Hogan Spartans '85: Martin Nunez Roasts Dondi Reyes After 40 Years!
Nearly five minutes of laughs, memories, and truth — only a barkada in their 'young & stupid' high school days can pull off a roast like this.
We already covered the big picture of Michael "Dondi" Reyes' surprise birthday celebration in Stockton — the Hogan High Class of '85 showing up in force, the laughs, the nostalgia, the family. But there was one moment at the surprise party that deserves its own post: Martin Nunez taking the floor and delivering a roast that only a true barkada forged throughout Hogan Senior High School days could pull off.
Martin spoke for nearly five minutes straight to paint an honest, hilarious, and ultimately moving portrait of the man being celebrated. Dondi, never one to let someone else have all the fun, jumped in with his own commentary throughout — and the room loved every second of it.
💛 Did You Know?
In Filipino culture, the willingness to publicly recount someone's most human moments — flaws and all — at a milestone celebration isn't just comedy. It's an act of deep trust and respect. Only someone who truly knows you, and truly loves you, earns the right to stand up and talk like that. Martin Nunez earned it.
🇵🇭 Tagalog Word of the Day
Kwentuhan (kwen-TOO-han)
Meaning: The act of storytelling among friends; trading memories, reminiscing, talking the night away.
In context: What Martin and Dondi did at that table was pure kwentuhan — the kind that only happens after 40 years of friendship and a whole lot of life in between.
The Man Who Earned the Mic
When it came time for the roast, there was really only one candidate. Martin Nunez — Hogan Spartan, Class of '85, and the person who logged more "young and stupid" adventures with Dondi than perhaps anyone else in that room — stepped up without hesitation.
What followed was nearly five minutes of the kind of storytelling you can't script. Martin walked the table through the early chapters: the risks taken, the moments that seemed much funnier in retrospect, the version of Dondi that only the people who were there got to see. He didn't just roast the man — he honored him by remembering him fully.
Dondi Joins In
True to form, Dondi didn't sit quietly and take it. He added his own commentary throughout — confirming some stories, keeping the energy exactly where it needed to be. That back-and-forth between the two of them was the real heart of the evening: two guys who've known each other since the unforgettable teen years could finish each other's stories.
Kudos to Dondi, Liane, and the whole Reyes family for putting together such a memorable night. And a special salute to Martin for doing what a good kaibigan does — showing up, speaking up, and making sure the man of the hour felt every bit of it. Mabuhay!
Sources & Credits
- Video via YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=SqQIIBi_JWc
- PinoyBuilt community submission — Stockton, CA | March 7, 2026
- Related: Michael "Dondi" Reyes' Surprise Birthday Party — PinoyBuilt
💛 The Hogan Spartans of Vallejo
Hogan Senior High School in Vallejo, CA has long been a cornerstone of the Filipino-American community in the Bay Area. The Class of 1985 — which includes Martin Nunez, Dondi Reyes, Tony Palisoc, Tony Magbitang, Jim Abad, and Rudy Jandoc — represents a generation of Fil-Am students who grew up together in East Vallejo and have stayed connected across decades, careers, and coasts. Their reunions are a living record of the Filipino diaspora in Northern California.
J.F. (Jonjo) left the Philippines at age nine, spending a lifetime bridging the gap between his Marikina roots and his Chicago/Vallejo upbringing. A proud Hogan Spartan from East Vallejo and resident of LA/SF, 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.
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