Her GadgetMatch

Planning a wedding in the Philippines? Take your gift registry online with Knots and Pans

An ecommerce site perfect for time -and cost-conscious newlyweds-to-be

Published

January 29, 2019

Two weeks ago, I got married. On January 13, I married my boyfriend of seven years at a garden ceremony and reception in Tagaytay. After being engaged for more than a year and a half, the event itself just flew by, and it was surreal seeing all of the work we put into preparations pay off within a single day.

To cut costs and indulge our pickiness, we decided to book suppliers ourselves and hire an on-the-day coordinator to take over the actual date. Much like handling a long-term work project, finding the right suppliers to trust with our vision was enjoyable, but also exhausting. As the date inched closer, one thing we started handling relatively late was prompted by friends and family asking if we had a wedding registry. Oops.

Enter Knots and Pans: an online wedding registry website, the first and only (so far) of its kind in the Philippines. We discovered it when a friend used it for her own wedding, and we were impressed by the convenience of not having to trek to a physical store for purchases. We waffled about on whether to try it for ourselves until ber-months rolled around, and we realized we didn’t have anywhere to direct guests to whenever they asked about gifts. Not having enough time in our schedule to open a registry somewhere else, we dove in.

Creating an online gift registry on Knots and Pans is simple and straightforward. It’s totally free, and registering is like creating an account on any other ecommerce site. From the get-go, you select the occasion you’re building the registry for — wedding, birthday, bridal shower, baby shower, housewarming, or fundraising — and can use either your Facebook account or email address for logging in. Next, you select your personal aesthetic for product suggestions from a few choices and can then customize your registry page by creating a custom URL and adding a banner image.

Of course, the most fun comes from building the registry itself, which feels just like messing around on Pinterest. Most items come from local brands, and are usually unique. There’s a search function if you’re looking for specific needs (bed sheets or appliances, for example), and guests can find your registry simply by searching your names.

We could always go back to the website and add new things, and even add spaces for monetary gifts with different labels (like travel, home fund, etc.) to be deposited directly into an account. You also have a gift tracker to see which items were already purchased and by whom. Getting an email notification that somebody bought something was always exciting, but I turned that option off because, well, spoilers!

One comment though is that the search function is extremely bare-bones and could do with a few more filters, which reflects how items are organized in the main product catalog, as well. It can be difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for as categories are too general — although, it isn’t a big problem now due to the limited types of items available.

But there’s a caveat: despite there being a large number of items to choose from, I did feel limited in the look of things we saw (as everything is pre-curated). I’m sure some couples wouldn’t be fans of this site if their personal aesthetic may not match the products.

Despite that, it worked out fine. While we did still receive physical gifts, most came from Knots and Pans. That little blessing manifested itself on the day, when some unlucky circumstances meant we ended up with less car space going home than anticipated. It definitely took a load off us; we didn’t need to spend too much time stressing out on how to Tetris a bunch of gift boxes (and leftover food, leftover wedding cake, wedding gown and suit, and more) for the way back to Manila.

Now we’re here, two weeks after the wedding, and we’ve already received and found places for the first set of gifts our guests purchased from the site. Some friends bought gifts closer to the date, and Knots and Pans’ customer service team was very responsive on Viber, letting us choose whether we wanted to wait a little longer to receive everything in one go or have them delivered in two batches. Delivery straight to our home was free, and all boxes came neatly packaged with custom wrapping paper. A nice surprise was that they took the time to attach printed cards with messages guests could customize while they were buying on the site!

Overall, we had a great experience with this supplier and would recommend it to any engaged couple aiming to save time and money. While ecommerce has become ubiquitous in everyday life, it would be interesting to see what other needs and niches future players in the industry can address, just like this one did for us!

Her GadgetMatch

What your smartphone color choice reveals about you

Eight colors, eight personalities. Here’s how to pick.

Published

August 14, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Your phone color says more than you think. With the Pixel 11 series, Google’s giving you eight ways to make that statement, and there’s genuinely one for every kind of person.

Hibiscus

You’re never the quiet one in the room. Hibiscus doesn’t ask for attention; it just takes it, and if that sounds like you, you’re probably not planning to start hiding now. This is the pick for anyone who’d rather stand out than blend in.

Pistachio

You’re the one who remembers everyone’s coffee order. Pistachio is soft and easy; the one whom people gravitate toward without quite knowing why. It doesn’t try hard to be liked. It just is.

Frost

You like things a little too organized. Frost means clean lines and a clear head, the color equivalent of a camera roll with zero mess in it. If your notes app has color-coded folders, this one’s calling your name.

Obsidian

You let the work speak for itself. No flash needed, because when you show up, the room adjusts anyway. Obsidian is the classic choice, the one that’s never trying too hard because it doesn’t have to.

