After deadly crash, Vancouver Filipinos say they're leaning on 'kapwa,' or togetherness
Thirty minutes after Diana Silva, a vendor at the Filipino festival in Vancouver, left the party Saturday night, she heard that a car had plowed into the crowd at the event. Silva said she immediately began thinking of how to help.
It's one example of how Filipino Canadians in the area's tight-knit community have been participating in vigils, planning fundraisers for victims and providing meals to locals immediately after the attack.
TJ Conwi, a Filipino Canadian chef who has lived in the area for about 30 years, said the immediate acts of communal care reflect the concept of 'kapwa,' a Tagalog word that means the interconnectedness and togetherness in the Filipino community.
'When you say 'we're kapwa,' you're talking about a whole community. You're talking about how we all fall together and all rise together, whatever it is that we go through. And it's just so powerful to see that at the vigil yesterday,' said Conwi, 48, who attended the festival with family members the morning of the tragedy. 'It's automatic, it's given, it's not even earned.'
The attack killed 11 people and injured more than two dozen others. The victims were 5 to 65 years old, officials said at a news conference Sunday, adding that the death toll could rise. So far, law enforcement has sidestepped discussing a motive, but it has ruled out terrorism as a possibility.
Officials said the suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, who has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, had a history of mental illness and was known to police.
Filipino Canadians in the area say they are shaken. The ethnic group is the third-largest Asian immigrant population in the country, behind Indians and Chinese, at roughly 957,355 people as of the 2021 census. While the largest community is in the greater Toronto area, Vancouver is also home to a significant population, with roughly 141,230 people of Filipino descent, making up 5.4% of the metro area.
Filipinos began sustained immigration to Canada in the 1960s as a deteriorating economy in the Philippines coincided with a Canadian labor shortage. Many went to the country for jobs in nursing and patient services, as well as to fill other gaps in the country's labor market. By 2016, Filipinos held just under a third of those roles. And for decades, the community has flourished to include small-business owners, leaders and other prominent figures.
Locals said the festival that was attacked is one of the largest Filipino celebrations of the year, honoring the 16th century Filipino chieftain Datu Lapu-Lapu, who defeated Spanish forces and remains a symbol of resistance against colonialism. The event was a rare chance for Filipinos across the lower mainland to gather in one place, many said.
Conwi, who leads a group of Filipino chefs who provide meals to charities in the area, said that though Filipino Canadian locals are still in shock, the crash hasn't stopped them from pitching in to uplift one another. Conwi said the weekend was filled with Zoom calls and coordination from community organizations to ensure that counseling, food and other resources were taken care of. He and other chefs in his collective have been cooking and distributing meals to families and grieving residents, as well.
'In less than five, 10 hours, people woke up with purpose like you wouldn't believe. People didn't even have time to process this, but people are already coming together,' Conwi said. 'It just all came about organically. It's so quick.'
Silva, owner of the Filipino bakery Cake It Easy Desserts, said she has been selling cupcakes, with 100% of the proceeds going to fundraisers for the victims. She said it has been difficult to come to terms with the tragedy.
'It's such a different feeling knowing that you were there just before it happened,' Silva, 41, said of the chilling experience. 'I have a 7-year-old and a 5-year-old, and they were running around two blocks away from where it actually happened.'
Silva said that during a vigil for the victims, community members didn't hesitate to start brainstorming ideas to help. It's almost reflective of the occasion they were supposed to celebrate, she said.
'Lapu-Lapu is all about resilience, and he stood up for the Philippines,' Silva said. 'I think that's what our community is doing now.'
Celine Bacani, a Filipino Canadian who owns Lee's Donuts in the city, said it has also been heartening to see those outside the community support Filipinos on what was supposed to be a joyous weekend. Leaders from across Canada spoke out, Bacani said, which 'spoke volumes.'
Filipinos abroad also offered their solidarity with the local Vancouver community.
Bacani, 42, who was born and raised in Vancouver, said the community has a long road of healing ahead.
