Marcelino Lim: From Springstowne Jr. High to Birmingham, AL (Hogan '85)

Birmingham, AL • March 12, 2026. Celebrating Marcelino Lim's birthday with a flashback to the Hogan '85 20th Reunion and the "JJAAM" crew from Springstowne Jr. High. Photo shot on the vintage Olympus C3000Z.

Birmingham, Alabama • March 12, 2026

Maligayang Bati, Marcelino! From Springstowne to the South

Celebrating a Spartan brother, a "JJAAM" basketball original, and a friendship that survived the rain and the years.

Today we send a massive Happy Birthday to Marcelino Lim, now holding it down in Birmingham, Alabama! Whether it’s Maligayang bati or—in honor of our 7th-grade French class roots—Joyeux anniversaire, the message remains the same: brotherhood is forever.

Our history goes back to the lunch courts of Springstowne Jr. High School. If it wasn't raining, we were playing basketball. It started with Tony Palisoc and me meeting in French class; then Joe, Arnel, and Marcelino joined the rotation by 8th grade. We called ourselves JJAAM—an acronym for our first initials.

L to R: Glenn Victa, Marcelino Lim, Arnel Pacanza, Antonio (Tony) Palisoc, Joe Jang, and J.F. Perseveranda.
Hogan Class of '85 20th Reunion (Oct 15, 2005) • Photo © J.F.R. Perseveranda.

📷 GEAR SPOTLIGHT: OLYMPUS C3000Z

This reunion photo was captured with my very first digital camera—the Olympus C3000Z. A Christmas gift from my titas in 2000, this 3.3MP pioneer was the starting point for my journey in documenting the Fil-Am experience. Check out more from our throwback gear archives.

🇵🇭 TAGALOG WOD

Barkada: The crew that stays together. From 7th grade basketball at Springstowne to Alabama, Marcelino remains a core part of the JJAAM legacy.

🇫🇷 FRENCH WOD

Amitié: Meaning friendship. A nod to our 7th-grade French class where this journey began. Joyeux anniversaire, mon frère!

This photo from our 20th Reunion in 2005 was supposed to be the "JJAAM" lineup, but we lined up in reverse, and Glenn Victa pulled a classic move by jumping into the shot. It’s a perfect snapshot of the Hogan '85 spirit—unplanned, full of laughs, and always together.

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MARCELINO LIM HOGAN SPARTANS BIRMINGHAM JJAAM THROWBACK GEAR OLYMPUS C3000Z REUNION

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.