PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

Fairfield, California • August 2002. Four Days Before Tess's Birthday, I Found This. nica perseveranda childhood video, tess garcia perseveranda, chuck e cheese fairfield california, filipino american family archive, on this day pinoybuilt, august 12 2002. ON THIS DAY • AUGUST 12 FAIRFIELD, CA • AUGUST 2002 Four Days Before Tess's Birthday, I Found This Twenty-four years ago today, my late wife Tess held onto our not-quite-two-year-old at a Chuck E. Cheese in Fairfield. In four days, it would have been her thirtieth birthday. Placeholder hero — swap for the real photos once they're pulled from the archive. Twenty-four years ago at 12:30 PM, I had a digital camera in my hand and documenting my family and building my archive as always. My daughter Veronica — Nica — is sitting on a yellow-and-black coin-operated motorcycle at a Chuck E. Cheese in Fairfield, California, gripping the handlebars like...

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. 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 wa...

Maligayang Bati Bunso. Your 2nd Birthday Party! Backdated to July 15, 2006. By J.F.R. Perseveranda This photo captures a quiet birthday moment with my youngest child and her late mom.  Tita Chit is the background filling her plate so, kainan na ! Mama Helen was present, along with the Baluyut, Garcia and Recio families. The room was filled with laughter, love, and family memories. Every time I see this photo, it reminds me of the warmth of that day in 2006. Your lechon was HUGE, Chesca! Atet, ang ganda mo! Miss na miss ka namin. Miss na miss kita! PinoyBuilt Archive | © JF Perseveranda Why these photos are here, not on Facebook: I’ve been posting photos on Facebook since 2007 , but every like and comment there mainly grows Facebook’s ad profits. PinoyBuilt was conceived in 2003 as a Filipino-owned Fil-Am social hub . When you view, return, and comment here, you help this site survive through Google Ads and community support. Please boo...

Maligayang Bati Bebot! Your 18th Birthday Party! Backdated to July 15, 2006. By J.F.R. Perseveranda Mama Helen was present, along with the Baluyut, Recio, and  Garcia-Cabungcal  families. The room was filled with laughter, love, and family memories.  Top Photo, left to right: Bong Baluyut, Nestor & Josie Recio, Helen Garcia, Mary Ann Cabungcal & Amalia Ocampo. PinoyBuilt Archive | © JF Perseveranda Bakit dito ko pinopost ang mga litrato, hindi sa Facebook: Matagal na akong nagpo-post sa Facebook — simula 2007 — pero sa totoo lang, bawat like at comment doon ay pera lang para sa Facebook . Ang PinoyBuilt ay naisip na noong 2003 bilang isang Filipino social hub, bago pa sumikat ang FB. Kapag dito kayo nagbabasa, nagko-comment, at bumabalik, PinoyBuilt ang nakikinabang , hindi Big Tech. Ibini-backpost ko ang mga litrato ayon sa tunay na petsa kung kailan sila kuha, at ibinabalik ko sila taon-taon kapag dumarating ulit ang petsang ...

Maligayang Bati Bebot! Your 18th Birthday Party! Backdated to July 15, 2006. By J.F.R. Perseveranda Bebot got top billing for her 18th birthday. I guess she started living with us in 2006. Was this Goldilock's or Red Riboon? PinoyBuilt Archive | © JF Perseveranda 💛 Explore Filipino American heritage, culture, and stories! Join our Fil-Am community to connect, comment, celebrate, and share experiences. Mabuhay! 📌 Follow PinoyBuilt Instagram 👍 Like PinoyBuilt Facebook ✍️ Follow PinoyBuilt Blog 📺 Follow PinoyBuilt YouTube 🎓 Interested in helping us create content? Join our team! #PinoyPride #PinoyCommunity #FilAm #FilipinoAmerican #PilipinoAmerican #kapamilya