PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

Celebrating Emmy's 10th Birthday in Vallejo By J.F.R. Perseveranda | February 28, 2026 | Gear: Sony a7III + 85mm f/1.8 Ress Angeles and Reeza. © J.F.R. Perseveranda Happy birthday to you too, Ress! Pisces!  Another one.  Great to see you Reeza. Love your San Francisco 49ers jersey, Ress. #85! The 85mm Perspective: Finding Focus in the Early Moments Taken with my Sony a7iii camera and my prime Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens. Community & Context More birthday photos — Happy 10th! Sony a7iii Photography — Sony Alpha J.F.R. Perseveranda Founder of PinoyBuilt. A Filipino-American writer and photographer documenting heritage through the lens of a Sony a7III. Learn More → Mabuhay! Join the Conversation. PinoyBuilt is more than a blog—it’s a living archive of the Fi...

Celebrating Emmy's 10th Birthday in Vallejo By J.F.R. Perseveranda | February 28, 2026 | Sony a7III + 85mm f/1.8 Happy tenth birthday to my beautiful niece, Emmy! Chesca & Elayna at Emmy's 10th birthday celebration. Vallejo, California. © J.F.R. Perseveranda Playing a board game before everyone arrives. Vallejo, California. © J.F.R. Perseveranda The bday girl plays with cousins from both sides of her family. Vallejo, California. © J.F.R. Perseveranda Tito Ress reppin' our team. Go Niners! Vallejo, California. © J.F.R. Perseveranda The 85mm Perspective: Finding Focus in the Early Moments These frames were captured using the Sony a7III paired with the Sony 85mm f/1.8 . This prime lens is exceptional for capturing the candid energy of a family gathering, allowing the background to melt away so the focus remains entirely on the connection between cousins...

Finding Family: Connecting With My 2nd Cousin Once Removed Through the Manlangit Line By J.F.R. Perseveranda for Pinoybuilt.com Genealogy has a way of connecting hearts as much as it connects DNA. Recently, I discovered a close match on Ancestry: braverifles43 . According to the platform, we share 119 centimorgans across 9 segments , making him my 2nd cousin once removed (2C1R) — or possibly a half 2nd cousin. This is my 2nd closest DNA match, and it opens a window into our shared Manlangit heritage from Oas, Albay . My First Connection When I saw braverifles43 in my DNA matches, I sent a simple message, introducing myself and asking about our ancestral ties: “Hi! I recently received my DNA results and it looks like we’re distantly related. You’re actually my closest match on one side of my family tree. I was wondering if any of your ancestors might have come from the Bicol region of the Philippines. I’m based in Northern California and have roots there myself. Hope...

When DNA Finds You: A 49 cM Filipino Match, an Adoption, and the Manong Generation By J.F.R. Perseveranda for Pinoybuilt.com When I uploaded my DNA to Ancestry, I expected numbers, percentages, and maybe a few distant cousins. I did not expect a message that would quietly open one of the deepest and most emotional doors in Filipino American history. Her name here will be “BK” . That is not her real name. She is a real person, an adoptee, and someone still searching for where she truly comes from. This story is not about exposing anyone. It is about honoring how DNA reconnects Filipino families that history tried to erase. Reaching Out Across DNA When I saw BK’s name appear as my closest DNA match on one side of my family tree, I did something simple but brave — I sent a message into the unknown. “Hi! I recently received my DNA results and it looks like we’re distantly related. You’re actually the closest match I have on one side of my family tree. I was wondering if ...

Flashback: August 7, 2004 Family is forever. Every now and then, it’s nice to open the old photo albums (or scroll through our hard drives -- and back them up before you drop them!) and relive moments that shaped who we are. Today’s flashback takes us to Outside Lands 2004  — when that meant Mama & Papa's front lawn (with the new added bonus of a water slide I bought). Jian and Keo attended Outside Lands Day 1 in Golden Gate Park yesterday, so I'm just playing off that. They've got two more days with their Benicia buddies. Enjoy. Jian, Nica, Keo & Kuya R Tita Gigi was in town to help care for Baby Chesca. This flashback is a reminder that no matter how much time passes, the moments we share with loved ones are priceless. Whether it’s a holiday, a family vacation, or just an ordinary day that became extraordinary — they all deserve to be remembered. 💬 Your Turn! Do you have a favorite family fla...

Happy Birthday Ann from all the cousins! Flashback to January, 23, 2024. Benicia, CA.Perseveranda cousins photo. Left to right, front: Rosanne, Missy, Joy, Kristine, Melissa, Andrea, James, and Melvin. Back: Julius, Garry, Brian, Vince, Paul, Jonjo, Chanylle, Glenn, Patrick and Ren. Join the #FilipinoAmerican conversation. Comment below. #PinoyPride #Filipino Click to follow this website . Like our Facebook Page Pinoy Built . Thank you. Salamat po. blog,community,fil-am, filipino american,

Flashback to when Tita Imelda visited my mom, her first cousin. Vallejo, CA. August 11, 2008. Photo credit: Imelda Reyes Mantuano

Perseveranda Christmas Party Steal it, steal it, steal it! December 25, 2024. Antioch, CA. This Filipino family is too nice. Not enough stealing. LOL. Next year, let's shoot for more participants. Maligayang Pasko.

Maligayang Pasko! Merry Perseveranda Christmas! The twentysomething cousins. We love the backyard, Glenn and Chanylle! Dominic, Jian, Keo & Paris

Maligayang Pasko! Merry Perseveranda Christmas! Great backyard, Glenn! December 25, 2024. Antioch, CA Antioch was a chief center of early Christianity during Roman times, and converts there were the first people to be called Christians. antioch,california,december 25,birthday,perseveranda,filipino,filipina,pasko,bay area,norcal,cousins,holidays,fil-am,faces,

Our teenage girls got to hang out in Antioch. Two are high school seniors and one a college freshman. Time flies! What's the latest " tsismis "? Happy Birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas! December 25, 2024. Perseveranda Christmas in Antioch, CA

Perseveranda Christmas in Antioch, CA Cousins photos before 11 PM. My cousins and I should have taken one too. Sayang.  December 25, 2024. Maligayang Pasko! Merry Christmas! December 25, 2024. Perseveranda Christmas in Antioch, CA

Family Christmas photo 2024 Take 2 Happy Birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas! Maligayang Pasko! Posted from our cousins' group text so Tito Nelson and OG generation can join in. LOL Melvin: We need to take more pics, no cuzzo etc pics 🙁 everyone kinda rushed out after packing food. Let's take them early next year.  Jonjo: I know. We didn't take our generation. Joy: I agree, Melvin. Yes, let's take more pics next time, maybe in the beginning or when everyone arrives.  Melvin: Yeah, when everyone isn't a hot mess after losing from bingo lol Garry: the anticipation turned into excitement to groans to cheers for the winners 🤭😬🥳 thank u all Jonjo: Garry had the most fun 😁 December 25, 2024. Perseveranda Christmas in Antioch, CA Special Request In lieu of, or in addition to a Facebook comment, please comment below if you have a Google account. Thank you! Maraming salamat po! 

Family photo after our White Elephant gift exchange Happy Birthday Jesus! Maligayang Pasko! Merry Christmas! Thank you Perseveranda, Putong, Cervantes, and Lo families. Thank you Glenn and Chanylle! Who's hosting Tita Gigi's birthday party tomorrow?! LOL. December 25, 2024. Perseveranda Christmas in Antioch, CA

Maligayang Pasko Mom & Dad! Advance Happy Birthday Tita Gigi! Photo of Mom and Dad with their kids and grandkids, and dad's ate Tita Gigi. Seated: Joy, Mom, Dad. Standing: Vince, Dino, JF, Jian, Nica, Chesca, Keo, and Ronick. Happy Birthday Jesus! Merry Christmas! December 25, 2024. Perseveranda Christmas in Antioch, CA

