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MJ’s GadgetMatch for 2023

I had the time of my life (with all of it~)

Published

December 27, 2023

MJ Jucutan

Finding the right gadget that matches your wants, needs, and lifestyle is difficult to achieve — but not impossible. This year, I’ve got my hands on playing around with the latest in the consumer technology industry. But of course, a few stood out and were etched into my mind and heart.

Everything I list down here is my GadgetMatch for 2023. And no, I don’t have “one” GadgetMatch. My life is too vast to be confined to a single match.

Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2)

Becoming a full-fledged athlete means stepping away from stuff I used to do and like. That includes being overly concerned with my style to look presentable.

Ditching my Apple Watch was probably the best thing I did this year. Not only did I stop caring about how I looked, but I focused more on improving my performance as an athlete.

Instead of being the athlete on the race course who is always being praised for his unique outfits, I rose to the top of my age group’s leaderboard.

From Rank 28, I jumped to Rank 13 at the end of Spartan Race Philippines’ National Series for Age Group 25-29. That age bracket is dubbed as the most difficult since the athletes are at their peak condition.

I also made new Personal Records (PR) for my 21KM and 10KM races, thanks to the improvements I made while studying my data brought by the Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2). Who knew that changing my smartwatch would transform me from a sports enthusiast to a hybrid athlete who gives his heart and soul to the sport he chooses?

READ: I ditched my Apple Watch for the Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2)

GoPro Hero12 BLACK

My life isn’t always just running, lifting, and racing. I still permit myself to have an activity that doesn’t involve preparing for my next Spartan race.

During my off-season, I toured the countryside of Bohol, went island hopping, and jumped plenty of times during my canyoneering adventure in Cebu.

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Having the GoPro HERO12 BLACK allowed me to document my travel without being overly attached to my smartphone. It helped me stay present in making and capturing memories.

And when I was about to run out of storage, I transferred the photos and video clips to my iPhone through the app.

READ: GoPro HERO12 Black: Making heroic shots with the new HERO

OPPO Find N3 Flip

Having a smartphone that can keep up with your lifestyle is a must nowadays. It’s not a matter of having a smartphone to stay connected.

The OPPO Find N3 Flip fits perfectly in my life, thanks to its versatile form factor. Sometimes, it’s a fitness companion. It helps me record my workout routines so I can check my form later, or I can send it to my coach whenever I’m in a different gym.

But most of the time, it’s a pocketable camera that captures my daily life and outdoor adventures. From running errands to running on mountainous trails, the OPPO Find N3 Flip kept up with my activities. It’s certainly the smartphone that I can call my GadgetMatch.

READ: OPPO Find N3 Flip review: Fits my life perfectly

Canon EOS R8

Life took another 180 when I got accepted as a race photographer for the sport I love. I took the Canon EOS R8 along with the RF 15-30mm and RF 70-200mm lenses during my photography gig for Spartan Race Philippines.

The experience helped me remember what it was like to shoot and capture important moments. It also gave me a better appreciation of the photographers I stumble upon on the race course, seeing how they spend the early morning up until the sun sets.

I experienced bearing the heat and exhaustion to capture every racer a photo they will treasure as part of the race they signed up for.

To be part of their journey is what elated me as a race photographer, and I managed to do my role when I had the Canon EOS R8. Simply put, I had the time of my life with it.

READ: On the other side of the race course

Next-Gen Ford Everest Titanium

Most of what I listed here became my daily drivers for some time. This is why the Next-Gen Ford Everest Titanium deserves a spot in my list of favorites this year. Having had the privilege to road test various cars, the Next-Gen Ford Everest Titanium stood out the most for me.

I drove it from Manila to Clark and back for a weekend getaway with a detour to one of Spartan Race’s toughest challenges with people close to my heart. It has a spacious compartment that fits our luggage and comfortable passenger seats that make the SUV feel like our home while on the road.

The tech features made driving a humongous vehicle so much easier, keeping us safe and sound and doing the extra legwork so we could all have a cozy ride. There’s nothing quite like it — finding a home wherever you are.

