Vol 39 Issue 2
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALPHA PHI OMEGA GREATER LOS ANGELES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
February 2019
PRESIDENT’S MESSA GE MESSAGE By Bro. Mike Medina
Our first General Membership Meeting was well attended with 51 members plus their spouses and kids. The presence of our 12 Past Presidents purely shows their dedication and support for the success of this organization and, it’s so pleasant to see Come Back members who were not with us for period of years. APOGLA members it’s renewal time! As of this date, we have 46 members that paid their membership dues. Thanks for your support. Our first activity for the year is our Annual Ladies night to be held on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at La Mesa Bar and Restaurant, This is a new venue, Our Coordinators, Sis. Daema Mendez and Sis. Josie Tarculas will be reminding you on our group email and will posting on our Facebook page. Next will be our first Service to our community “LA Marathon” on Sunday, March 24, 2019. Registration is ongoing; Register now, to fill the required slot for our group. To get all the details of our program, I would like to encourage everyone to attend our 2nd General Membership Meeting this Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the Residence of Bro. Jobee and Sis. Hazel’s Residence. Since I’ll be out of the country for a few weeks, Bro. Domel Evangelista our Vice-President will preside our GMM. Respectfully your servant, Bro. Mike “Boy” Medina
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Pictures from Januar y General Membership Meeting
Tribo ni Bado Newsletter is a monthly publication of the Alpha Phi Omega Greater Los Angeles Alumni Association exclusively for its members, families and friends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the writers, and are not intended to represent APOGLAAA. Publisher/Editor Sancho Sy Editorial Staff Fely Montecillo • Toti Ayo Photos/Graphics by Ed Romero • Hanigrace Zara • Casey Mansilla Contributors Mike Medina • Jen Evangelista • Fely Montecillo
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Pictures from Januar y General Membership Meeting
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Pictures from Carisse
Mamaril’s
Baby
Shower
Pictures from Super Bowl Party hosted by Brod Roehl R.
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FR OM MY POINT OF VIEW FROM By Bro. Dan E. Nino
Some Basic Changes in Our New 2018 Tax Laws I wished you had a delightful and joyful Christmas Season. May the new year and beyond bring you more prosperity, abundantblessings and glad tidings in your household. As you well know, the 185-page Tax Cuts & Jobs Act laws effective Jan. 1, 2018 will play out this year and will apply until 2025 when you’ll file your tax return. This so-called new tax reform laws is the largest tax cuts in history including corporation tax cuts ranging from 15% to 35% to a flat rate of 21%. Some exemptions are eliminated but the deductions had increased. On the other hand, the non-partisan Tax Foundation predicted that it will reduce federal revenue by $1.5 billion in the years to come. You win some and lose some. Anyway, I’ll provide you the most fundamental changes that affect our daily lives.Here are some of them: 1. The new tax laws doubles the standard deduction amount starting in 2018 for the 2019 filing season. For instance, the deductionfor singles is $12,000 up from $6,350 in 2017; $18,000 for heads of household, married filing separately and qualifying (widow(er) up from $9,350; $24,000 for joint filing married couples up from $12,700. In addition, you still get extra standard deduction for the blind and folks aged 65 or more. 2. In order to get any benefit from your itemized deductions like casualty and theft losses in federally-declared disaster areas, they must be higher than the standard deduction associated with your filing status.Most miscellaneous itemized deductions have been eliminated in the new Tax Act. 3. All personal and dependent exemption deductions are eliminated amounting to $4,050. This will certainly hurt families with many dependents. However, there’s a $2,000 child tax credit for a qualifying child aged 16 or under. 4. You can deduct medical expenses for two years (2018 and 2019) with over 7.5 per cent of adjusted gross income (AGI). 5. We are generally generous people especially to victims of flood, earthquake fire, natural disasters here and abroad. We donate to legitimate non-profit organizations recognized by the IRS or religious organizations — whether in cash or in kind. Just obtain proper receipts. 6. Real estate property taxes are still deductible. The TCJA however limits your total property taxes to $10,000. Just make sure that your name is on the property’s title. Property taxes assessed as part of your time-share fees and as part of your community’s common area fees are deductible. 