PinoyBuilt — Stories of Filipino America

Santa Monica, CA • August 2005. Watch: Happy Birthday, Marites — Santa Monica Beach, August 16, 2005. tess perseveranda birthday video, santa monica beach family archive, marites atet birthday, filipino american family video, on this day pinoybuilt. Family Archive • August 2005 Watch: Happy Birthday, Marites — Santa Monica Beach, August 16, 2005 Home video from an August afternoon on the sand: Tess turns 33 with Tita Gigi and our three kids by her side. The birthday girl, Tess, with Tita Gigi and our three kids — Santa Monica Beach, August 16, 2005. We got to Santa Monica Beach just after noon. By 3:15 that afternoon we were packing up the towels and heading home — a short window, the kind that doesn't feel like an occasion while it's happening. It was Tess turning 33 that day, and Tita Gigi came along, and so did the whole crew: Nica, not yet five; JianCarlo, three; Chesca, barely past her first birthday, still new enough to the...

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...

San Rafael, California • March 2026. Four Percent: My Daughter Joins the Filipino Nurses Who Hold Up Two Countries. Dominican University of California nursing pinning ceremony, BSN pinning, Filipino American nurses, Fil-Am healthcare, Marin County, Bay Area Filipino community, nursing graduation, Nightingale Pledge, National Nurses United, family archive. Nursing Pinning • San Rafael • March 2026 Four Percent: My Daughter Joins the Filipino Nurses Who Hold Up Two Countries At the Dominican University of California pinning ceremony, I walked up and fastened the pin myself. Twenty-seven seconds of video, and everything underneath it. mAR San Rafael, California, March 15, 2026. The pin goes on the left side, over the heart, and it takes about four seconds. Everything that got her there took considerably longer. Photo: J.F.R. Perseveranda / PinoyBuilt. The speaker at the podium reads the name, and then she reads the second half of the s...

New York, NY • March 2026. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Addresses the UN General Assembly: A Bid for Global Peace. ferdinand marcos jr, united nations, un security council, philippines, diplomacy, fil-am, filipino. New York, NY • March 2026 President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the United Nations Advocating for climate justice, peace, and a seat at the table for the Global South . In a historic address at the UN Headquarters in New York on March 10, 2026, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. positioned the Philippines as a vital bridge between the Global North and South. Speaking before the Special Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly , the President formally campaigned for the Philippines' election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027-2028 term. Did You Know? New York City is home to one of the largest Filipino populations in the United States, with over 85,000 Filipin...

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...

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