PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

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...

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...

Dubai, UAE • Sept 10, 2021. J.F.R. Perseveranda reconnects with Hogan Spartan Glenn Victa in Dubai. A reflection on Fil-Am brotherhood and our kababayan (OFW) friends during the 2026 Middle East crisis. Dubai, UAE • Sept 10, 2021 Hogan Spartans in Dubai: A Fil-Am Reunion in the Desert Looking back at 2021 with Glenn Victa, Dennis, and Isagani — and praying for the safety of our kababayan today. ⚠️ LIVE CRISIS UPDATE: MARCH 12, 2026 Our thoughts are with the millions of kabayan in the Middle East. With regional instability rising, the Philippine government is preparing chartered repatriation flights starting tomorrow, March 13 , from Fujairah. Stay vigilant. The Hogan High School Class of 1985 legacy isn't confined to Vallejo. In 2021, I visited Dubai and reconnected with fellow Spartan Glenn Victa . Sharing the evening were Dennis and Isagani , two kababayan whose hospitality offered me a real look at the "global Pinoy...

Stockton, CA • March 2026. Maligayang Bati, Dondi!: A USMC tribute and Hogan High Class of '85 lakeside reunion in Stockton. Photos and storytelling by J.F.R. Perseveranda. Filipino-American, Hogan Spartans, USMC, Stockton, CA, March 7. Stockton, CA • March 7, 2026 Maligayang Bati, Dondi! A USMC Tribute at the Lake Faith, Service, and the Hogan Spartans Class of '85 gathering in honor of a Marine brother. Today we send a massive Happy Birthday to Michael Dondi Reyes ! A man defined by his faith, his service in the United States Marine Corps , and the deep roots he planted with the Hogan Spartans. This celebration in Stockton wasn't just a birthday; it's a testament to the kapatiran (brotherhood) that defines our community. Michael 'Dondi' Reyes walks into his surprise celebration. • Photo © J.F.R. Perseveranda. ★ Did You Know? Stockton, California holds ...

MARTIN NUÑEZ: THE ANCHOR OF OUR BACK-TO-BACK MEL TITLES 🏆 There is nothing quite like the bond forged in the halls of Hogan High School , the tennis courts on Heartwood Ave, or the streets of Vallejo. For the Class of '85 championship squad, that bond was built on sweat, competition, and a shared drive to be the best in the Monticello Empire League. 🏆 Hogan High School: Back-to-Back MEL Tennis Champions 👤 Martin    👤 JF    👤 Rudy The core of the squad that dominated the MEL, reunited in 2026. The Spartan Standard Every great team has an anchor, and for the Hogan Spartans, that was Martin Nuñez . As our #1 singles player , Martin set the tone for our back-to-back MEL Tennis Championships. After a stellar collegiate career at SF State, Martin has continued to share his expertise, coaching teams at San Ramon Valley High and Alhambra High. He wasn't just a teammate; he was th...

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

Celebrating Dondi Reyes in Stockton A Fil-Am Reunion in Stockton: Hogan High Spartans gather to celebrate Mike "Dondi" Reyes. By J.F.R. Perseveranda | March 7, 2026 | Gear: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Hogan Spartans Reunion with Dondi — Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra © J.F.R. Perseveranda Class of '85 Hogan Spartans showed up for Dondi Group shot before Rudy & Martin took off. Rudy had to take off early per usual. Left to right: Rudy, Tony M, Tony P, Martin, Jim, Dondi, J.F. TO ALL MY FELLOW SPARTANS Sorry I’m a little slow with getting these photos out! I’m a subscriber to the Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom ecosystem, and I’ll admit—I’m pretty "anal" when it comes to my edits. Currently, I’m experimenting with balancing high-end quality with smaller file sizes so the site stays fast without losing the photo sharpness...

Stockton, CA • March 2026. Celebrating Fil-Am Brother Michael Dondi Reyes: USMC Veteran and Hogan Spartan Reunion in Stockton. Michael Dondi Reyes, USMC, Hogan Spartans, Stockton, Filipino American, fil-am, birthday, kapatiran, Sony a7III. Stockton, CA • March 7, 2026 Michael Dondi Reyes: USMC Veteran & Hogan Spartan Reunion in Stockton A Spartan reunion on March 7 — Hogan High alumni gather in Stockton to celebrate the 59th birthday of USMC veteran Michael Dondi Reyes. Happy Birthday Michael! — Shot on Sony a7III © J.F.R. Perseveranda The night of March 7 was one for the books. Your schoolmates from Hogan High School and I were so glad to share in your special night. Liane, thank you for orchestrating a perfect surprise that brought the crew together. ★ Did You Know? Stockton, California is home to "Little Manila" — one of the earliest and most significant Filipino-American...

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 ...