'Filipinos, by nature, are really caring and nurturing people. We are here to always help others,' she said.This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
I've lost everything, says Romanian wrongly arrested for Ballymena attempted rape
A Romanian in Ballymena has claimed he has 'lost everything' after he was wrongly arrested for the attempted rape of a schoolgirl. He spoke after riots broke out in the Northern Ireland town following the appearance in court of two 14-year-old boys charged with attempted rape and who required a Romanian interpreter. The father-of-two, named Alex, wrote on social media how his home and car were attacked by anti-immigrant rioters while he was in custody, according to the MailOnline. The 28-year-old also said rioters returned to the property even after he was freed from custody without charge. Alex said he and his wife had been forced into hiding, while his mother had taken his two daughters to Romania out of fear for their safety in Ballymena. In a Facebook post translated from Romanian, the father wrote: 'I have lost everything because of false accusations. 'I lost my house where I lived, my car, all my belongings. 'But the biggest regret is that I lost the chance to offer my children a better future. And all this without having done anything wrong.' The Romanian national went on to say: 'My family and I are not guilty, we all came for a better life, no one wants problems, we are modest people, people who fear God.' Houses have been set alight and bricks, fireworks and petrol bombs have been thrown during scenes of disorder in Ballymena over recent days. Residents previously told The Telegraph of long-running tensions with the Roma community – which came to a head following the boys' court appearance. The scenes have been so frightening to some residents, non-Roma immigrants have resorted to putting up signs confirming their nationality, such as 'Filipino lives here'. Credit: TikTok Meanwhile, others even displayed the King's Coronation memorabilia and crockery featuring Queen Elizabeth II, in a bid to deter thugs hunting for migrants. On Thursday, three teenagers were charged with riot in relation to the disorder, with the youngest, 15, also charged with criminal damage. In total, 15 people have been arrested and 41 police officers injured during the unrest, which was sparked by the alleged sexual assault of the girl. In his Facebook post, Alex, who is also active on TikTok, also apologised if he had offended anyone in Northern Ireland with 'boastful' posts he had published on the social media platform. In one TikTok reel that emerged after riots began in Ballymena he was shown blowing kisses to the camera before waving a giant wodge of cash outside the town's courthouse following an unrelated matter involving a family member. Critics claimed it was then shared by one of his relatives who made provocative comments. In another social media message, after his Audi was attacked, Alex wrote in Romanian: 'Plenty more fish [in the sea]' over a picture of the smashed-up luxury vehicle on his drive. He wrote: 'I admit I am 'boastful'. That is my character and I apologise if I upset anyone. It was not my intention.' In a statement that did not name the man, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: 'A 28-year-old man was arrested on Monday June 9. 'He has been unconditionally released from police custody following questioning.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Cosmopolitan
13-06-2025
- Cosmopolitan
'Let's call the Ballymena riots what they are: a vile excuse for toxic men to use women's pain to be violent'
Yesterday, I received a text in my family Whatsapp group that brought tears to my eyes. My mum, a member of a church in my tight-knit, coastal hometown in Northern Ireland, messaged to tell us that a group of young asylum seekers, who had kindly volunteered their time to paint a children's room in the church, had been forced to stop. Later, a wellness hub provided for these people – many of whom had come to the area after fleeing war-struck places like Iran and Syria – to teach them how to sew and craft, and receive mental health and language skills support, also had to be cancelled, to ensure their safety. Why? Because a group of violent men had weaponised a young woman's trauma as an excuse to be openly, and horrifically, racist. Just days ago on 9 June, what began as a peaceful protest in response to an alleged serious sexual assault against a teenage girl in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, soon descended into hate-filled violence. On that Monday morning, two 14-year-old boys appeared in Coleraine Magistrates' Court, charged with attempted oral rape. The boys confirmed their names and ages using a Romanian interpreter. When this information was made public, what followed, unfortunately, did not surprise me. Rather than come together to protest and combat violence against women and girls, something that happens day-in, day-out, and is (more often than not) perpetrated by males from all walks of life, local (mostly) men and boys seized the opportunity to take a young woman's trauma, ignore it, and use it to justify four days of rioting and racist violence. In an example of peak selective anger, several thousand people descended on a place known locally as 'Ken's car park', wearing balaclavas and gloves. Rioters unleashed petrol bombs, targeting the houses of foreign nationals, many of whom have lived peacefully in our town for years, and many of whom were still inside the properties when they were set ablaze. Cars belonging to Filipino families were blown up. People resorted to hanging Union Jack flags on their homes in an attempt to keep rioters from their doors. In one of many terrifying videos documenting houses being set on fire, a woman could be heard saying: "If they're local, they need out. If they're not local, let them stay there [and burn]." In 2020, one Northern Irish mother, Emma Jane McParland, was at home when her 21-year-old son attacked her, stabbing her five times with a kitchen knife and ultimately murdering her. In 2022, another woman, Natalie McNally, was killed when she was 15 weeks pregnant, after being stabbed and suffering blunt force trauma to her head in her Lisburn home. Her partner, Stephen McCullagh, was charged with murder and is awaiting trial (he is expected to plead not guilty). There were no riots. No protests. I saw barely any men posting about their horror after hearing of those cases, passionately wanting to take action to help support women. Between 2023 and 2024, there were approximately 4,090 sexual offences recorded by the Police in Northern Ireland. Of those, 1,181 were rape offences. Since 2020, 25 women have been killed in Northern Ireland. All but one of these women were killed by a man, or a man has been charged in connection with their deaths. Northern Ireland's femicide rate is the second highest in Europe. Where was the outrage when each of these women died? When Emma and Natalie were killed in their own homes? Where was the protesting then? The riots in Ballymena are not about protecting women, let's be honest about it. But they are about exerting power and hate under the guise of 'justice'. If outrage leads to racial scapegoating instead of creating actionable change, then it is clear that the people participating in the violence do not actually care about the young girl whose trauma has likely only been made worse by the chaos and fear they've created. All of the women and girls who are experiencing trauma because of sexual violence have been pushed to the side, while the country focuses its efforts on blatant racism and hatred. It's something that Janaya Walker, Head of Public Affairs at the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), says is sadly not uncommon. "The far-right and its supporters have a long history of co-opting sexual violence to promote their own racist, white supremacist agenda,' she explains. 