PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

Stockton, CA • August 2026. The Historian Who Saved Stockton's Memory: The Legacy of Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, Little Manila, Stockton Filipino history, Fil-Am historian, Little Manila Rising, Filipino American history professor SFSU, Little Manila Is in the Heart, historic preservation, manong generation, Larry Itliong. Stockton, CA • August 2026 The Historian Who Saved Stockton's Memory: The Legacy of Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon Born on this day in 1972, Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon proved that local community memory could rewrite American history. Through her scholarship, activist preservation, and devotion to Stockton's Little Manila, she gave the manong generation a permanent place in the national archive. PinoyBuilt original illustration, honoring the life of Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon (1972–2018). Today would have been Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon's 54th birthday. She was born in Stockton on August 17, 1972...

California • March 2026. California's Filipino Power Map: Where 1.7 Million Filipinos Live, Work, and Build Community. filipino americans california, fil-am california, filipinos in california, daly city filipinos, vallejo filipinos, los angeles filipinos, san diego filipinos, bay area filipinos, california filipino population, philippine diaspora california. CALIFORNIA • MARCH 2026 California's Filipino Power Map: Where 1.7 Million Filipinos Live, Work, and Build Community From Historic Filipinotown in LA to the Navy-rooted streets of Vallejo — this is the definitive breakdown of where Filipino America lives, and why California is the center of the diaspora story. If you want to understand Filipino America, you start with California. Roughly 1.7 million Filipinos live in the state — about 38% of the entire U.S. Filipino population . That's not just a statistic. It's a living, breathing network of familie...

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. Martin Nunez & Tony Palisoc: Hogan Spartans '85 Brotherhood at the Lake. Stockton, CA • March 7, 2026 Martin Nunez & Tony Palisoc: Hogan Spartans '85 Brotherhood at the Lake Laughter, old stories, and lifelong bonds as the Class of 1985 reunites at Michael Dondi Reyes' birthday celebration. There is a specific kind of laughter that only comes from brothers who have known each other for over four decades. At the recent lakeside gathering for Michael Dondi Reyes in Stockton, Martin Nunez and Tony Palisoc reminded us all what "Civic Memory" really looks like in action. Hogan Class of '85: Martin Nunez and Tony Palisoc sharing a laugh. The table was filled with more than just food; it was filled with the shared history of the Hogan Spartans Class of 1985 . Whether it was catching up on life today or reaching back into the vault for stories f...

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 ...

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...