Somewhere in the middle of my post-breakup arc, I escaped to Shangri-La Mactan for ten days, craving sun, sea, and a little bit of solitude.

Of course, I got everything except that. The sun showed up and the sea sparkled. But solitude? Not a chance. Between moments of lounging by the beach, a fun crowd found me and never left.

Maybe it’s true what they say about Leos: that we are the personification of the sun and everyone else just revolves around us, even when we try to hide.

I guess I’ve built a reputation for being the life of the party. After all, I slid a JBL Flip 7 into one of my beach bags for an island-hopping trip, and that pretty much sums me up.

Main character, personified

Before main character energy became a TikTok cliché, I was already walking proof of it. I’ve always been the personality hire in every workplace I’ve joined, because somehow, the room lights up when I enter.

I command attention, whether I mean to or not. And maybe that’s why I’ve always owned JBL speakers over the years. On a charity excursion in the mountains three years ago, I carried a PartyBox Encore Essential on my shoulders while trekking through a muddy slope.

Back when I lived in a mid-rise condominium, I even got a noise complaint. The bass from my JBL speaker rattled the walls and shook the entire floor.

JBL’s speaker–whether it’s the PartyBox or its smaller portable siblings–have always had that unmistakable DNA.

Loud, confident, and unapologetic. The sound comes with full force, but when you actually listen, it’s balanced and bold. It’s really main character, personified.

That same identity extends to the new Flip 7. I got mine in Purple, my favorite colorway: bold, bright, and playful, just like yours truly.

If there’s one accessory I’ll bring everywhere, it’s this one.

Made to take every beating

It’s easy to imagine waterproof and drop-proof speakers as rugged slabs of tech, made for hikers and hardcore adventurers. The Flip 7 challenges that image with a design that speaks in color, texture, and fun.

Right now, it comes in Black, Blue, Red, Pink, White, Purple, and Squad (a camouflage look).

The form factor will feel familiar to anyone who’s used previous Flip models. Cylindrical, compact, and easy to grip.

Its matte fabric finish stays grippy, even when wet. It slips effortlessly into any tote, doesn’t feel bulky in the hand, and looks damn good on any poolside table.

The buttons are tactile, and the strap lets you hook it, tie it, or carry it around your wrist like a fashion accessory with benefits.

The details are thoughtful and well-executed, so the speaker never screams “utility.”

It’s rated IP67, which means it’s both dustproof and waterproof. You can submerge it in water up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

That’s why I didn’t worry when it fell off a table, rolled across the sand, or got splashed with seawater and dinner drinks.

Somewhere in the middle of our island-hopping adventure past Caohagan Island in Cebu, the skies turned without warning. We were in the middle of the sea, mid-lunch, mid-conversation — and the rain poured like Moana stole something from the ocean and the goddesses were angry.

I wasn’t about to let a sudden storm dampen our trip. So, I pulled out the Flip 7 and hit play on my downloaded Britney Spears playlist on Spotify. We were wet, cold, and shivering in open water with the waves getting higher. Still, we were laughing and singing as “Toxic” blasted through the rain.

We just let Britney carry us through the storm.

The good and the not-so-good

JBL claims up to 16 hours of playtime, and the Flip 7 came close. I used it across the day, from my pre-island-hop prep and the actual boat ride to some poolside downtime after the storm and even a post-dinner fireworks moment on the balcony.

By the end of the night, it died. It wasn’t quite 16 hours of continuous play, but it made it through the ride and the day.

What I appreciated more was how strong the Bluetooth connection remained. I paired it with my iPhone 16 Pro, my iPad Pro, my MacBook Air, and even my ASUS Zenbook S 14.

It stayed connected even when I moved around, like when I left the speaker playing on the poolside bed while I fetched a frozen margarita by the bar, at least 50 meters away.

Although, when two or more paired devices played media at the same time, the speaker sometimes paused playback instead of switching between them. It didn’t switch audio sources mid-stream, it just paused.

When I needed to share sound–which, yes, happens–JBL’s Auracast came through. It let me connect to other compatible JBL speakers and headphones so everyone could hear the same playlist in sync.

Designed to keep up

I’ve always been on the go, always diving headfirst into new experiences, adventurous or not.

The JBL Flip 7 tags along without missing a beat. It’s compact enough to carry without thinking, loud enough to overpower a storm, and stylish enough to be an extension of your personality.

I didn’t stop using it after my ten-day trip. I took it to Bangkok, played Chappell Roan during my morning rituals inside the hotel room, and started my day in full main character mode.

It’s the kind of gadget that blends into your life without asking for much. You don’t need to charge it daily or fuss with settings. You turn it on, and it plays.

If you want to tweak the sound, the JBL Portable app gives you control. But for people like me who prefer tech that works without using a single brain cell, the Flip 7 delivers exactly that.

Is the JBL Flip 7 your GadgetMatch?

The JBL Flip 7 is for people whose lives are made of spontaneous trips and unplanned adventures. If you care about how things look, how they sound, and how they hold up when things get messy, this one’s definitely your GadgetMatch.

For PhP 7,999, you get a portable speaker that doesn’t flinch when the weather turns and makes even the worst travel hiccups feel like scenes from your favorite coming-of-age film.

Because honestly, the Flip 7 made our trip feel like a movie. We turned up the volume and for a few moments, we were all the stars of the story.

The JBL Flip 7 is available at JBL’s official stores and authorized retail partners.

Keyboards can make or break how productive you feel.

The iRocks K85R steps up as a full-size mechanical board that doesn’t drown in gimmicks.

