Latest news with #Pulga
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sask. vigils show support and mourn victims of Vancouver Filipino festival tragedy
A large group gathered on the steps of the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina to mourn Saturday's tragedy in Vancouver and show support for those affected. On Saturday evening, a driver crashed a vehicle into a crowd at Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Filipino Festival, killing 11 people and injuring many others. A 30-year-old Vancouver man has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Local Filipino associations organized candlelight vigils in Regina and Saskatoon on Wednesday night. Alvin Pulga emceed the Regina vigil and said the community is still in shock. "Seeing the terror and, and sadness that they're going through, it made this event and this ceremony just more important," Pulga said. A tragedy like this puts everything else into perspective, he said. "The things that we think are so serious in our day-to-day lives, it kind of just muted that until tonight, because this just felt more important." The horrific event hit close to home, as some of the victims have relatives and friends in Saskatchewan. "We weren't surprised that some of the victims' families were here in Regina," Pulga said. "That was really one of the reasons why we did this, to reach families and and people that were affected by this." Pepito Escanlar, the Philippine honorary consul for Saskatchewan, said Filipinos are connected across the country. "As a Filipino community we feel like we're part of that whole," Escanlar said. "When one party is hurt, we all feel it." Escanlar was grateful to see communities across the country show their support. "[They] came and grieved with us and joined us in dealing with the sorrow and the grief of this event," he said. "We encourage our Filipino community to be strong and carry on with our celebration, and just be vigilant and make sure that this thing doesn't happen again." Pulga said it wasn't just the Filipino community that was grieving, it was the whole country. The vigil reminded Pulga of what is important and what we should be grateful for. "When we discovered this tragedy, [my mom] messaged us and she told us, hug your children, don't make mountains of molehills and love each other," he said. "That's what we want people to understand about this event. Just love each other."
CBC
01-05-2025
- CBC
Sask. vigils show support and mourn victims of Vancouver Filipino festival tragedy
A large group gathered on the steps of the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina to mourn Saturday's tragedy in Vancouver and show support for those affected. On Saturday evening, a driver crashed a vehicle into a crowd at Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Filipino Festival, killing 11 people and injuring many others. A 30-year-old Vancouver man has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Local Filipino associations organized candlelight vigils in Regina and Saskatoon on Wednesday night. Alvin Pulga emceed the Regina vigil and said the community is still in shock. "Seeing the terror and, and sadness that they're going through, it made this event and this ceremony just more important," Pulga said. A tragedy like this puts everything else into perspective, he said. "The things that we think are so serious in our day-to-day lives, it kind of just muted that until tonight, because this just felt more important." The horrific event hit close to home, as some of the victims have relatives and friends in Saskatchewan. "We weren't surprised that some of the victims' families were here in Regina," Pulga said. "That was really one of the reasons why we did this, to reach families and and people that were affected by this." Pepito Escanlar, the Philippine honorary consul for Saskatchewan, said Filipinos are connected across the country. "As a Filipino community we feel like we're part of that whole," Escanlar said. "When one party is hurt, we all feel it." Escanlar was grateful to see communities across the country show their support. "[They] came and grieved with us and joined us in dealing with the sorrow and the grief of this event," he said. "We encourage our Filipino community to be strong and carry on with our celebration, and just be vigilant and make sure that this thing doesn't happen again." Pulga said it wasn't just the Filipino community that was grieving, it was the whole country. The vigil reminded Pulga of what is important and what we should be grateful for. "When we discovered this tragedy, [my mom] messaged us and she told us, hug your children, don't make mountains of molehills and love each other," he said. "That's what we want people to understand about this event. Just love each other."
