April 2023 ZAI Newsletter

Zambales Association Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia

Google search “Dawasan Blogger” if unable to read the email.

Spring – The Season of Renewal

 

Cherry Blossom Festival, Red Wing Park, VA Beach, VA

 

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Virginia Beach, as it offers various exciting tourist attractions, including the Cherry Blossom Festival. Our city boasts top-notch hotels and restaurants, and our parks, golf courses, and neighborhoods reflect the pride of home ownership.

Law enforcement ensures the safety of the city, and the medical responders, who are all volunteers, provide their services to ensure the well-being of the people. It is noteworthy that our volunteers are the only medical group in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, and they rely on donations to keep their services running.

The Virginia Beach Cherry Blossom Festival has a rich history that dates back to 2005. Our sister city, Miyazaki, Japan, donated 100 cherry trees, followed by another 50 trees the following year. Our Parks and Recreation department has taken meticulous care of these trees, allowing us to experience the beauty of these cherry trees without having to travel all the way to Washington, D.C.

The festival will be held from March 26 to April 2, 2023. Visitors can enjoy various Japanese cultural activities, such as music and martial arts, which are spread throughout the park. Unfortunately, the event was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this year, the festival is happening, and visitors can bring their lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets to enjoy the festival under the sun.

Things to do in Virginia Beach this April 2023 Blog link

Spring has arrived, bringing colorful and family-friendly events along Virginia Beach's coast, including our favorite local traditions.

Announcement:  ZAI meeting on April 02, 2023, Operation Smile bldg., from 2pm to 4pm. Topic: Our upcoming Mother's Day party and induction ball. 

  

April 18, 2023, is Tax Day. It is not a Federal holiday, folks! Uncle Sam would like to have the stimulus checks back. He just wanted you to keep it for a short while. Haha!

 

The due date for filing your Virginia State Income Tax return for Tax Year 2022 (Jan. 1 - Dec.31, 2022) is May 01, 2023. If you file a tax extension, you can e-file your Taxes by October 13, 2023. 

 

 

Here are the Virginia laws that took effect on Jan. 01, 2023. 

 

Starting from January 1, 2023, Virginia will implement several new laws and regulations. The minimum wage in the Commonwealth will increase to $12 per hour. Virginia will no longer charge sales tax on groceries and certain personal hygiene products, reducing the tax by 1.5%. Additionally, Virginia will ban pay-if-pay clauses and restrict pay-when-paid clauses.

 

(“Pay-if-paid” clauses are commonly used by prime contractors on construction projects to shift the risk to subcontractors if the owner does not pay the prime contractor for work. However, Virginia recently joined many other states that originated from a ban on “pay-if-paid” clauses in construction contracts. “Pay-if-paid” means that a contractor does not have to pay a subcontractor unless and until the owner pays the contractor for the subcontractor’s work.)

Unemployment reform: New legislation requires the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) to review suspicious claims and recover an improper overpayment of benefits. VEC also has to undergo mandatory and recommended “program integrity” activities. The agency will have to account for what it has done in a report to be completed by Dec. 1.

Virginia Cannabis Laws: Learn everything there is to know about Virginia Cannabis Laws.
The Virginia General Assembly approved a bill that allowed for the sale of recreational marijuana, and the governor signed it into law in 2021. According to the Virginia Cannabis Law, adults at the age of 21 or older are legally allowed to possess up to one ounce of marijuana.

Filipinos in the U.S. Navy

There is now a historical marker at the Philippine Cultural Center in Virginia Beach, VA to honor the many Filipinos who served in the U.S. Navy with distinction. The marker reads;

“Filipinos, who had served in the U.S. Navy as early as the Civil War, began enlisting in larger numbers after the U.S. took possession of the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. The Philippines gained independence in 1946, and an agreement negotiated the next year allowed the U.S. Navy to recruit Filipino nationals. Over the next four decades, about 55,000 Filipinos served in the Navy, initially as stewards and mess attendants. Eligible to serve in all enlisted and officer positions by the 1970s, they later rose to the Navy's highest ranks. Filipino American communities often developed near naval bases: one of the nation's largest communities is in Hampton Roads.”

