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PinoyBuilt 2026 Update: 500% Performance Growth & New Contributors

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Vallejo, CA • March 2026. PinoyBuilt Performance Update: The Secret Sauce and New Voices. pinoybuilt update, fil-am blog, filipino-american website, clarence mamaril, vallejo filipino, pinoybuilt growth, fil-am media. VALLEJO, CA • MARCH 2026 PinoyBuilt Performance Update: Finding the Secret Sauce Site performance is soaring, new contributors are arriving, and the PinoyBuilt vision is finally coming home. PinoyBuilt community — Fil-Am friends & family across CA, LA, SF & Hawaiʻi, 2011 Our site PinoyBuilt has been outperforming itself. Yesterday's AdSense earnings spiked over 500% compared to the same day last week. Our "Last 7 Days" metrics are also up over 500% versus the previous 7 days, and "This month" is already +351% versus the same period last year. I may have found the "secret sauce." Thank you to every visitor and reader...
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Marcelino Lim: From Springstowne Jr. High to Birmingham, AL (Hogan '85)

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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 gr...
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SURPRISE! 🎂 Dondi’s 2026 Birthday Bash with the Hogan Spartans

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Stockton Event Coverage SURPRISE! 🎂 Michael Dondi Reyes: 2026 Birthday Bash March 7, 2026 • Stockton, California THE MOMENT OF TRUTH! 🥂 Watch the emotional moment Michael Dondi Reyes walks into his surprise party in Stockton, CA. There is nothing quite like the bond of family and the Hogan Class of '85 showing up in full force! Hogan Spartans in Attendance: Tony P., Jim, Martin, Rudy, Tony M., and J.F. Leave a Wish for Dondi! Let’s show Michael Dondi Reyes some love! If you have a memory with Mike from the Hogan days or Stockton, leave a comment below . View More Spartan Stories hogan spartans stockton michael dondi reyes
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Christmas Day 2025: Family Photo

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Maligayang Pasko Kapamilya at Kababayan! 🎄 2025 December 25: Vallejo, California. Family photo. I took 679 photos at our family Christmas party with lots of burst photos from our parlor games. It's going to take me time to cull and edit. Thank you for your patience.  If I post to @Pinoybuilt on Instagram , the photo will post to the facebook.com/pinoybuilt . You can download the photo from there. Otherwise, I will post the other photos here on pinoybuilt.com. (That's the purpose of this blog. Plus I'm backlogged for 2025 as well as previous years). 😉 Thank you Melvin & Melissa for hosting the party. Thank you everyone for the delicious food, as well as the games and entertainment. Maraming salamat, kapamilya! 💛 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 P...
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Location: Vallejo, CA, USA
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On This Day: December 16, 7 Years ago

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My Benicia High School bunso and me.  Did you know you backup your photos online for free if you have an Amazon Prime account.  Salamat Amazon Photos for the reminder. 
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Thanksgiving: Family Goofy Shot

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Some are goofier than others! So thankful for my family. 2025 November 27: Benicia, California. Missing some peeps. Maraming salamat Joy & Vince for hosting. Thank you Tita Nene and everyone for the food. Thanks Glenn & Chanylle for more Bingo fun. We hope to see you at our Christmas gathering. Thanks Bino! To those "missing in action" you were all in our thoughts. Perseveranda & Putong families 💛 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? Apply as a college intern and join our team! #PinoyPride #PinoyCommunity #FilAm #FilipinoAmerican #PilipinoAmerican #kaibigan
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Kapamilya sa Thanksgiving 🍂

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Family Time on Turkey Day 2025 November 27: California. Photo from the second group of shots with my two Godox flashes. Does it look it was shot outdoors, or in a photo studio? Thank you everyone! Perseveranda & Putong families 💛 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? Apply as a college intern and join our team! #PinoyPride #PinoyCommunity #FilAm #FilipinoAmerican #PilipinoAmerican #kaibigan
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Location: Benicia, CA, USA
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#HoldUp #TheNextEpisode #Pinoybuilt

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November 14, 2025 at 02:18PM by pinoybuilt via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhV2y5lKpbE #filam #filipinoamerican #resist
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Al Muraqqabat Deira at Night

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It really is very safe to walk at night in Dubai! But it really is very hottt!!! August 25. Al Muraqqabat Diera
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Location: Al rgga - Deira - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
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Driving Down Michigan Ave – A Nostalgic Ride Past Chicago’s Historic Landmarks | Chesca in Chicago

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By J.F.R. Perseveranda 🚘 Driving Down Michigan Ave – A Nostalgic Ride Past Chicago’s Historic Landmarks | Chesca in Chicago (2022) A 30-second drive down The Magnificent Mile with my daughter in July 2022 — passing by Water Tower Place and the Chicago Water Tower , both powerful symbols of the city’s strength and my own Filipino-American memories. 🏙️ This short video carries deep nostalgia: In the 1970s , my family drove down this same street when we lived in Chicago — bundled up in winter coats to shop for Christmas at Marshall Field’s and Water Tower Place. In the 1980s , I drove these same blocks again with my girlfriend — now part of my past, but forever part of the city in my memory. And now in 2022 , I bring my youngest daughter here after her high school graduation — linking generations on this iconic stretch of Chicago. 📍 Chicago Water Tower (built 1869) survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, one of the few public buildings left standing, and became a symbol of ...
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#Mahjong Night with #Chicago #Family - @JFPerseveranda

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By J.F.R. Perseveranda July 6. First night back in Chicago after years away—and what better way to spend it than playing mahjong with family in Algonquin. My cousin Bernadette’s place has a high-tech auto-shuffling table, so I assumed I was up against pros: my nieces Claudine and Alaina included. But in true balikbayan beginner’s luck… I won in under 5 minutes. 😂🀄 And yes—I’m very competitive. 😏 Chesca’s first night here, too. A perfect start. #MahjongNight #FilipinoFamily #BalikbayanFeels #FilAmStories #PinoyBuilt #MahjongQueen #FamilyTime #ChicagoFilAm #PinoyInChicago #AlgonquinIL #FilipinoCulture #ChescaInChicago #MahjongLife #FilipinoGames #1PointMahjong #BalikbayanChronicles #FilipinoTraditions #MahjongMasters #PinoyPride #FilAmVibes #PinoyBuiltStories Follow at https://www.youtube.com/@jfperseveranda?sub_confirmation=1
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Celebrating Tita Nene & Tito Jun’s wedding which brought us all together that day.

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📸 July 6 Throwback – #Pasadena, CA🌴 Even "cousin" Liza flew in from Chicago! I had just moved back to Cali — right in time for this beautiful family moment. ❤️To our OGs who paved the way, and to every #FilAm finding their place between two worlds — never forget where you come from.Sama-sama tayo. 🙌🏽 Mabuhay ang pamilyang #Pilipino sa Amerika! 🇵🇭🇺🇸 #ImmigrantStories #FilipinoImmigrant #PinoyImmigrant #FilipinoFamily #FilAmHeritage #FilipinoAmerican #PinoyPride #FilAmsInLA #SoCalPinoy #FromManilaToLA #ChicagoToCali #FilAmLegacy #PinoyBuilt #MabuhayFilAm #TBTFilAm #90sFilAm Join the #FilipinoAmerican conversation. Comment below. #FilAm #PinoyPride #Filipino Click to follow this website . Like our Facebook Page Pinoy Built . Thank you. Salamat po. blog,community,fil-am, filipino american,
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Location: Pasadena, CA, USA
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The closest I got to Iran: Khor Fakkan & Gulf of Oman

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Khor Fakkan Beach & Gulf of Oman Flashback: Khor Fakkan Beach - Sharjah - United Arab Emirates. Khris and I drove from Dubai to Khor Fakkan in the emirate of Sharjah, from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. We got to Khor Fakkan right before 8 PM, but as you can see, it was HOT & HUMID. This was September in UAE so expect it to be hotter than hell. What is Pinoybuilt.com? Pinoybuilt.com is an online Filipino Community built on Google technoloogy. As a Filipino born in the Philippines and a previous IT Product Manager at a Fortune 500 company, this is my way to show my Pinoy Pride. As a father to three kids born in California, this is how I'd like to share my Filipino (as well Filipino-American) culture and heritage with them and our extended Filipino family. How can one join Pinoybuilt.com? Since it's built on Google technology, you just need a Google account. Give me your Gmail address and I can send it an invite to be an "Author" on this Blogger.com ...
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Olan Mills Family Photo

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Olan Mills is now Lifetouch Vallejo, CA. Throwback Thursday. Photo was either taken near the end of my junior year in high school, or the summer after my 11th grade. Sophomore year for Joy in Hogan High School. I don't remember where the Olan Mills studio was located in Vallejo.  I love this photo of Mom. Olan Mills, Inc. was a privately owned American company founded in 1932 by Olan Mills Sr. and Mary Mills which was headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It provided portrait photography and church directories through its two main corporate divisions: Olan Mills Portrait Studios and Olan Mills Church Division. On November 9, 2011, Lifetouch Inc. announced that it had purchased the Olan Mills photography business, Olan Mills Church Directories and Olan Mills Portrait Studios, its corporate functions, and the production operations in Chattanooga. Join the #FilipinoAmerican conversation. Comment below. #PinoyPride #Filipino Click to follow this website . Like our Facebook Page ...
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Location: Vallejo, CA, USA
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Remembering Marciano Perseveranda Jr.

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Flashback: My Dad, 2 of his younger brothers & me Left to right: Manny, Jonjo, Ronnie & Sonny. Where & when was this Dad? Am I six months old? Advance 'Happy Father's Day'! Update: Novaliches 1967 per my dad.  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,
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JF Perseveranda & Nica: June12 Flashback

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Flashback to a Hiddenbrooke Birthday Party June 12, 2002. Hiddenbrooke. Vallejo, CA. Happy Philippines Independence Day!
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Location: Vallejo, CA, USA
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Springstowne Junior High School Reunion

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Ben, Tony and I met up at our old Junior High School.  Thanks Tony for letting us know about the closure (and demolition in the near future). Thanks Mark for the tour and this photo.  It was a great walk down memory lane with old friends.  Ben, Tony and J.F.
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Hometown Friends

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Reunion 2016 April 15, 2016. Hiddenbrooke, Vallejo, CA. Here you go, Ray. Throwback Thursday na sa Pinas. I never got to post this on Facebook. At alam mo na -- dito na ko. The last time prior to this April day that the three of us were together was when you introduced Hannah to me December 1986 in front of your house. It was your senior year in UP. Sayang. We don't have a photo from that time. Please keep visiting to support our website & this Filipino community online. Click to follow this website . Like our Facebook Page  Pinoy Built . Leave a comment below. Thank you. Salamat po.
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Location: Vallejo, CA, USA
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Throwback Selfie - March 27, 2021

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I miss my facial hair. Selfie on iPhone, March 27, 2021. Edited on Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.  Blood Sugar Updated. I don't think I shot insulin after I took my blood sugar at 5 AM, but it has dropped to 88 in three hours. The only thing I've done is walk back-and-forth around the family room and kitchen to cater to Akira. I've had my usual three cups of coffee with a sprinkle of cinnamon. I just shot 25 units of Insulin Glargine. Insulin glargine is a long-acting, synthetic insulin analog used to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It works by mimicking the body's natural insulin, helping to lower blood sugar levels. I haven't weighed myself in a couple of weeks. I just weighed 171.5 lb.
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Location: Vallejo, CA, USA
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Reunion with Mama Helen, Rowena & Family

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With the tourists from Bukidnon March 19, 2025. Sacramento, CA. Nica & Chesca drove up from San Jose and San Rafael respectively. They hadn't see Mama Helen since she stayed with us and attended their graduation from high school and middle school in 2018. Chesca last saw Rowena, Reggie, Reah and Rhesee in 2012 when she and Tess vacationed in Bukidnon (without Nica, Jian and me). Nica last saw Rowena and family in 2008 when they were here for Bebot's wedding.
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Location: Sacramento, CA, USA
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