PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

Baby Nica had an appointment at Kaiser, likely a 4-month wellness check. I took photos of Tess on our "lawn" at Toni Ct.

 

In December, the family of Angelo Quinto called police as he was suffering a mental health crisis. They say officers allegedly knelt on Quinto’s neck for several minutes, and he died three days later. PINOYBUILT NEWS MATIBAY • MALINAW • MAKATARUNGAN Justice & Community Family of Navy Veteran Angelo Quinto Speaks Out After Death in Police Custody By Pinoybuilt News Team • Source: ABC News Report The family of Angelo Quinto , a 30-year-old U.S. Navy veteran, is seeking justice and answers after he died following a confrontation with police in Antioch, California. The incident, which occurred while Quinto was experiencing a mental health crisis, has drawn comparisons to the death of George Floyd and sparked a wrongful death lawsuit against the police department. A Call for Help Turns Fatal On December 23, 2020, Quinto’s family called the police for assistance as he was suffering f...

I wanted to watch it live, but I fell asleep. I think it started here past midnight, maybe 12:30 AM.  I miss playing competitive tennis.  In high school,  during my senior year, we met this man who was in his seventies.  He said he started playing tennis in his mid-sixties.  A few of us rallied with him at the Amador tennis courts in Vallejo, and he was hanging with us varsity players.  He used a slice on both forehand and backhand.  His shots were slow, but he returned most of our shots.  His slow returns actually gave him time to get back to the middle of the baseline.  So back then, I thought I'd be playing this sport into my 70's. But, I tore my ACL thirty years ago playing basketball.  Then I played on that torn ACL for five years before getting it repaired.  I even joined a judo tournament with that torn ACL!  For the love of competition... One of these days, I'll go back to Melbourne and watch the Australian Open li...

There’s been a massive uptick in attacks against Asian Americans since the coronavirus pandemic began. In New York City, such crimes are up 1900%. Actress Oliva Munn is speaking out to Inside Edition after a recent attack in Queens hit close to home. It hit home for Munn because her mother is of Chinese descent, and she’s also friends with the victim’s son. Cops say during a verbal dispute, the assailant threw a box at the woman and then pushed her to the ground. My mom shouldn’t have to feel this way. 😡 #StopAsianHate #ProtectOurElders pic.twitter.com/c8ZX9WJxZg — O M (@oliviamunn) February 28, 2021

Naomi Osaka wins the 2021 Australian Open 🔥 It’s her 4th Grand Slam and 2nd #AusOpen title pic.twitter.com/3p90JWdpjh — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2021 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉. When @naomiosaka became our 2021 Women's Singles champion 🏆 #AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Id3ZZhaJHh — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 20, 2021 Watch the Trophy Ceremony from Naomi Osaka's triumph over Jennifer Brady, in the 2021 Australian Open Women's Singles Final. "One of the greatest things a person can do is inspire others.” From a quiet winner to a vocal champion, the effects of @naomiosaka 's transformation can be felt far beyond the tennis court. Congrats on major title number 4 to the one raising more than her game. pic.twitter.com/2AZMA6fCMW — Nike (@Nike) February 20, 2021 Absolute madness. number 4 #ausopen pic.twitter.com/cjFNcl7iQH — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) February 20, 2021 It's a privilege for us to watch you @naomiosa...

If you're on Twitter, you can follow me @jfperseveranda My secondary account is  @PinoyBuilt .

I took French from seventh thru twelfth grade in Hogan High School . I took a couple of semesters of French in college too.  I should be fluent, but as the saying goes, "Use it or lose it." There was no French club in tenth grade and our French teacher left at the end of the year. When Madame Yvonne Steffen came in at the start of 11th grade, we re-established the French Club .  Everyone pointed to me to be the president.  Silly me, I turned it down. I did become the French Club president for senior year.  But once I got my early acceptance to UC Davis for Aeronautical Engineering in December before Christmas vacation, I resigned my position!  I just wanted to hang out with my boys during lunch. C'est la vie!

Christmas family photo in 2011. It's my nephew Ronick 's 23rd birthday today.  I was looking in our Facebook friendship photos where we're both tagged and found this.  Thanks for the shot Garry!  Remembering: Tito Ed -  https://eduard.perseveranda.com/p/in-memoriam.html Tess -  https://tess.perseveranda.com/p/rest-in-peace.html

I got connected to a Baliwag cousin on Facebook recently. Jean Jimeno Villanueva and I are second cousins.  Our maternal grandmothers, Amparo and Consuelo , were Baliwag sisters.  Their parents, our great-grandparents pictured above, were Cristino Baliwag Sr. and Frisca Naval Enriquez . The funny thing was that I was already connected to Jean's mom, auntie Rory Villanueva , on Facebook.  She had added me a couple of years ago, but we had never chatted. To make it easier to connect to the Baliwag clan , I created a Facebook group of course since none existed.  It gets tricky when you go into the third and fourth generations down a family tree, and there are so many surnames to know. Uncle Renato Baliwag Jimeno Sr.  added me on Facebook in July 2019.  Here's the family tree he sent me last year in 2020 The Baliwag Clan: Cristino Baliwag Sr. married Fresca Naval Enriquez.  They had nine children. Jose Baliwag married Ellen Baliwag. Pilar Baliwag mar...

UC Davis Medical Center says it has reached herd immunity from COVID-19 among staff through vaccinations.  "CBS This Morning" lead national correspondent David Begnaud spoke with one nurse initially hesitant to get vaccinated. Now, she explains why she thinks everyone should get it.

Until it becomes a memory! So true. 💔😔

Flashback to twenty years ago today Ninang Marisa! Thanks for spending your special day with us that day.

Nica was baptized at St. Catherine of Siena. The party was at Dan Foley Cultural Center. In loving memory of Tess Garcia Perseveranda. Happy birthday Ninang Marisa!

Flashback: Malate, Manila 1999 with my maternal grandmother This should be November 1999, either right before or right after Tess and I got married in Bukidnon.   Happy Birthday in heaven Lola Amparo!  Happy Valentines Day!

via Instagram

via Instagram

Flashback to February 12, 2010 when we first ate at Yo Sushi in Vallejo Thanks Facebook Memories .

via Instagram This is overlooking the 16th hole at the course.  Ciara and I will come here more often when the sun peaks out to try to get better photos.  This is just shot on my iPhone 11.  I'll bring my Sony DSLR next time.

H.E.R. sings 'America the Beautiful' for the Super Bowl LV Pregame Show. The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay. . @HERMusicx sings America The Beautiful! #SBLV pic.twitter.com/X5cxxotkwQ — NFL (@NFL) February 7, 2021

via Instagram

Stephen Curry GOES OFF for 57 PTS & 11 THREES on the road against the Dallas Mavericks. I missed the Warriors game again. I didn't really "watch" the last Warriors-Mavericks game with my mind wandering pretty much the whole game.  Watching the Warriors off YouTube highlights will likely be the norm for me. 🔥 57 POINTS and 11 THREES for Steph 🔥 2nd-highest scoring game of career 🔥 NBA-record 16th game with 10+ threes WARRIORS at MAVERICKS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | February 6, 2021 Luka Doncic (career-high tying 42 PTS, 7 REB, 11 AST) and Stephen Curry (57 PTS, 11 3pt FGM) went head-to-head in Dallas as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Golden State Warriors, 134-132, splitting their two-game back-to-back series. Additionally for the Warriors, Draymond Green tallied 2 PTS, 6 REB, 15 AST, 6 STL and 4 BLK.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert We're thrilled to welcome H.E.R. back to the show for this performance of a song she wrote for the film "Judas and the Black Messiah," which hits theaters and HBOMax on February 12th. The song is available for streaming and downloading now, check it out! https://jatbm.lnk.to/FightForYou​ #JudasAndTheBlackMessiah​ #FightForYou​ #HER​ . @HERMusicx performs her new Golden Globe-nominated single "Fight For You" on #LSSC https://t.co/LY0cfk4N5X pic.twitter.com/NVHAFuAbUE — A Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 5, 2021

