When the kuya brought bunso for redeye to Chicago ✈️

Ronnie 7/06/2025 04:27:00 PM

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✈️ Travel Throwback: Chesca’s First Trip to Chicago 🇺🇸

J.F.R. Perseveranda
Tuesday, July 5, 2022

July 5, 2022 — A memorable day for our family, especially for my youngest daughter, Chesca. This was her very first visit to my U.S. hometown of Chicago. Her kuya Jian brought us to SFO that night for her red-eye flight. We were both attending my niece’s high school graduation party — a long-awaited family reunion.

For me, it was a return to familiar places and faces. For Chesca, it was a special second: meeting her three girl cousins close to her age for the first time in years, reconnecting with my Tita Lita and Tito Narding after so many years. It was heartwarming to watch a new generation build ties with roots they’ve only heard about in stories.

Travel throwbacks like this remind us of how family — and a sense of home — can stretch across miles, memories, and generations.

#PinoyBuilt #FilAmFamily #TravelThrowback #ChicagoTrip #FilAmYouth #FilipinoAmerican #PinayAdventures #KuyaAndBunso #SFOtoORD #FilAmJourney #FamilyReunion #TitaTitoLove #CousinGoals #PinoyDiaspora #FilAmHeritage #GrowingUpPinoy

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Posted by: Ronnie

Founder, Social Media Manager & Content Creator at Pinoybuilt.com. Photographer. Former IT Product Manager at Pacific Gas & Electric. I'm a 1.5 generation immigrant—Filipino-born, U.S.-raised—sharing stories that bridge cultures. Share yours at PINOYBUILT.com. I’m still learning about our roots, and I invite you to learn with me. I was born in Makati City and raised in Marikina, known for world-class shoes and strong community ties. I went to Marist School; my sister went to St. Scholastica’s. We spent weekends in Malate—those memories of old Manila still shape who I am. At 9, we moved to Chicago, where I saw snow for the first time. At 12, we relocated to Vallejo, CA. Since then, I’ve lived in Davis,Glendale (SoCal), back to Chicago in my 20s, San Francisco & Fremont. I visit SoCal often for family. Chicago will always be special—but go Golden State Warriors! At UC Davis, I was a member of Mga Kapatid, where I had the chance to participate in Pilipino Culture Night and perform traditional dances like Bangko. Now, as a father of three, I’m doing my best to pass on our Filipino heritage. Let’s build something Filipino together. Mabuhay. Salam