Vancouver's Response To Lapu Lapu Day Tragedy
Photo Credit: Nav Rahi/CBC
On Apr. 26, the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party took place in the South Hill neighborhood, marking the second consecutive year of the event. Around 8:14 PM, as the festivities were coming to a close, a speeding SUV drove through a pedestrian-only area along East 43rd Avenue near Fraser Street. Eleven people were killed and dozens more were injured. According to Vancouver Police Department (VPD) chief Steve Rai, the attack was the “darkest day in our city's history.” The driver of the SVU is now facing eight counts of second degree murder.
British Columbia recognized Apr. 27 as Lapu Lapu Day in 2023, as a way to honour the legacy of Datu Lapu Lapu. The Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, organized by Filipino BC, was held in Vancouver for the first time in 2024. Lapu Lapu, an Indigenous chieftain from Mactan, Philippines, is considered the first Filipino hero for his resistance against Spanish colonization. While nearby chiefs agreed to submit to colonists in the 1520s, Lapu Lapu showed opposition.
“Lapu-Lapu's legacy is not just that of a solitary hero, but the embodiment of a united spirit [...],” states the Filipino BC website. The community organization aims to preserve Filipino-Canadian heritage. “He represents the soul of native resistance, a powerful force that helped shape the Filipino identity in the face of colonization. He teaches us that the strength of a united people [...], can withstand any challenge.”
Joe Tuliano, event director of the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, told CityNews that the Filipino community “take[s] this day very seriously to celebrate our culture, but most importantly, our resilience and perseverance.”
Bayanihan, the Filipino cultural practice of helping one another in community “has been a 'lifeline' for Filipino Canadians as they mourn the tragedy,” according to reporting from CBC News.
A memorial at Fraser and 43rd Avenue has become a place for people to gather, mourn, and bring items such as flowers, candles, and handwritten tributes. There are also various other memorials set up around the city, including one on Fraser and East 41st avenue, and one at Mountain View Cemetery.
Items people have left at the East 41st memorial have been removed and non-perishable items have been brought to either the 43rd Avenue memorial or the Mountain View Cemetery memorial.
“Community members and loved ones have created something beautiful and peaceful at the [...] memorial because they know that’s exactly what’s needed right now,” Filipino BC media relations manager Crystal Laderas told CityNews.
Filipino BC also shared that in Filipino-Catholic tradition, the memorial period lasts 40 days. On Jun. 5, around 200 community members attended a 40-day memorial mass to honour and pray for those who lost their lives.
“[...] [M]any people [believe] that for 40 days the souls of our loved ones still walk the Earth, they still remain really close to us,” Laderas said outside St. Andrew’s Parish before the mass began. “So on the 40th day, [the souls] transition to the afterlife and they find peace.
“Healing does not follow a straight line. It takes time, care, and community. For many, this past month has been a heavy one. The full ripple effect of the attack is yet to be seen, as people deal with lasting trauma that can manifest itself in different ways quietly beneath the surface,” said Filipino BC in a statement marking the tragedy’s one-month anniversary.
According to RJ Aquino, chair of Filipino BC, there has been discussion about a permanent memorial being set up at the site at the proper time.
Since the event, the community has come together to show their support in various ways. A fundraiser featuring musical performances, poetry, traditional dances, and speeches organized by the Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS) took place at Surrey's Civic Plaza.
Multiple food-related fundraisers have also taken place, including a soup fundraiser at the Greens and Beans Deli in New Westminster with actor Larry Thomas, best known for his role as a strict soup seller on Seinfeld. A food tour consisting of multiple dinner fundraisers with Filipino-born and Vancouver-raised chef Mark Singson, and a dinner fundraiser at Gourmet Warehouse with 11 of Vancouver’s top chefs, have also been held in support of victims and their families.
Furthermore, United Way BC and Filipino BC started the United Way BC’s Kapwa Strong Fund. Kapwa is a term that describes the Filipino experience of community and shared humanity. All proceeds from the fund will go towards immediate assistance, counseling and trauma services, and other critical support. They also have been awarding grants and have various community fundraisers raising money for the community.
The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Police Department ordered a review of the event’s safety measures on Apr. 27, the day after the tragedy. The preliminary report found that all standard event planning processes were undertaken leading up to the festival. A final report is set to be released by Aug. 27.
Additionally, BC Premier David Eby announced that the province will be launching an independent commission aimed at increasing safety at public events that will examine other jurisdictions’ best practices for minimizing risk to the public.
The BC government has declared May 2 an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy. A news release from the province said that “the day of remembrance and mourning is an opportunity for people in British Columbia to come together, grieve the loss of innocent lives and recognize the contributions the victims made to their communities and the province.”
If you are in need of support, resources are available. For free, 24/7, confidential support, call or text 1-800-563-0808, or email 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca.