FIL AM · FILIPINO

Stockton, CA • March 2026. Hogan Spartans '85: Martin Nunez Roasts Dondi Reyes After 40 Years! martin nunez roast, dondi reyes birthday, hogan high class of 1985, stockton filipino, fil-am celebration. Stockton, CA • March 2026 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 st...

Stockton, CA • March 7, 2026. Liane and friends perform a surprise hula dance in the kitchen during Michael Dondi Reyes' birthday celebration. Video captured by J.F.R. Perseveranda. Stockton, California • March 7, 2026 Surprise Kitchen Hula at Dondi's Birthday Bash Liane and friends caught in a spontaneous, joyful moment — pure Fil-Am party spirit in Stockton. I accidentally came upon them and got the video! While the music played outside for Michael Dondi Reyes' surprise birthday celebration on March 7, 2026, Liane and her friends were caught in a beautiful, impromptu hula dance in the kitchen. This candid Stockton moment perfectly captures the spirit of the Hogan Spartans family and the vibrant Filipina/Hawaiian culture that defines our community celebrations. ✨ POST HIGHLIGHTS Surprise hula performance by Liane & friends. Michael Dondi Reyes' 2026 Stockton birthday bash. Ca...

Happy Sweet Sixteen, Kalea! By J.F.R. Perseveranda | February 28, 2026 | Gear: Sony a7III + Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Kalea, Paul & Keona at the Perseveranda Birthday Party © J.F.R. Perseveranda Event Highlights 📍 Location: Vallejo, California 📅 Date: February 28, 2026 📷 Photography: @PinoyBuilt Update : Proud to share that this story was featured on NewsBreak ! Explore More View related event photos — February 28 Archives More with the Sony a7III — Sony Alpha Collection J.F.R. Perseveranda Founder of PinoyBuilt. A Filipino-American writer and photographer documenting heritage and grit in Northern California. The Story Behind the Lens → Mabuhay! Join the Conversation. PinoyBuilt is more than a blog—it’s a living a...

Celebrating Emmy's 10th Birthday in Vallejo: Let's Eat By J.F.R. Perseveranda | Feb 2026 | Sony a7III + 85mm f/1.8 Typical of a Filipino-American birthday celebration is delicious food. At Emmy's 10th, the spread was a beautiful fusion of Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese flavors. Melvin, we loved your ribs! Vallejo, California. © J.F.R. Perseveranda The Feast Continues Melissa's salmon — ang sarap ! Delicious. Finding Focus with the 85mm Capturing food with the Sony 85mm f/1.8 prime lens allows for a unique documentary perspective. It isolates the subject—whether it's the crust on the ribs or the flake of the salmon—while keeping the vibrant energy of the party in a beautiful, soft bokeh.

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...

Celebrating Emmy’s 10th Birthday in Vallejo By J.F.R. Perseveranda | March 2026 | Gear: Sony a7III + 85mm f/1.8 The birthday girl, Emmy, captured with the creamy compression of the 85mm prime lens. Vallejo, California. © J.F.R. Perseveranda Happy tenth birthday to my beautiful niece, Emmy! I heard you like chess, Emmy. That's my game; I started playing when I was 5.5. If you ever want to learn and really get into it, let me know. The 85mm Perspective: Finding Focus in the Early Moments Taken with my Sony a7iii camera and my prime  85mm f/1.8  lens. 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! Let’s Connect. PinoyBuilt is a community-driven space for Fil-Am stories. Did this story r...

Vallejo • March 2026. Celebrating Emmy's 10th Birthday in Vallejo. fil-am, filipino, vallejo, family, birthday, party, cousins, heritage, community, photography, sony a7iii, 85mm, bokeh, chesca, milestone, titas, niece. Vallejo • March 2026 Celebrating Emmy's 10th Birthday in Vallejo A milestone celebration in Vallejo as Chesca and the family gather to honor Emmy's 10th birthday with Filipino traditions and community spirit. Chesca and Emmy celebrating a decade of milestones in Vallejo. In the heart of Vallejo, our family gathered to celebrate a major milestone: Emmy’s 10th birthday. It was a day filled with the warmth of community and the enduring strength of our Filipino roots. Did You Know? Vallejo has historically been a central hub for the Filipino diaspora in Northern California, influenced largely by the presence of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Tagalog Wo...

Family, Memory, and a Moment from November 22, 2001 November 22, 2001.  Vallejo, California. Twenty-four years ago today, a simple family photo captured something deeply Filipino — brothers gathering in the home of their eldest sibling, as tradition has always dictated. In the photo are three brothers: Manny , Eduard , and Ronnie (of eight siblings). The gathering took place at the home of their Kuya   Boy  (Ronnie , my dad). For Filipino families, the home of the panganay is more than just a location — it’s a symbol of continuity, respect, and the unspoken responsibility carried by the eldest sibling. What makes this image particularly emotional today is that my dad’s two younger brothers, Manny and Eduard, have since passed away. Looking back at this moment — their smiles, their closeness, their youthful energy — adds a bittersweet weight to the memory. It’s a reminder of how quickly time moves, and how precious these ordinary family gatherings truly are. Fili...

Maligayang Bati Chanylle! Flashback to a memorable day and evening in Las Vegas, Nevada! May 17, 2008. Photos from the after-party in your tita's house. Tama ba ? With Glenn's brothers (missing Garry) and cousins.  Melvin, Chanylle, Glenn, Paul, Brian and Jonjo Glenn, Chanylle, Lady & friends With your father-in-law and his siblings (missing Tita Lila & Tita Nene). Eduard, Manny, Diana, Chanylle & Ronnie

🎓 707 Family Celebration | Bay Area, California Fil-Am Family | Julian Graduates High School – A NorCal Celebration There’s nothing quite like a Filipino graduation celebration — the lechon, the laughter, the cousins who’ve grown too fast, and the proud elders who paved the way. This photo was taken at my nephew Julian Cervantes ’  high school graduation party , held here in NorCal / Bay Area . For many of us, this kind of milestone isn't just about academics — it’s a moment to honor the whole family’s journey. Behind every graduate is a community — titos and titas who helped with rides and meals, lolos and lolas who whispered prayers, and hardworking parents who sacrificed to give their kids a better shot. I’m proud of my nephew and of what his achievement represents for our family — another step forward in the Fil-Am story. I’ll be sharing more moments like this — scenes from the life of a Filipino family in America: small but powerful memories that reflect wh...