Canyon

You’re the one who suggests the sunset drive. Canyon is warm and a little restless, always chasing golden hour whether or not anyone else is up for it. Available on the Pro and Pro XL, it’s built for people who treat every evening like it might be a good one.

Olive

You’re outdoorsy, but you’ll still show up looking put together. Olive is low-key and grounded, the one who doesn’t try too hard because it’s already comfortable in its own skin. Another Pro and Pro XL exclusive.

Fog

You’re hard to read, and you like it that way. Fog is understated on purpose, a Pro and Pro XL colorway for anyone who’d rather keep people guessing.

So, which one’s you?

Eight colors, three phones, one very personal decision. Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL goes on sale starting August 20 — with Pistachio, Hibiscus, Frost, and Obsidian on the base model; and Canyon, Fog, Olive, and Obsidian on the Pro line.

Which one’s calling your name?

Her GadgetMatch

TECNO and Angélica Dass team up for a global portrait project

Dass aims to photograph 100 people across five countries using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra

Published

July 8, 2026

Vincenz

TECNO has partnered with Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass in launching “100 Portraits of Becoming.”

It is a two-year global initiative that explores identity, representation, and how AI sees people.

The project officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya — where Dass began photographing participants using the latest TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra.

Who’s Angélica Dass?

Angélica Dass is best known for exploring identity and self-expression through portrait photography.

Her award-winning “Humanæ” project challenged conventional ideas of race and skin color by highlighting the diversity of human skin tones.

ICYMI, Dass and her project gained much recognition from:

TED
World Economic Forum
UNESCO
American Museum of Natural History
Vogue
National Geographic

Portraits beyond appearances

With this portrait project, Dass teams up with TECNO to photograph 100 people across five countries.

Rather than simply documenting faces, 100 Portraits of Becoming aims to tell the stories behind each participant. Every portrait is paired with a personal narrative about growth, identity, and life experiences. Creating what TECNO calls a “Living Archive.”

Participants are photographed in natural light, without filters, and while wearing clothing of their own choice to better reflect their authentic selves.

The collaboration also explores how AI can go beyond simply recognizing faces. Asking instead how technology can better reflect the complexity of human identity and give people more control over how they choose to be seen.

Powered by TECNO’s Universal Tone imaging

All portraits are shot using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, which features the company’s Universal Tone imaging technology.

Introduced in 2023, Universal Tone is designed to improve how smartphone cameras capture different skin tones. According to TECNO, the system is built on a database covering hundreds of skin tone samples, allowing photos to produce more natural and accurate results across a wider range of complexions.

The company says the technology aligns with the project’s goal of promoting more authentic and inclusive representation in photography, especially as AI-powered imaging becomes increasingly common nowadays.

From Kenya to the world

As previously mentioned, Kenya serves as the project’s first stop. With TECNO citing the country’s growing technology ecosystem and young population as reasons for beginning there.

Over the next two years, the initiative will travel to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil. The first collection of portraits and stories expected to go live online in August.

As of writing, TECNO is currently accepting participants from the Philippines where Dass is expected to take part from August 16 until August 22, 2026.

Through 100 Portraits of Becoming, TECNO hopes to spark conversations around identity, diversity, and how technology can better reflect the people it captures—not just visually, but through their stories as well.

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson’s viral portable fan arrives in the Philippines

Published

June 23, 2026

Carolyn Ramoran Hamilton | Almost Diplomatic

If there is one Dyson launch that has generated unusual levels of anticipation this year, it is the Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan.

The compact cooling device quickly gained a following after its international release, reportedly selling out within a day in several markets. Now, just in time for the hottest and most humid months of the year (no thanks to climate change), it is finally arriving in the Philippines.

With temperatures continuing to climb, the timing feels almost inevitable. Lightweight and designed for use on the move, the HushJet™ Mini brings Dyson’s airflow technology into a portable format that fits easily into everyday life—whether commuting through the city, attending outdoor events, traveling, or spending long days under the sun.

Its appeal extends beyond functionality. Finished in Dyson’s Stone/Blush colorway, the device combines cooling performance with a sleek aesthetic that feels at home alongside the accessories people already carry daily.

The new Dyson HushJet Mini is your new companion against heat and humidity.

The launch also marks one of the most accessible entry points into the Dyson ecosystem. Priced at PhP6,499, the HushJet Mini offers consumers a practical way to experience the brand’s engineering and design in a product built for everyday use.

Given the strong demand seen overseas, interest is expected to be high when the fan officially launches in the Philippines.

Where, when, and how to get your own Dyson HushJet

The Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan in Stone/Blush will be available beginning June 25, 2026 at 3 p.m. at participating Dyson stores, including Mall of Asia, Podium, Greenbelt 5, and One Bonifacio High Street.

For those hoping to get their hands on one, it may be worth keeping a close eye on Dyson Philippines’ official social media channels and Dyson.ph. If international demand is any indication, this could be one of the season’s most sought-after releases.