7. Only interests on mortgages up to $750,000 on the primary home is deductible compared to interest on combined mortgages up to $1,000,000 on the primary and one secondary home. Since the standard deductions are already doubled, a high itemized deductions especially if unsubstantiated or frivolous may increase yourchances of being audited. Besides, most itemized deductions have been reduced by 2 percent. There’s no one expected to know everything about our Tax Codes especially the new one even the IRS. It takes a lot of studies, research, readings, attending seminars, even passing the written exams. But at least, as your tax professionals, we know where to find the answers. There are also some taxpayers who don’t care to file their taxes because they think that they have no taxable income.. You have to file your incomes taxes whether you are sure or not. You’ll never know what the future holds for you. Some institutions require that you submit your income taxes especially if you plan to buy big-ticket items, plan to rent an apartment or house, obtain your green card, file a petition to a relative from overseas or co-sign file an affidavit of support. Lastly, keep your documents,receipts, W-2s, Form 1099s, etc. There’s no substitute for record-keeping. I assure you that you’ll have a peace of mind. You are in control whether you pay less taxes or have refunds. Your fate is in your hands.Dan E. Nino is a Licensed and Bonded Tax Professional and commissioned Notary Public. You may contact him at 562-921-5116 (Landline) or 562-508-8099 (Mobile)or e-mail himat denino1951@gmail.com
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GOINGS ON by Sis. Fely Montecillo It's February and once more, it's the LOVE month. Common scenes are lovers buying Valentine's cards and gifts, men buying flowers for their one and only [?] and dinners galore to celebrate this special day. How we wish everyday were Valentine's Day! APOGLA always marks this special day with the Ladies' Night. We surely look forward to another very successful event. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you brothers and sisters! *********************** HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all the celebrants of this month! Those born from Feb.1 to 18 fall under the zodiac sign Aquarius while those born from Feb.19th to Feb. 28/29th fall under the influence of the Pisces sign. Those born under the sign of Aquarius have the ability to hope at all costs. Your air sign means you're smart and your ideas have serious staying power, On the other hand, those born under the sign of Pisces are very generous and emotional. They are intuitive than others and have artistic talent and have musical talent. They are also usually gentle, compassionate, musical and wise. *********************** ACAI International and ACAA members are gearing up for their reunion to be held in Laoag from May 24 to 26. So many activities and trips to different places before and after the convention are being lined up. Excitement is in the air for one would soon be seeing brods and sisters of long ago who shared many happy moments with them. That will indeed be quite a thrill. Leading the officers and members in contacting long lost associates are Brods Pio Torneros and Jham Jamero, and Sisters Ophel Amon and Malou de Leon. *********************** Sis Grace Zara is upbeat about her assignment as coordinator for the Camping Activity. She is not leaving any stone unturned and is seeing to it that everything is done according to the time table set. Good luck on your assignment Sis! This must be quite a challenge!
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HAPPY BIR THD AY BIRTHD THDA FEBR UAR Y FEBRU ARY CELEBRANTS MEMBER: 02 - Marc Bundalian 03 - Armand Mendoza - Rebecca “bibic” Ford 04 - Jennifer Evangelista 11 - Alvin Nonato 12 - Bonjie Ingco (deceased) - Nestor Jove 16 - Christina Abad 18 - Caloy Enriquez 19 - Conrado Lazo 24 - Gerry Arante - Beatriz Ventura 26 - Dom Pascua 28 - Benito Morales 29 - Pete Sillorequez
Please Join Us! February 23, 2018 at 7:00pm At “LA MESA BAR & Restaurant” 975 West San Bernardino, West Covina Ca Band Entertainment that night.
Please send your $50.00 Membership Dues to: TROY AGAGON 27447 Elder View Dr., Valencia, CA 91354 All checks must be made payable to: APOGLA
SPOUSES: 02 - Mercedes Cabral 05 - Yolly Adriano, - Rollygen Posadas 06 - Precy Marte 09 - Nida Nonato 21 - Roland Gayon, - Allyn Pablo 24 - Jeanette Clarete 26 - Chiqui Ramos APO KIDS: 01 - Ardina Morallos, - Rheene Yambot 02 - Matthew Madrigal, - Mae Robles, Janine Tarculas 04 - Bed Fisico 06 - Megan Ninofranco, - Jonathan Maddela 07 - Jeffrey Gomez, Jamie Bautista 08 - Dainty Amon 09 - Joseph Duldulao 10 - Elena Rondilla 12 - Janelle Alejandria 13 - Mikael Anton Ang-Gayon, - Daryl Amon 17 - Joevic Cobarrubias, - Josh Parayno 18 - KC Ingco, James Valentino, - Jay Henry Valentino 24 - Lean Noche 25- John Howard Paras 27- Kayla Williams, Nicole Ilagan
2ND GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING WHEN: Saturday, February 16, 2019 - GMM 4pm to 6pm - Fellowship follows ‘til midnight WHERE: Brod Jobee & Sis Hazel’s Place 20120 Diehl St. Walnut, CA 91789 CONTACT PERSONS: Bro. Mike Medina CP# 909-214-4737 Bro. Domel Evangelista CP# 323-302-3871
Mishael Medina 13831 Portofino St. Fontana, CA 92336
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www.alphaphiomega.org