Instead, it brings together thoughtful design, practical features, and a solid typing experience that strikes the right balance for both work and play.

Build, design

The iRocks K85R is a full-sized wireless mechanical keyboard built with productivity in mind.  One standout feature is its dedicated control knob and screen, which enable on-the-fly setting adjustments.

And with onboard memory, you don’t have to load up their software to make these changes.

The knob feels sturdy and smooth to use, while the screen adds practicality by giving you instant feedback.

This combo brings a thoughtful touch that puts the K85R a step above more basic entry-level boards.

The K85R’s metal top plate and sturdy plastic case work together to deliver a rigid, durable build.

The polished metal accents, including the knob, add a clean and professional touch that leans more towards a minimalist office aesthetic than a flashy gaming board. This balance makes it versatile for both work setups and casual play.

Features, functionality

The K85R offers practical features that make it easy to live with daily.

It supports both wired USB-C and wireless 2.4 GHz connectivity, with a polling rate of up to 1000Hz in either mode. So, whether you’re gaming or working, responsiveness won’t be an issue.

With a dedicated control knob, you can manage key functions on the fly. Adjust volume, switch between tasks, or adjust screen brightness without opening any software.

Plus, with onboard memory, your custom lighting profiles and macros stay saved directly on the keyboard, so your setup goes wherever you do.

The only caveat is software support: while the keyboard works fine on macOS, iRocks’ configuration software is Windows-only. Mac users can still use the K85R without trouble, but customization options might be limited.

Switch and typing experience

You can choose from three of iRocks’ in-house switches for this keyboard: Silent Bubble Switch (tactile, quiet), Bubble Switch (tactile, louder), and Berry Switch (linear).

Our unit came with the Silent Bubble Switches, and here are the key specs: Actuation force: 45 ± 10gf,  Pre-travel: 2.5 ± 0.5mm, Total travel: 3.7 ± 0.5mm.

Typing on these feels slightly stiffer than mainstream tactiles, due to the longer pre-travel and medium-to-heavy actuation force. The good thing about this is there’ll be minimal to no accidental presses.

Despite the tad stiffer feeling, the shorter overall travel balances things out, providing a soft feeling before bottoming out. The shorter travel distance also makes bottoming out feel snappier and more deliberate.

Overall, this quiet but tactile typing experience is ideal for shared spaces, like offices or cafes. And if the Silent Bubbles aren’t your thing, the K85R’s hot-swappable sockets let you swap to your preference.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The iRocks K85R strikes an excellent balance of functionality, build quality, and clean design. It’s great for productivity-first users who want a full-size keyboard with a genuinely useful control knob.

Starting at US$ 99, it stands as a strong mid-range option. The K85R is a well-rounded keyboard and a worthy addition to any enthusiast’s arsenal.

If you’re looking for a professional, versatile mechanical keyboard with hot-swap flexibility and thoughtful features, the K85R is well worth considering — and for us, it’s a Swipe Right.

I didn’t think I’d be printing memories this year.

Since February, I stopped writing from my heart. Stopped making anything at all. A relationship that lasted two and a half years ended, quietly and painfully. And the silence that followed swallowed up the parts of me that used to reach for joy.

He was in all of my instax stories. Always in the frame, or just out of it. So, when he left, I tucked the cameras away too. Until now.

This birthday, I didn’t plan anything big. A hair spa, a massage, and maybe a bit of reflection. But something else unfolded instead. A joy that found its way back. And in the middle of that reset, the instax mini 41 helped me hold onto the moments I didn’t expect to love.

A camera that didn’t ask for attention

The instax mini 41 is dressed in vintage black with sleek silver trims. Classic, like something I used to love. But it has a pop of orange now. A new detail. A little boldness. Maybe that’s what I needed too.

It’s easy to use. Just twist the lens to turn it on, and twist again for Close-up Mode. There’s a small mirror beside the lens, so you can frame yourself without overthinking. Parallax correction keeps your selfies aligned.

It doesn’t overcomplicate anything. It simply lets you show up in the photo and in the moment. And that day, I did.

Light that doesn’t miss you

Between warm restaurant lights and the pale glow of the mall, the instax mini 41 adjusted with grace.

Its Automatic Light Adjustment balanced flash and shadow, giving each print that signature soft, dreamy finish I’ve always loved from instax.

Even when I didn’t think I’d want to keep the memory, I clicked the shutter. And then I did want to keep it.

Prints that feel like progress

There are photos I keep returning to. My smile, which was unguarded and unplanned. The kind I thought I’d forgotten how to make.

There’s one from dinner with my closest friends. Grateful, full, a little spontaneous. Another from a date where we had plenty of quality time. We watched a movie premiere that got rescheduled. He took me home in the rain.

Looking at the prints, I realized they weren’t grand and posed, but they’re mine. I dated each one and slipped them into the back of my journal. Not because I was trying to replace what I lost, but because I wanted to remember what I found: that I could still feel joy.

That I’m still here, heart open, hands steady, and learning to love the moment again.

So… is the instax mini 41 your GadgetMatch?

If you’re in a season of starting over — or gently letting someone new into your frame — the instax mini 41 might be your GadgetMatch.

It’s classic, easy to use, and beautifully unintrusive. It’s a camera that doesn’t demand a moment but honors the one choose to keep.

And if you’re not quite ready to write the next chapter, that’s okay. Sometimes all you need is a Wednesday to begin again, a little black camera, and a maybe that makes you smile again and walks you home in the rain.

The Fujifilm instax mini 41 retails for PhP 6,599. It’s available in Fujifilm authorized dealers.