PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

San Carlos, California • October 2026. The Filipino Flash Signed Our Gloves: Nonito Donaire, from a San Carlos Gym in 2011 to Four-Division Legend. Nonito Donaire, Filipino Flash, Filipino American boxing, Fil-Am boxer, Bay Area boxing, Undisputed Gym San Carlos, Donaire open workout 2011, Donaire Narvaez, Donaire Oubaali oldest bantamweight champion, Donaire dual citizenship, San Leandro, Filipino American History Month, FAHM 2026, 10/8. Nonito Donaire • October 2026 The Filipino Flash Signed Our Gloves: Nonito Donaire, from a San Carlos Gym in 2011 to Four-Division Legend On Nica's 11th birthday in 2011, our family watched Nonito Donaire work out in San Carlos. Fifteen years later, here is the full story of the Bay Area-raised champion, and why he belongs in Filipino American History Month. Nonito Donaire has his arm around Jian as he puts his guard up toward Nica, as Chesca smiles in the middle. San Carlos, 10/8/11. October 8, 2011 was...

Vallejo, CA • September 2026. My Virgo Titos: Eduard and Manuel, Thanksgiving 2007. virgo titos perseveranda, eduard perseveranda ronnie nonoy, hiddenbrooke vallejo thanksgiving 2007, filipino american family archive kapamilya, chinese zodiac year of the horse virgo season. KAPAMILYA • VALLEJO, CA • SEPTEMBER 2026 My Virgo Titos: Eduard and Manuel, Thanksgiving 2007 Three Perseveranda brothers at one table in Hiddenbrooke — and a tribute, this zodiac season, to the two who were born under the same sign as me. Seated, left to right: Eduard, Ronald, and Manuel Perseveranda. Standing: Brian, Paulo, Glenn, J.F., and Melvin. Hiddenbrooke, Vallejo, CA — Thanksgiving, November 22, 2007. It's Virgo season, which in my family has always meant one thing before anything else: which of the titos are we celebrating this year. Two of them share the sign with me. Tito Ed was born September 4. I followed him on September 12. Tito Maning's birthday la...

Las Vegas, NV • September 2026. Maligayang Bati sa Langit, Tito Ed! Eduard Perseveranda birthday tribute, Perseveranda family Las Vegas wedding photo 2008, six of eight siblings, Manlangit clan, kapamilya, Filipino American family archive. KAPAMILYA • LAS VEGAS, NV • SEPTEMBER 2026 Maligayang Bati sa Langit, Tito Ed! Six of the eight Perseveranda siblings, gathered before a wedding in 2008 — a birthday tribute to Tito Ed, gone since 2020 but never left out of the frame. Left to right: Manuel, Ronald, Diana, Luz, Grace, and Eduard Perseveranda — six of the eight siblings — Las Vegas, NV, May 17, 2008, hours before Glenn married Chanylle. I took this photo on May 17, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada — hours before Tito Ed's son Glenn stood up to marry Chanylle. Everyone was already dressed, already posed for a dozen family shots, when I got this one: six of the eight Perseveranda siblings in one frame, together in a way that...

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...

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

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

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

Flashback: Tita Lila's Birthday in Las Vegas Family is forever.  August 11, 2001. Tess, Baby Nica and I met the titas in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the second year Tess & Tita Lila had an August celebration together in Vegas. The first one was 1999.  My dad drove Nica & her parents to Oakland Airport. Nica's First Time in Las Vegas We stayed in Monte Carlo Hotel (?) The titas were the first ones to find out that Baby Jian was on his way I think one of them made a comment that Tess looked a little heavy (they might've been wondering already).  I'll post our photos from 8/12 and 8/13 in the next couple days. Please come back. 💬 Your Turn! Do you have a favorite family flashback? Share it with us in the comments! Better yet — if you’d like to guest blog your own memories here on Pinoybuilt.com , send us your story and a photo. Let’s keep our history alive together! 📧 Submit your fl...

📸 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,

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 ...

Dad: Happy Father's Day! June 15, 2025. Vallejo, CA. I've scanned this so I'll be returning it to you.  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,