Vallejo, CA (SF Bay Area) • March 13, 2020. Friday the 13th: The Last Handshake. Reflections on Sony Alpha gear and the shift to the COVID-19 era.
Vallejo, CA (SF Bay Area) • March 13, 2020

The Last Handshake: Friday the 13th

Wash your hands for 20 seconds; the elbow bump is your best friend. A gear-talk encounter marks the end of an era.

J.F.R. Perseveranda - Melbourne

Happy Friday! But today feels different. Migrating this from my Facebook thoughts today—I want my kids to see exactly how the world changed in a single afternoon. The advice is clear: wash your hands and keep your distance.

I had a strange moment this past Sunday. I was washing my hands in a men's room after a stranger admired my Sony Alpha gear. We had this great, high-energy conversation about cameras and lenses. Without thinking, I offered to shake his hand as we finished. I realized mid-gesture that the world had already tilted.

"If I offer to shake your hand... SLAP ME! Oh wait, no touching." #fridaythoughts #fridaythe13th #COVID19

🇵🇭 TAGALOG WOD

INGAT: To take care. Today, "Ingat kayo" isn't just a polite phrase—it's a communal mandate.

🔎 TOPIC: The 3/13/20 Pivot in the Bay

As of today, March 13, 2020, the U.S. has officially declared a National Emergency. We are moving to elbow bumps to keep our Lolos and Lolas safe.

J.F.R. Perseveranda

Author & Photographer: J.F.R. Perseveranda

J.F. (Jonjo) left the Philippines at age nine, spending a lifetime bridging the gap between his Marikina roots and his Chicago/Vallejo upbringing. He founded PinoyBuilt not just as a digital archive, but as a cultural compass for his three children to navigate their heritage, language, and identity with Pinoy Pride.