Latest news with #DatuLapu-Lapu
Boston Globe
29-04-2025
- Boston Globe
Vehicle attack in Vancouver devastates a vibrant and growing Filipino community
'We felt ... the whole day that it's a fun celebration, that people are happy being together,' Miemban-Ganata said as she fought back tears Monday during an interview at her restaurant, Plato Filipino. 'We were just there to have fun, to know that we have each other in a foreign land.' A black Audi SUV barreled down a closed, food-truck-lined street and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival, which celebrates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous chieftain who stood up to Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Advertisement Eleven people were killed, including a 5-year-old girl and her parents. Thirty-two people were hurt. Seven were in critical condition and three were in serious condition at hospitals on Monday, Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Steve Addison said. Authorities quickly ruled out terrorism. The driver, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, faces multiple counts of second-degree murder, police said, and he had a history of mental illness that had prompted law enforcement responses, including one the day before the attack. His brother was the victim of a homicide in 2024, and Lo wrote in an online fundraising appeal that he was devastated by that killing. Advertisement The festival is a testament to the growing presence of the Filipino community in the Vancouver area. Filipino-owned shops and restaurants, like Plato Filipino, have proliferated, especially in South Vancouver. Miemban-Ganata said her restaurant serves as a gathering place, one where people feel comfortable enough to leave their kids when they're pinched for child care. Over the weekend, British Columbia Premier David Eby vowed not to let the tragedy define the celebration and urged people to channel their rage into helping those affected. 'I don't think there is a British Columbian that hasn't been touched in some way by the Filipino community,' he said. 'This is a community that gives and gives and yesterday was a celebration of their culture.' Filipino immigration to Canada was heavily restricted until the 1960s, when Filipino immigrants began arriving to help offset labor shortages in Canada's health care, garment and other industries, according to a Canadian Historical Association report. Now many work in finance, caregiving, real estate and other sectors. Filipinos are the third-largest Asian immigrant population in Canada with nearly 1 million residents, and more than one-third arrived in the previous decade, according to the 2021 census. And roughly 175,000 live in British Columbia, mostly in the Vancouver area, where they make up a little more more than 5% of the population. The community's growth helped prompt the formation in 2023 of Filipino BC, a nonprofit that seeks to foster Filipino Canadian heritage. Filipino BC has advocated for a Filipino cultural center and organized the first Lapu Lapu Day celebration last year. The festival is already so popular that it has attracted attendees from Seattle and Toronto, said RJ Aquino, chair of the organization's board. Advertisement 'It's really a festival designed to celebrate and share our culture,' Aquino said. 'Everybody also just loves having a big party.' Aquino grew up in the Philippines and moved briefly to the U.S. as a teenager before settling in the Vancouver area in the 1990s. The Filipino community was small then — 'It really did feel like everybody knew each other,' he said — and even now it's not uncommon to meet a stranger and learn that they're related through an aunt or uncle. As he stood before a memorial of flowers and a white cross, he called the weekend 'the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.' He had left the festival to have dinner with his family when he received a call about the attack and raced back. The community's 'first imperative,' he said, was 'to just be present with each other and make sure we don't feel alone.' The city of Vancouver and Province of British Columbia had been active in offering support services, he noted. 'The Filipino community knows how to be resilient,' Aquino said. 'How that manifests this time around — from a tragedy we've never experienced, on a scale like this — we're going to see how it plays out, and I'm going to make sure we come out of this stronger.' Johnson reported from Seattle.
The Independent
28-04-2025
- The Independent
What is the Lapu-Lapu Day celebrated in Vancouver by Filipino community?
