PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

Dubai, UAE • September 2021. Bhing's Birthday Party in an OFW Apartment in Dubai — Isagani, Bhing, Dennis, and a Hogan Reunion Moment. dubai birthday party ofw, filipino ofw apartment dubai, khristine salazar dubai, glenn victa hogan spartans dubai, bhing birthday dubai 2021. Dubai • September 2021 Bhing's Birthday in Dubai: A Night Inside an OFW Home Lunch with my fellow Hogan Spartan Glenn Victa turned into an evening at Isagani and Bhing's family home — shared with just one other adult, not the crowded bedspaces many OFWs bunk with in Dubai — celebrating Bhing's birthday with friends old and new. L to R: Dennis, J.F., Glenn & Isagani. Bhing's birthday, Dubai, September 9, 2021. By September 9, 2021, I was more than two weeks into a 39-day stay in Dubai — long enough that the city had stopped feeling like a layover and started feeling like a second address. The day began with lunch and ended in a stranger's ...

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...