meters of a race. My plus one and I made it back to the walkway near the stage just in time for their visuals to unfold like a cinematic opening.

Their production felt massive. It reminded me of my early years dreaming of building audio-visual experiences that could move people, when I used to work in live events. I watched the lights bloom in time with the music and realized I no longer needed that life to love it.

My OPPO Find X9 captured every moment unfolded. The clarity was unshakeable, even at night, and the color accuracy stunned me. Every frame felt like it acknowledged the way I experienced the night.

Cup of Joe sang “Patutunguhan”, “Silakbo”, “Misteryoso”, “Estranghero”, “Pahinga”, “Tingin”, “Sandali”, and “Multo”, which recently won Song of the Year at the 2025 Filipino Music Awards.

The crowd sang louder with every track, showing how music can pull strangers together in one heartbeat.

A night that ends softly

Fireworks lit the sky at midnight as their set ended. I slipped out of the grounds before Rico Blanco performed since my body started asking for rest.

There were rumors about scheduling delays because he wanted to perform last, although it no longer mattered. The night had already offered everything I needed.

Cup of Joe was JBL’s newest ambassadors and the show’s headliner, and they gave me what I came for. Hearing them live was a dream I postponed for years.

I once imagined hearing them with someone I loved deeply. Instead, I heard them with friends who feel like home, and with a heart that no longer trembles at old memories.

Walking out of Parklinks, I realized something unexpectedly. I can sing the songs without bleeding. I can dance, scream, laugh, and live through the music without thinking of who I lost.

For the first time in a long time, I can enjoy the night for what it was.