Thousands of Filipinos gathered in Vancouver on Saturday to celebrate Lapu-Lapu Day, a festival honouring a key figure in Philippine history, when an SUV ploughed into the crowd killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens of others. The people had gathered in the city's Sunset neighbourhood for a multi-block street party. The celebration, which included Filipino food, live performances, and cultural displays, was just winding down when tragedy struck. Lapu-Lapu Day, celebrated across the Philippines and especially in the central Visayas region, commemorates Datu Lapu-Lapu's victory over Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan during the Battle of Mactan in 1521, according to reports. The Filipino chieftain's triumph is regarded as a symbol of the nation's resistance against colonial rule and his enduring legacy as a national hero. Lapu-Lapu's victory is further celebrated in the Philippines, with the city of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island named in his honour. In Vancouver, the festival, which was also a tribute to the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, was tragically marred by the incident. Local police responded to the mass casualty event, arresting a 30-year-old Vancouver man at the scene. The Philippine consulate in Vancouver expressed solidarity, stating: 'We pray that our community remains strong and resilient imbued with the spirit of bayanihan (community spirit) during this difficult time.' In recognition of the Filipino community's significance in British Columbia, the provincial government declared 27 April as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023. This official recognition honours the community's impact on the region's cultural vibrancy and prosperity. With over 172,000 people of Filipino descent in British Columbia as of 2021, Lapu-Lapu Day has become an important occasion for both reflection on Filipino heritage and a celebration of unity. Lapu-Lapu's legacy continues to inspire, as organisers of the Vancouver festivities noted, describing the hero as embodying "the soul of native resistance" and a symbol of the power of unity. "He teaches us that the strength of a united people, bound by a shared commitment to their heritage, can withstand any challenge," they added. The festival in Vancouver also featured a parade, cultural dances, film screenings, local markets, and basketball – the Philippines' most beloved sport. Organisers expressed deep sorrow for the victims and their families, stating they were devastated by the tragedy. "We are still finding the words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy," they said in a statement.
Filipino Times
28-04-2025
- Filipino Times
UAE condemns car attack at Filipino festival in Vancouver
The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the car-ramming attack during a Filipino community festival in Vancouver, Canada, which led to deaths and injuries among innocent people. In an official statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the country 'expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence targeting innocent people and aimed at undermining security and stability.' The UAE also extended its solidarity with the governments and people of both Canada and the Philippines, showing support following the tragic incident. The car-ramming happened during the Lapu-Lapu Day festival, an annual Filipino event held to celebrate Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu and Filipino culture in Vancouver. Authorities are still investigating the incident to determine the full circumstances behind the attack, while the community mourns the loss of life and prays for those injured. The UAE further expressed its wishes for the speedy recovery of all those who were hurt during the attack, standing in unity with the affected communities.
Filipino Times
28-04-2025
- Filipino Times
PH Consulate in Vancouver expresses deep concern after deadly festival incident
The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver has expressed deep concern following a tragic incident during the Lapu-Lapu Day festival on Saturday, April 26, where a vehicle drove into a crowd, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The Consulate extended its sympathies to the victims and their families, emphasizing solidarity with the Filipino community in Vancouver during this difficult time. They also urged the community to remain resilient in the face of this tragedy. The Lapu-Lapu Day festival, held in Vancouver's Sunset neighborhood, is an annual celebration honoring Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu. The event features cultural performances, food, and traditional displays, attracting thousands of attendees. According to Vancouver police, a 30-year-old local man drove an SUV into the festival crowd around 8:14 p.m., leading to at least nine deaths and multiple injuries. The suspect, known to law enforcement, was apprehended at the scene by bystanders and is currently in custody. Authorities have stated that the incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism, but investigations are ongoing. Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Columbia Premier David Eby, have expressed their condolences and support to the victims and the Filipino community. Emergency responders were commended for their swift action in the aftermath of the incident. The Philippine Consulate has assured the public that they are coordinating with local authorities to provide assistance to those affected and to ensure the safety of the Filipino community in Vancouver.
NDTV
28-04-2025
- NDTV
Explained: What Is Lapu-Lapu, The Festival At Which Driver Ran Over 11
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A vehicle struck a crowd at Lapu-Lapu Day celebrations in Vancouver, killing and injuring many. The event honors Datu Lapu-Lapu's historic victory over Spanish forces in 1521. Authorities are investigating the incident, which has shocked the community. Manila: Thousands of Filipinos in Vancouver were celebrating Lapu-Lapu Day on Saturday, marking a defining moment in Philippine history, when tragedy struck - a vehicle drove into the crowd killing multiple people and injuring others. The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honours Datu Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino chieftain who famously defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521 and became a national hero. The centrepiece of the festivities in Vancouver is a multi-block street party in the Sunset neighbourhood featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays. The party on Saturday was just starting to break up but many people were still in the streets when a dark SUV rammed into the crowd. Police said they were investigating a mass casualty incident and had arrested a 30-year-old Vancouver man at the scene, but did not immediately give the number of fatalities or injured. "We pray that our community remains strong and resilient imbued with the spirit of bayanihan (community spirit) during this difficult time," The Philippine consulate in Vancouver said in a statement. The government of British Columbia officially recognised April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province. Lapu-Lapu's victory is celebrated in the Philippines as a symbol of nation's resistance to colonisation and the bravery of its early leaders. The city of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island in the central Philippines is named in honour of the chieftain and serves as living tribute to his legacy.