Maligayang Pasko! Maligaya na, birthday pa. Candle blowing for our December celebrants. Happy birthday (Maligayang bati): Tita Nati / Mama / Mom Tita Gigi Tito Boy / Papa / Dad Julian (Go Spartans!) Mom, Dad and Tita Gigi pose with the next generation of Perseveranda cousins. There were several missing in action. December 25, 2024. Perseveranda Christmas in Antioch, CA

Maligayang Bati! 🎂 Cousins photo. Front: Chanylle, JF, Garry. Back: Kristine, Melvin, Melissa, Glenn, Brian, Paul, Julius. September 16, 2023 Join us & help build a Fil-Am online community. Please leave a comment, and  click to follow our website  www.pinoybuilt.com. Join one of our sites in California: Los Angeles , Sacramento ,  San Diego , San Francisco ,  San Jose  or Vallejo . Click on a tag below to browse.  

Jun, my brother from another mother Vallejo, CA. Flashback to Jian's christening party when my Chicago cousins flew to California. Jun and Allan's mom, Tita Lita is my mom's Reyes-Altamirano cousin. We grew up together in Chicago before my family moved to California. Left to right: Jun Rivera, JF, Allan Rivera FIL-AM. FILIPINO/FILIPINA-AMERICAN.  Click on any photo above to enlarge, Use left/right arrows to navigate. Please drop us a comment below. 🙏🏽 Help us grow Pinoybuilt to be the number one  Filipino-American  online community in California, if not the USA. 🇺🇸  Please click  this to follow www.pinoybuilt.com . 🤙🏽 Thank you! 👊🏽 Maraming salamat po kabayan. 🇵🇭 ✌🏽 Pinoybuilt uses Disqus as the commenting system because it prevents spam, but also because it connects our various sub-sites like LA.pinoybuilt.com , HI.pinoybuilt.com , AU.pinoybuilt.com & PH.pinoybuilt.com . Comments help a website go viral (and make $$$) so we hope to h...

Saturday Celebration in Antioch: Cousins photos Antioch, CA. September 16, 2023: Family party at Glenn & Chanylle's. FIL-AM. FILIPINO/FILIPINA-AMERICAN.  Click on any photo above to enlarge, Use left/right arrows to navigate. Please drop us a comment below. 🙏🏽 Help us grow Pinoybuilt to be the number one  Filipino-American  online community in California, if not the USA. 🇺🇸  Please click  this to follow www.pinoybuilt.com . 🤙🏽 Thank you! 👊🏽 Maraming salamat po kabayan. 🇵🇭 ✌🏽 Pinoybuilt uses Disqus as the commenting system because it prevents spam, but also because it connects our various sub-sites like LA.pinoybuilt.com , HI.pinoybuilt.com , AU.pinoybuilt.com & PH.pinoybuilt.com . Comments help a website go viral (and make $$$) so we hope to hear from you. 🙏🏽 Know anyone who'd be interested in blogging for Pinoybuilt. Please share this site with them. Btw, blogging is what you do on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Jus...

Diana, Marilen, Grace & Luz Antioch, CA. September 16, 2023. FIL-AM. FILIPINO/FILIPINA-AMERICAN.  Click on any photo above to enlarge, Use left/right arrows to navigate. Please drop us a comment below. 🙏🏽 Help us grow Pinoybuilt to be the number one  Filipino-American  online community in California, if not the USA. 🇺🇸  Please click  this to follow www.pinoybuilt.com . 🤙🏽 Thank you! 👊🏽 Maraming salamat po kabayan. 🇵🇭 ✌🏽 Pinoybuilt uses Disqus as the commenting system because it prevents spam, but also because it connects our various sub-sites like LA.pinoybuilt.com , HI.pinoybuilt.com , AU.pinoybuilt.com & PH.pinoybuilt.com . Comments help a website go viral (and make $$$) so we hope to hear from you. 🙏🏽 Know anyone who'd be interested in blogging for Pinoybuilt. Please share this site with them. Btw, blogging is what you do on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Just add a 'pinoy' flavor to your social media habit. ...