READ: Home away from home: Next-Gen Ford Everest makes long trips cozier

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We hosted a Spider-Man block screening with Samsung — here’s what went down

GadgetMatch and Samsung Philippines held “Galaxy Ultra Unfolds,” an exclusive media night built around ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and the newest Samsung Galaxy foldables.

Published

July 31, 2026

GadgetMatch

We’ll be honest: when we say Galaxy Ultra Unfolds was more than a movie night, we mean it.

Last July 29, GadgetMatch partnered with Samsung Philippines to host an exclusive media block screening of Spider-Man: Brand New Day at Cinema 8, Power Plant Mall.

The premise was simple: bring the best of Philippine tech & lifestyle media and creators into one room, put the newest Samsung foldables in their hands, and see what happens.

What happened was a really good night.

Guests arrived to a registration setup that made it clear from the start that this was not a standard press event. The Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8 were ready to go alongside the newest Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2.

And unlike most launch events, you were encouraged to actually use them. Pick one up, pair it with the watch, and get comfortable trying them out. The screening wasn’t starting yet, and there was content to be made.

That content came in the form of our on-site contest, “Which Samsung Foldable is Your GadgetMatch?”

The idea was straightforward: pick the device that best represents you, pair it with the Galaxy Watch, and create something.

Static or Reel, polished or raw, the only rule was that it had to feel like you. Watching people make that choice and defend it turned out to be one of the best parts of the evening.

Then Spider-Man: Brand New Day happened, and for a couple of hours, everything else took a back seat. It delivered exactly what it needed to. Watching it with a full room of media guests who had just spent an hour arguing about foldables made the whole experience feel like a natural extension of the night.

The evening wrapped up at Aruga by Rockwell, where the post-film energy kept going well past the credits. Good food, good company, and plenty of opinions about both the film and the devices that carried everyone through it.

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It was the kind of night that reminds us why we love doing this. Our full reviews of the latest Galaxy foldables and wearables are on the way — and trust us, you’ll want to stick around for those.

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GadgetMatch makes it back-to-back wins at the Henry Ford Awards

Our auto beat reporter, MJ, is now a 2-time award winner

Published

May 7, 2026

GadgetMatch

GadgetMatch has officially made it back-to-back at the Henry Ford Awards, as our associate creative director MJ Jucutan won the Ford Launch Story of the Year plum at this year’s HFA for his “What happens when the car you once loved returns as a Hybrid?” piece.

It is the second consecutive trophy for MJ, after also being recognized last year at the 24th edition of the HFA.

GadgetMatch entered the 25th HFA with two nominations, as news editor Luigi Leonardo also earned a nomination under the Automotive Vehicle Review of the Year (Article) category.

The 25th HFA was themed “Stars and Stories in Silver”, with Ford Philippines’ awards program marking a milestone.

In the landmark year, Ford Philippines honored 19 Silver Mile Luminaries, composed of 15 esteemed journalists and four media outlets, who have garnered the most awards throughout the HFA’s 25-year existence.

Here are the awardees:

Silver Mile Luminaries (journalists)

Jason Ang
Ulysses Ang
James Deakin
Manny de los Reyes
Ronald de los Reyes
Junep Ocampo
Vince Pornelos
Iñigo Roces
Tessa Salazar
Vernon Sarne
Paulo Rafael Subido
Dinzo Tabamo
Niky Tamayo
Eric Tipan
Steven Edward Yu

Silver Mile Luminaries (publications)

BusinessMirror Motoring Section
Philippine Daily Inquirer Motoring Section
Fast Times of The Manila Times
Top Gear Philippines

Lifetime Achievement Award

The 25th HFA also handed out the Butch Gamboa LIfetime Achievement Award to Manila Bulletin Executive Editor Pinky Concha-Colmenares.

The prestigious award recognizes a journalist whose body of work has made profound and lasting impact on the industry, informing and inspiring audiences while elevating the standards of automotive storytelling.