CBC
28-04-2025
- CBC
Saskatchewan's Filipino community heartbroken after deadly Vancouver festival tragedy
Members of Saskatchewan's Filipino community are expressing shock, sadness and solidarity following an incident at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver on Saturday that left 11 people dead and several others injured. Jenelyn Santos Ong, co-president of the Filipino Canadian Association of Saskatchewan (FILCAS), said the news was devastating to hear. "It's definitely one of shock and sadness, something unimaginable and unexpected, especially at an event that's supposed to be celebrating our culture and heritage," Ong said. The incident happened Saturday afternoon during a street party commemorating Lapu Lapu, a revered Filipino hero known for resisting Spanish colonization in the 1500s. According to police, a vehicle drove into the festival crowd. The driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, is in custody. Ong said many Filipinos in Saskatchewan have family and friends living in Vancouver. She noted that although her loved ones had already left the festival site before the tragedy occurred, not everyone has been accounted for. "A lot of us know family and friends that are living there," she said. "Even if they're not directly impacted, just knowing that they were there, and witnessing it or being close by, it still affects them." Ong says FILCAS has already contacted Filipino organizations in British Columbia to offer support, and will continue coordinating efforts to help the affected families. She encouraged people to focus on community healing rather than sharing graphic images or videos circulating online. "We really want to focus on the people and do what we can to support them," Ong said. Alvin Pulga, public relations officer for the Philippine Association of Saskatchewan in Regina, said he first learned of the tragedy from a family group chat. Like many, he woke up to the devastating news on Sunday morning. "As a Filipino-Canadian, it hits closer to home," Pulga said. "Our community here in Regina is heartbroken and saddened." Pulga said the tragedy sparked difficult conversations within his own family, particularly with younger relatives now fearful about attending cultural festivals. "I was talking about it with my niece and my son earlier today and it's hard to explain, you know, the reality that things like this can happen," he said. "You try to comfort them just knowing that it'll be OK." He emphasized the importance of reassuring young people that celebrating culture should remain a source of pride and joy, despite the risks. "Events like this are supposed to be joyous," he said. "We want our kids to know they should still be excited to celebrate our culture." Strength in community Pulga and the Philippine Association of Saskatchewan have been preparing for its Filipino pavilion at Mosaic festival — an annual multicultural event scheduled for the first weekend of June. He said that while security had not been a focus in past meetings, that will likely change. "I'm sure at our next meeting something's gonna be brought up with this idea in mind of security," he said. Both Ong and Pulga emphasized that while the tragedy has cast a shadow over celebrations, it has also revealed the strength and unity of the Filipino community.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
Saskatchewan's Filipino community heartbroken after deadly Vancouver festival tragedy
Members of Saskatchewan's Filipino community are expressing shock, sadness and solidarity following an incident at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver on Saturday that left 11 people dead and several others injured. Jenelyn Santos Ong, co-president of the Filipino Canadian Association of Saskatchewan (FILCAS), said the news was devastating to hear. "It's definitely one of shock and sadness, something unimaginable and unexpected, especially at an event that's supposed to be celebrating our culture and heritage," Ong said. The incident happened Saturday afternoon during a street party commemorating Lapu Lapu, a revered Filipino hero known for resisting Spanish colonization in the 1500s. According to police, a vehicle drove into the festival crowd. The driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver man, is in custody. Ong said many Filipinos in Saskatchewan have family and friends living in Vancouver. She noted that although her loved ones had already left the festival site before the tragedy occurred, not everyone has been accounted for. "A lot of us know family and friends that are living there," she said. "Even if they're not directly impacted, just knowing that they were there, and witnessing it or being close by, it still affects them." Ong says FILCAS has already contacted Filipino organizations in British Columbia to offer support, and will continue coordinating efforts to help the affected families. She encouraged people to focus on community healing rather than sharing graphic images or videos circulating online. "We really want to focus on the people and do what we can to support them," Ong said. Jenelyn Santos Ong, co-president of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Saskatchewan, says the organization has reached out the Vancouver-Filipino community to offer support. (Jeffery Tram/CBC) Alvin Pulga, public relations officer for the Philippine Association of Saskatchewan in Regina, said he first learned of the tragedy from a family group chat. Like many, he woke up to the devastating news on Sunday morning. "As a Filipino-Canadian, it hits closer to home," Pulga said. "Our community here in Regina is heartbroken and saddened." Pulga said the tragedy sparked difficult conversations within his own family, particularly with younger relatives now fearful about attending cultural festivals. "I was talking about it with my niece and my son earlier today and it's hard to explain, you know, the reality that things like this can happen," he said. "You try to comfort them just knowing that it'll be OK." He emphasized the importance of reassuring young people that celebrating culture should remain a source of pride and joy, despite the risks. "Events like this are supposed to be joyous," he said. "We want our kids to know they should still be excited to celebrate our culture." Strength in community Pulga and the Philippine Association of Saskatchewan have been preparing for its Filipino pavilion at Mosaic festival — an annual multicultural event scheduled for the first weekend of June. He said that while security had not been a focus in past meetings, that will likely change. "I'm sure at our next meeting something's gonna be brought up with this idea in mind of security," he said. Both Ong and Pulga emphasized that while the tragedy has cast a shadow over celebrations, it has also revealed the strength and unity of the Filipino community. "One thing about Filipinos is that we really do come together when there's tragedy or crisis," Ong said. "The community is still feeling that sadness, but also the gratitude for having a community that comes together."
