Zambales Association Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Happy Holiday, folks!
Labor Day is a national holiday that we all celebrate. But do we know why? Is it just because we want to have a long weekend to grill back ribs and party with family and friends? While that's a part of it, the main purpose of Labor Day is to honor the work and sacrifices of the labor movements, which gave birth to labor unionism in America. The celebration that follows their victorious campaign to improve wages and working conditions in the workplace is the reason behind the grilling portion. The improved wages, medical and dental insurance, leave of absence in the form of maternity, and paid days off are all part of the employment benefits we enjoy today.
So, as we enjoy our long weekend, let's not forget why we are celebrating. Let's honor the labor movements and their contributions to our society. And let's also be mindful of the ongoing threat of COVID-19. While we enjoy our time with family and friends, let's remain careful and keep ourselves and others safe.
Casino Trip Coming Up!
Yes! On Saturday, September 10, 2022, a trip to Maryland Live Casino awaits you. It is a group outing sponsored by the Zambales Association. This is a necessary fundraising initiative to augment the ZAI's dwindling funds. Your active participation is desired, like the large crowd at the July 31, 2022, picnic. To speak plainly, let us fill up the bus to make fundraising successful.
Let us call our Casino Coordinators now. Pay first to get a good seat. History tells us that members used to reserve seats and cancel a day before the trip. That move puts pressure on the coordinators to come up with replacements. They turned down many interested parties because seats were sold out due to their commitments. With last-minute cancellations and short notices, advertising the just-made available seats will not be productive. As a result, lost sales will hurt the association badly. So, if you cancel out, get a replacement for you to get a refund. This honor system is called “No money, no honey.” Hehe! Thank you.
The ZAI Casino Coordinators |
(L – R) ZAI Pres. Joe & Edith Alvior, Tom Cecil, Joe & Angie Aranas, Pinah Cecil, Fe & Joe Agbanglo, Larry Sahagun, Mila & Sam Raganit, Minehardt Najera.
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For reservations: Call Joe Aranas@757-472-4403, Joe Alvior@757-277-5148, Pinah Cecil@757-831-9673, Larry Sahagun@757-777-7597. Currently, the cost per person is sixty-five dollars ($65.00). More on the Facebook ZAI group site. Caution: Because of the ongoing shrinkflation, the price per person might change slightly. This warning is precautionary to avoid surprises. Understand – everything is going up: gas, wages, groceries, etc. It is also rumored that slot machines are paying less nowadays. Hehe! We are just kidding!
The trip's meeting place is in the parking lot of Burlington Coat Factory on Indian River Rd. The bus departs for Maryland Live at 0700 hours. It is suggested that passengers arrive early because they will be checking for COVID-19 symptoms before boarding the bus. It is not mandatory to wear a facemask, but for the safety of others, wear one for your safety as well.
Outing trips, regardless of where the trips may be, are always good for our daily well-being. The camaraderie, the jokes, ooh, the tsismis, and much more good stuff – some old, some new, are always good for the soul and spirit. It is priceless, folks!
According to the grapevines, some members come home from the casino 10 or 20 thousand dollars richer. Unbelievable? Not really. We heard one who brought home about forty-thousand dollars playing table games. So, if you see your friend driving a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, you know where that came from. It might be a good idea to start talking to the “Buffalo!” For those unfamiliar with “Buffalo,” it is an electronic slot machine named “Buffalo” and has been known to pay generously in the past. But don't take our word for it. Slot machines are tricky and are reported to pay prices randomly. It is well-known that people could make or lose a fortune in casinos. So, use your head and understand what is going on. There are things you can do in a casino besides gambling.
That said, have fun, and good luck, guys!
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Local News
Remember Rosa: The woman hit, and killed in the Virginia Beach crash, was a leader in the Hampton Roads Filipino community.
Author: WVEC reporter Angeline Arintok
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – A driver is accused of hitting two people in a crosswalk near Constitution Drive at Virginia Beach Town Center. The crash happened around 4 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 2022.
Rosa Blanco, 76, died from her injuries, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Over the decades, Blanco served in leadership roles within multiple organizations, including the Filipino Women's Club of Tidewater (FWCT) as past president and the Council of Filipino Organization of Tidewater (CUFOT) as treasurer.
I'm still processing the news of Blanco's death, CUFOT Chairman Dr. Romero remembered her as wise counsel and a confidant to many.
Blanco hailed from Angono, Rizal, in the Philippines and moved to the United States in the 1970s.
“Auntie Rosa was probably one of the most dedicated individuals in our Filipino community (in Hampton Roads),” said Romero.
In Filipino culture, it is customary to precede the first name of someone your elder by a title, related by blood or not. So, many people in Hampton Roads called Blanco “Auntie Rosa,” as Romero did in an interview with 13 News Now.
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Inflation reduction tax
The U.S. President signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 into law, which includes new tax provisions, extensions, and expansions of tax benefits related to energy efficiency and healthcare.
Here's what's included in the Inflation Reduction Act and what it can mean for you and your taxes. Learn more,
Interest Rates Increased to fight Inflation.
The federal government announced another increase in interest rates of three-quarters of a percentage point for the second time in two months to fight Inflation. The recent interest rate hikes, the most aggressive since the 1980s economic crises, aim to slow spending that has been a factor in rising Inflation. Learn more,
IRS Hikes Penalties for Underpaying Taxes
The IRS announced this week that the interest rates it charges for underpayments will rise for the last quarter of 2022 – October 01, 2022, through December 31, 2022.
(If you are under-withholding your taxes, fill up an IRS W-4 to increase your withholding taxes and make it effective October 01, 2022.)
Virginia Interest Rates Change for the Fourth QuarterVirginia's interest rates will change in the fourth quarter of 2022. The underpayment and overpayment rates for Virginia taxes are 2% higher than the corresponding federal rates. The Federal rates for the fourth quarter of 2022 will be a 6% interest penalty for under-withholding tax payments and 6% interest for tax refunds by non-corporate taxpayers. Accordingly, the Virginia rates for the fourth quarter of 2022 will be 8% for tax underpayments (assessments) and 8% for tax overpayments (refunds). Details about these interest rates can be found in Tax Bulletin 22-11. If you have additional questions, go to www.tax.virginia.gov, or contact us at 804.367.8031 for individual income tax questions and 804.367.8037 for business tax questions. |
Mid-Term Election coming soon
We have plenty of time to learn more about our candidates. Voting for the right person to represent us is crucial. It is going to affect our lives in more ways than most. We may not realize the significance of choosing suitable candidates, but if the wrong person gets elected, it is because we need to do our job diligently. Make that vote count.
In Memoriam – ZAI past presidents: A tribute to those who came before us. Thank you. ___________________________________________________________
Trivia: Tell us if you recognize the pictured delicacy in the comment section. Hint: The topping is grated coconut flesh. Yummy!_________________________________________________________________________________________
Humor in translation
English: Is this your property?
Japanisims: Arimoto
English: Yes. This is my property.
Japanisims: Arikoto
English: You have grown so thin!
Japanisims: Kitanabutomo
English: Zip up your pants!
Japanisims: Kitanatitimo
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This year, 2023, is the fifth year we've published the ZAI Newsletter under the Dawasan Blogger. We remain operational during the first part of the pandemic. Now, the outlook is beginning to look good. There are still doubts and uncertainties out there. (Mask-wearing is now optional.) It's what life is all about. So, let's keep alert and grateful for our experiences as they come to us daily. As the saying goes, 'Plan for the best. Work for the worse.'
We apologize for any unintentional errors in our writing. English is not our native language, and we are not experts in grammar, so there is always room for improvement. We aim to deliver the best possible content, and we hope that you understand if we make any mistakes.
Your support has been invaluable in encouraging us to continue despite our limited resources. We appreciate your patience and assistance in growing our newsletter. — Mike Colorado
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