You Are Cordially Invited to Attend the Norfolk Tides Filipino American Heritage Day!!!

Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 6:00 pm.

The 2nd Filipino American Heritage Day at Harbor Park is on Saturday, April 8th, and tickets are currently on sale! A portion of all tickets purchased with the bit.ly link will benefit local Filipino-American organizations, according to the announcement.

 Jokes – Gargarekgek laeng apo

 

1. Pare: Ang galing ng nabili kong hearing aid. Hi tech at ang lakas ng dating! 

Kumpare: Magkano ang bili mo, Pare.
Pare: Oo, kanina lang

2. “Napanaginipan kita kagabi. Nakaupo sa tabi ng ilog, nag-iisa at mukhang mabigat ang loob. Lalapitan sana kita at yayakapin. Pero bigla kang tumayo…
at naghugas ng puwet.” Gising tuloy ako.

3. Pinay: Hon, anong gift mo sa akin sa silver anniversary natin?
Asawa: Dadalhin kita sa China.
Pinay: Wow, ang sweet naman. E, sa golden anniversary natin?
Asawa: Susunduin na kita.

What is cooking?

Longaniza is a Filipino sausage that is usually made at home in various sizes and shapes. It is absolutely delicious, but nowadays, it's easier to just buy it. As of today, it costs $8 for eight pieces of this delightful treat. The reason people opt to buy instead of making it themselves is simple: it gives them more time to spend with their loved ones. Grandma's day is made even more special when the grandchildren say, 'Thanks for cooking, Grandma!' 

Sportsmen, beware!

It's fishing in season! The fish are jumping, and the crabs are playing hard to catch. This is the perfect time to grab your fishing gear and head to the nearest pond. As fishing enthusiasts say, “If there's water, there are fish.” The crabs are also putting up a good fight, similar to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the “catch me if you can, sucker” style.

The Virginia state parks recommend many excellent fishing spots in state parks spread out around the state. In Virginia Beach, we have the First Landing State Park on Shore Drive, 64th Street, and the False Cape State Park in Sandbridge. Enjoy your fishing trips, guys.

Thank you for spending time with us. Until the next issue … God bless.

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 In Memoriam | Obituary  | | ZAI Officers  | 

It's hard to believe that we're already in 2023. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the ZAI Newsletter, which is published by the Dawasan Blogger. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we've managed to keep our operations running smoothly during its initial phase, and things are starting to look up now. Although there are still some uncertainties, at least we have the option of not wearing masks anymore. Therefore, it's essential to remain vigilant and appreciate every moment. As the saying goes, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

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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Feedback:

Hello, I want to compliment the ZAI Newsletter team for an informative monthly update. I enjoyed the various topics, including local events, announcements, and even jokes. I actually wanted to know more about a few of the topics, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival and Filipino Heritage Day. Please attach a link to your original source so we readers have easy access. Also, may I suggest a list of calendar events, to include the dates for the ZAI Mother's Day and Induction Ball? Thank you for your time and efforts. Well done.

Alan Fontanares

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Hello Alan – We love your feedback. Any suggestions are welcome. Just provide us the details, and it will become a part of our ZAI Newsletter personality. Thank you very much.

V/r Mike C.

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On Mon, Mar 27, 2023 at 10:22 AM, katy palihan <kpalihan@yahoo.com> wrote:

Updating us with various Filipino news plus interesting jokes made our day 

great.  Thanks a lot for your continued effort and time.

Pahabol para sa mga senior citizens:   Please use a mask when you go to

Rivers Casino.  Smoking is allowed there.  Good luck.

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Hello Katy – Your feedback is very encouraging. Thank you very much. 

V/r Mike C.

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