H.E.R. - "Fight For You” (from Judas And The Black Messiah) 🤜 @HERMusicx 's Golden Globe Nominated (!!!) track "Fight For You" (From the Original Motion Picture "Judas and the Black Messiah" @JATBMFilm ) is available now🤛 🔗: https://t.co/BOJ9KyG8ui pic.twitter.com/PwyiZn5cpn — rcarecords (@RCARecords) February 5, 2021 #FightForYou from @JATBMFilm is featured on @TIDAL ’s Grown R&B playlist! https://t.co/ikJQNt53hF pic.twitter.com/mxnKpNboc4 — H.E.R. (@HERMusicx) February 6, 2021 . @HERMusicx drops off a groovy performance of “Fight For You” from the soundtrack of @JATBMFilm . Congrats on that #GoldenGlobes nom! #LSSC pic.twitter.com/6msSodLeoc — A Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 5, 2021 Best Original Song “Fight For You” @HERMusicx @Tiara_Thomas Dernst Emile II “Hear My Voice” @DANIELPEMBERTON @celeste “Io Sì (Seen)” @Diane_Warren @LauraPausini @NiccoloAgliardi “Speak Now” @leslieodomjr Sam Ashworth “Tigress & Tweed” @A...

Grammy-winning R&B musician and Vallejo native H.E.R. will be on the national stage this Sunday, performing at the Super Bowl. TODAY! Tune in to the @NFL Super Bowl on @CBS Kick-Off Show at 6 PM ET! 🏈 #SBLV pic.twitter.com/YjDf7itCX4 — H.E.R. (@HERMusicx) February 7, 2021 SUPERBOWL WEEKEND. 🎉 #SBLV pic.twitter.com/r92rKsHbPt — H.E.R. (@HERMusicx) February 5, 2021 The artist was also just nominated for her first Golden Globe. The song "Fight for You" is in the Best Original Song category. https://abc7ne.ws/2MpQN6x​ #HER​ #HERFightForYou​ #SuperBowl​ #GoldenGlobes H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church will take the stage for the 2021 #SuperBowl Kick-Off show https://t.co/wuyuqw5HmP — billboard (@billboard) February 7, 2021

A program founded by a Fil-Am basketball coach aims to keep the ball rolling for Filipino hoopsters amid COVID restrictions.  It also gives foreign-based athletes the opportunity to take their talents home to the Philippines .  Steve Angeles tells us about Fil-Am Nation Select in this report. ICYMI: In this #ANCRundown special, @migsbustos spoke to Cris Gopez and Zavier Lucero about Fil-Am Nation Select, and Paolo Layug of the DLS-CSB Blazers on fantasy basketball strategies. Full episode available on iWantTFC. pic.twitter.com/fLvIJon8HN — Ralph Domingo (@ralphierce) February 4, 2021 Congrats to Zavier Lucero on becoming the 4th Keelhauler in program history to receive an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. But he is the first JUNIOR ever to receive the honor for Cal Maritime! #Keelhaulers #GoKeelhaulers pic.twitter.com/qlRjDNBrwt — Keelhaulers (@GoKeelhaulers) March 19, 2020 Congrats to our Zavier Lucero on being the @Cal_Pac Men’s Basketball playe...

Filipino restaurants in Los Angeles County get a sense of relief and hope with the easing of COVID restrictions. As Steve Angeles tells us, more help is on the way for small businesses in the area.

ICYMI #SB50 sets records! 1M came through #SuperBowlCity , 50th Mile & @SuperBowl Experience https://t.co/yPSeJbTrBr pic.twitter.com/uKp3lz1uAI — Super Bowl 50 (@superbowl50) February 16, 2016 View this post on Instagram A post shared by JF Perseveranda Photography 😷 (@jfperseveranda)

Walking down Embarcadero with Tess, Nica and Jian. February 2016.

It won't bring back my wife, but this is awesome news! Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, home of the San Francisco 49ers, will become the Bay Area’s next COVID-19 mass vaccination site, according to the team and the county. Damian Trujillo reports. The 49ers have partnered with Santa Clara County to make Levi's Stadium the largest COVID-19 vaccination site in California (via @jenniferleechan ) https://t.co/c2UbqF4iin pic.twitter.com/wQT2yrqCnT — 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) February 5, 2021