'These individuals and groups are often known misogynists who never actively or meaningfully campaign to improve women and girls' autonomy, rights and freedoms – in fact, they tend to support a patriarchal view of the family and interpersonal relationships.' 'We have grown worryingly used to hearing violence against women and girls weaponised in both far-right and mainstream political rhetoric, to justify racist policies and laws that cause significant harm, including to women and survivors of gender-based violence. This must stop. Any government committed to tackling violence against women and girls must prioritise prevention by tackling the inequalities that drive this abuse.' As a woman who grew up in Northern Ireland – a beautiful country where people passing you on a walk will greet you with a 'Hello, how are you?', despite the fact you've never met – today, I'm utterly ashamed. The extreme levels of violence and fury being displayed right now is not reflective of the vast majority of people from my home, but of a small, ever-present minority of small-minded, violent, deeply angry individuals. And it's not just Northern Ireland that's exemplifying a clear case of using female pain to incite racist vitriol: the Southport riots of 2024, which followed fatal stabbings at a children's dance class, also took that pain and twisted it into a weapon of hate. Fuelled by misinformation surfaced on social media that the suspect was an illegal migrant, scores of (again, mostly) men stormed Southport Mosque and Islamic Cultural Society Centre, throwing bricks at police and windows. Running with this false rumour, the selective anger of these men grew and spread across the country, where mobs then also ran riot in London, Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot, amongst other regions, largely targeting migrant communities. Who actually benefits when communities tear themselves apart like this? Certainly not the young girl at the heart of this matter in Ballymena. If these men are angry at the violence levelled against women and girls, then good, they should be. But what they should then be doing is directing that rage at the system which routinely fails victims. Hurl it instead at the toxic views spouted by men who still support the likes of Conor McGregor (the Irish martial artist who was recently found liable in a civil case for sexual assault – and who was then invited to visit President Trump in the White House and who still has over 46 million Instagram followers). They should be putting this energy into stopping their friends who partake in catcalling after having one too many in the local pub. None of the rioting fixes anything. It doesn't keep our women and girls safe. It serves only as a reminder that these men are not listening to the pain and trauma of women and girls, unless it fits their own unrelated, hate-filled agenda. Sara Macauley is a Northern Irish freelance writer, currently living in London. Follow her on Instagram.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
More arrests after third night of unrest in N. Ireland town
Riot police were pelted with petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks and nine officers were wounded in the third night of unrest in Northern Ireland, police said on Thursday amid simmering anti-immigrant anger. The three days of clashes in Ballymena erupted on Monday night after two teenagers were arrested for an alleged attempted rape of a young girl at the weekend. Police have not confirmed the ethnicity of the teenagers, who remain in custody and had asked for a Romanian interpreter in court. The crowds eventually dispersed late Wednesday without a repeat of the chaotic scenes seen on Monday and Tuesday when houses and businesses were torched and 32 police officers were injured. But in Larne, around 20 miles (32 kilometres) away, local media reported that masked men on Wednesday torched a leisure centre that was temporarily sheltering people from Ballymena who had been evacuated from their homes. Police condemned Wednesday night's violence, which included a hatchet being thrown at officers, calling it "completely unacceptable disorder". Six more people were arrested, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. "As a result of a significant policing operation calm was restored to all areas at around 1:00 am (0000 GMT) this morning," the force added. Three teenage boys aged 15, 17 and 18 were due to appear in court on Thursday having been charged with rioting, according to police. A total of 41 officers have now been hurt in the three nights of unrest, the PSNI said, though most of the injuries were not severe. Ministers from every party in the province's power-sharing executive strongly condemned "the racially motivated violence witnessed in recent days", while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the "mindless violence". The UK's Northern Ireland minister Hilary Benn, who visited Ballymena on Thursday, said he "utterly condemned the terrible scenes of civil disorder". - 'Terrifying' - Police called the violence "racist thuggery", deployed riot officers with dogs and asked forces in England and Wales for help quelling the unrest. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said Thursday that "this criminal behaviour has no place on the streets of Northern Ireland and is completely unacceptable". On the fire in Larne, police said: "Shockingly, people were inside the building at the time of this fire -– thankfully no injuries were reported." Ballymena residents have described "terrifying" scenes in which attackers had targeted "foreigners" over the previous days. Some people fixed signs to their houses indicating they were Filipino residents, or hung up British flags. Political commentator Alex Kane, a former Ulster Unionist Party communications chief, told AFP "most of those involved in the rioting... were from the working-class loyalist community" who support Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK. "This is a demographic which feels left behind" by various political and social forces, he added. "An unsettled community, particularly when it is mostly composed of the young, is often quick to anger and easy to mobilise on the street. It's a problem which won't disappear any time soon," he warned. While acknowledging the protests were a "bit extreme", college student Lee Stewart described them as necessary "to defend our own people". "We view it as the police aren't doing anything to stop what is going on to those poor wee girls," Stewart, 18, said. bur-pmu-jwp/jkb/phz/giv