Industry, Ford category award winners

Meanwhile, the Industry and Ford category awards saw five winners from close to 100 entries:

Automotive Vehicle Review of the Year (Article) – “What the Mazda Miata means to my family despite never having owned one” by Carlo Chungunco for Top Gear Philippines
Automotive Vehicle Review of the Year (Video) – “2025 Nissan Z NISMO Review | Sharper, Faster, Greater” by Earl Lee for AutoDeal
Ford Launch Story of the Year – “What happens when the car you once loved returns as a Hybrid?” by MJ Jucutan for GadgetMatch
Ford Automotive Video Feature of the Year – “2025 Ford Bronco Review | The Best Off-Roader Yet?” by Jack Gutierrez for AutoDeal
Ford Automotive Short-Form Video of the Year – “FORD BRONCO: Can you tame this beast?” by Roy Robles for Zigwheels Philippines

Blog

GadgetMatch earns 2 nominations at 25th Henry Ford Awards

GadgetMatch among finalists in 2 categories

Published

April 20, 2026

GadgetMatch

GadgetMatch has earned two nominations at the 25th Henry Ford Awards.

The award-giving body has just announced its finalists for the five submission categories under the HFA, and nominated are our associate creative director MJ Jucutan and news editor Luigi Leonardo — both of whom cover the auto beat.

MJ won the Ford Automotive Article Feature of the Year award at last year’s HFA, and this time, he is nominated for the story, “What happens when the car you once loved returns as a Hybrid?”.

This is for the Ford Launch Story of the Year category under the Ford Category Awards.

Meanwhile, Luigi joins the cast of nominees for his “Starting the newly engaged life with the Kia EV9” piece.

This nomination is under the Industry Category Awards, which also honors content made by motoring journalists, regardless if it was about a Ford offering or not.

The Henry Ford Awards is the industry’s lone awards program that honors excellence and impact in Philippine motoring journalism.

All entries underwent two rounds of judging with respected members of the academe and leaders of business and allied industries.

In particular, audio-visual submissions were evaluated by special judges in creative industries, including:

Ogilvy Executive Creative Director Chino Jayme
brand filmmaker for Provill Studios and Sidekick Collective Sid Maderazo

The winners will be awarded on May 5, 2026, together with the Silver Mile Luminaries composed of motoring journalists who have won the most number of HFA awards over the last 25 years.

The award-giving body will also hand out the first-ever Butch Gamboa Lifetime Achievement Award.

25th Henry Ford Awards

Here’s the complete list of nominees:

Industry Category

Automotive Vehicle Review of the Year (Article)

“Starting the newly engaged life with the Kia EV9” by Luigi Leonardo (GadgetMatch)
“What the Mazda Miata means to my family despite never having owned one” by Carlo
Chungunco (Top Gear Philippines)
“When my 87-year old mother rates the 2025 Mitsubishi Xpander” by Raymond Gregory
Tribdino for (The Manila Times)

Automotive Vehicle Review of the Year (Video)

“2025 Nissan Z NISMO Review | Sharper, Faster, Greater” by Earl Lee (AutoDeal)
“2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 Review | Big and Bold” by Caco Tirona (AutoDeal)
“BYD Seal 5 DMi Dynamic Full Review – Can this Sub 1M Sedan Change the Game?” by Alexander Zosa (Jaywalkur Motoring)

Ford Category

Launch Story of the Year

“Ford Enters the Electrified Era with the Hybrid Territory and Mustang Mach-E” by
Kristoffer Lim (Megabites)
“The new Territory Hybrid is ready to usher in Ford’s electrified era in PH” by Leandre
Grecia (Top Gear Philippines)
“What happens when the car you once loved returns as a Hybrid?” by MJ Jucutan
(GadgetMatch)

Automotive Video Feature of the Year

“2025 Ford Bronco Review | The Best Off-Roader Yet?” by Jack Gutierrez (AutoDeal)
“2025 Ford Ranger Raptor V6 | Better than Diesel? RAPTOR ADVENTURE with F-150
and Bronco” by Roy Robles (Zigwheels Philippines)
“2025 Ford Ranger Raptor V6 Review | An Exercise in Excess” by Caco Tirona (AutoDeal)

Automotive Short-Form Video of the Year