I would like to throw my hat in support for @RobBonta to be this state’s next AG. Made history as the first Filipino state legislator and I know he would be a fair and steady AG for this state. Representation at all levels. #pinoyproud — apl.de.ap (@apldeap) February 3, 2021 . @RobBonta is a champion for equity & justice. A progressive who has fought to make our criminal justice system fairer, Rob won't back down when it comes to protecting civil rights. We join those calling on @GavinNewsom to appoint him Attorney General. https://t.co/SN0xmR3OI6 pic.twitter.com/ri1JZOPEEO — ACDems (@AlamedaCoDem) February 5, 2021 Governor Newsom, just do it. Sige na! 🤙🏽 Pleased to support @RobBonta for CA AG. Rob is a trailblazer & progressive champion for justice, opportunity, equity & inclusion. He is the 1st Filipino American state legislator in the history of CA & would be the 1st Filipino American AG. #RepresentationMatters #PinoyPride — Lou Di...

Friday before Super Bowl 50, five years ago I let the kids skip school (but Chesca declined the offer) so we could party with the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers fans in Super Bowl City in San Francisco .  Lots of people!  It makes me wonder what they have setup in Tampa Bay for this year's Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady?  I'm just going to root for the red team.  It's my favorite color. I've been wearing one of my SF 49ers jersey all week, so it's definitely  #WearRedDay . It’s #WearRedDay ! Share a pic using #WearRedDay to show your support and raise awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. pic.twitter.com/asITRkRNGo — American Heart Association (@American_Heart) February 5, 2021

Ez Mil is back on the Wish USA Bus with a live performance of his rap track "Panalo"! The catchy R&B beat expresses the singer's take on Filipino nationalism.

If this California hospital worker can do it, why not us? I haven't really been following the market in years.  I just know my 401K was hit bigly during the past administration.  Also my fault, I wasn't managing it. So my Robinhood app was approved a couple of days ago.  I just need to add funds.  I found out cousin Melvin has been on Robinhood for a few years, and cousin Ress has also been trading. I got flashbacks to the tech boom in the 90's, when I used to day trade, and took $1000 and turned it into $30K in one year.  So I know it's very doable.  You just have to do your research and due diligence.  Of course, I was an active trader before I got married.  I'd turn on the tv to the financial news, login on my E-Trade account around 6 AM, and do some trades before work.  At work, I'd scour the web for the latest, plus I was in a few forums. WallStreetBets and the "little guys" have shown that if they band together, and hold together, it's...

Photo is of Tess and me posing outside of Mindy's Malaybalay in November 1999. We had dinner with her Bukidnon friends and my cousin Michelle. #Healing doesn’t mean that the #pain goes away. It means that the pain becomes a #sacred part of you that you carry inside #forever . @LoriGottlieb1 https://t.co/DDBWr66dU2 #fightcovid19 #WearAMask #WearAMaskSaveAlife #StayHome #ripTess #ripAtet — JF 🌊😷 📷 (@JFPerseveranda) February 5, 2021 Found the quote off The Atlantic's Instagram post. It was a response by Lori Gottlieb in her "Dear Therapist" column in The Atlantic to "Paulina." I’m so sorry that your father died ,and I can imagine the depth of your sorrow right now. You’re right that it feels profoundly unfair that one day you had a perfectly healthy father, and two weeks later he was dead. And along with him died your vision of the future, which included not just dancing with him at your sister’s wedding and seeing him experience grandpare...

The untold story of the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and how China responded. With leaked documents, secret recordings and firsthand accounts, the documentary "China's COVID Secrets" reveals the gulf between what Chinese scientists and officials knew and what they told the world. Tune in or stream 2/2 on @PBS . https://t.co/Oph3oRwPRu pic.twitter.com/95mfGVmbMJ — FRONTLINE (@frontlinepbs) February 1, 2021

Why some Covid-19 vaccines were developed faster than any vaccine ever.

San Francisco may not be allowing fans to attend professional sporting events yet, but that didn’t stop the Golden State Warriors from celebrating its annual Filipino Heritage Night. First time back at Chase since March. Happy Filipino Heritage Night @warriors fans. 🇵🇭💙💛 @ Chase Center https://t.co/iREjQkfs5M — DJ Umami (@djumami) January 31, 2021 Rommel Conclara gives us a look at how the event was mounted this year. Celebrating Filipino Heritage Night on #WarriorsGround 🏀 GSW vs. DET 🕖 7pm PT 📺 @NBCSAuthentic 📻 @957thegame 📱 https://t.co/ZkjPJj14fy 📝 https://t.co/ZyQ42tW3cG @CacheCreekCR || #DubNation pic.twitter.com/qfGCNAMwYc — Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 30, 2021 PISTONS at WARRIORS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | January 30, 2021 The Golden State Warriors defeated the Detroit Pistons, 118-91. Stephen Curry led the way for the Warriors with 28 PTS (6 3PM), 5 REB and 7 AST, while Jerami Grant tallied a team-high 18 PTS for the Pistons. Go...

Remembering my Lolo, Marciano Presenta Perseveranda. January 2, 1909 - January 27, 1992 Should've been taken by Tito Maning on his ship in US Naval Base Subic Bay. Lola Rosita was still living in Chicago with my family. 🙏🏽❤️🕊 Naval Legends: USS Midway. The first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal The idea to build a marvel like that was suggested by the US Navy’s Bureau of Ships as far back as in 1940. For American admirals , this was a dream: a carrier that would be robust as a battleship and have at least 120 aircraft on board. As a result, Midway was so much better than all other US Navy attack carriers, that it was distinguished as a new type — battlecarriers . Midway turned out to be a truly unsinkable ship . US Navy Big Return to Subic Bay Naval base in the Philippines? The United States Navy is planning to return to its former base in the Philippines under a commercial deal, the Philippine Navy chief said on Sunday, May 10, after an...

Never underestimate the power of cooperation and collective action to save lives. Who are you and what will you do on 4 Feb? Speak up, stand up and take action together this #WorldCancerDay #IAmAndIWill https://t.co/mxGMp8LVb2 https://t.co/XsfCGJ0oeO — JF 🌊😷 📷 (@JFPerseveranda) February 4, 2021 🙏🏽 On #WorldCancerDay I wanted to remind people to check their bits & bobbins and if you find a lump or are concerned about any other symptoms go get checked out. Early diagnosis leads to much better treatment outcomes. And to those fighting it now, I send love ❤ & strength 💪 pic.twitter.com/0TGX0NxQyR — Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) February 4, 2021

Merchants and residents in Oakland’s Chinatown are pleading for help after a massive spike in violent attacks in recent weeks. Jodi Hernandez reports.

Throwback to when Tess was still single.

Balitang America Filipino Canadian mixed martial arts champion Ryan “The Lion” Diaz achieved his dream when he began construction on his multimillion-dollar Vancouver school in early 2020. But when the pandemic hit, he rolled with the punches by upgrading his facility and programs with COVID-19 safety measures. Rowena Papasin reports.

Tess' grandfather, Antonio Garcia Sr., owned a printing press in Quezon City.

This is the quote that greeted me this morning. Demons. Bravery. I guess the most important part is that I'm awake. I'm alive. I can still care for Tess' kids. My kids. 🙏🏽❤️

So, you have been eatin' hot dogs and chicken nuggets all your life and you don't want the vaccine cuz you don't know what's in it? LOL Let's all vaccinate. Gotta do it. Fight COVID-19!

View from the front door. Wednesday is garbage day.

Sit with Bernie! 😆😂🤣

Nearly 80,000 deaths!

Photo with Ciara by the 18th hole.

The sun and the sky looks pretty cool. I'd been a longtime Samsung Galaxy cellphone user forever. All my big screen TVs are Samsung. The last refrigerator I bought is Samsung. But my iPhone 11 beats my old Samsung Galaxy S5 hands down! 📲

Yesterday the City of Benicia hosted a free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for Solano County seniors (75+). More than 1,400 people were vaccinated at the clinic. Our officers and staff members took part of this event by providing traffic assistance, security, greeters, call takers, and more to the public during this big undertaking. We are so glad to be able to be part of this great event, which provided the much anticipated vaccine to our most vulnerable population. This clinic was a collaborative effort with Benicia Fire Department , Benicia Parks & Community Services - Recreation, Benicia Public Library, Solano Public Health , Kaiser Permanente Thrive, Carquinez Village, Valero Energy , Rotary Club of Benicia, numerous community volunteers and other amazing City of Benicia departments and staff members. Thank you all! 🙏🏽❤️