On Saturday evening, April 26, 2025, Vancouver’s Filipino community gathered to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day, a vibrant festival honoring an Indigenous Filipino hero who resisted colonial oppression in the 16th century. The streets near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street were alive with joy, food trucks, and cultural pride. Families laughed, friends shared meals, and the air buzzed with the warmth of community. Then, in a matter of seconds, a black Audi SUV tore through the crowd, leaving 11 dead, dozens injured, and a city in mourning.

The suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man with a history of mental health-related interactions with police, is in custody. Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai called it “the darkest day in our city’s history.” The irony stings: Lapu Lapu, a symbol of resistance and resilience, now shares its name with an event that evokes chaos and loss. As one reader grimly noted, the phrase “run amok” feels hauntingly apt.

I visited Vancouver in 2011, and like so many others, I was captivated by its serene beauty—snow-capped mountains framing a city that felt safe, almost idyllic. The Vancouver of my memory is a place where festivals like Lapu Lapu Day thrive, where diverse communities come together without fear. To imagine that same city now grappling with such a senseless act feels like a betrayal of its spirit.

The details are harrowing. Witnesses describe a scene of chaos: screams piercing the night, bodies strewn across the street, and a driver allegedly attempting to flee before being restrained by brave bystanders. One account tells of a child pulled onto a stretcher, another of a lifeless body beneath a food truck. Abigail, a festival-goer, recounted the panic, the deployed airbags in the abandoned SUV, and the agonizing wait for emergency responders. “It was total chaos,” she said. The numbers are staggering—11 confirmed fatalities, dozens injured, some critically, across nine hospitals in Metro Vancouver. Yet numbers alone can’t capture the shattered lives, the traumatized witnesses, or the grief rippling through the Filipino community and beyond.

Chief Rai has assured the public that this was not an act of terrorism, though the motive remains unclear. More than 100 officers are investigating, collecting evidence, and supporting a grieving city. Questions linger about prevention—were the barricades sufficient? Was the police presence adequate? Rai defended the event’s safety plan, noting that last year’s festival had no issues and this year’s risk assessment raised no red flags. Still, he promised a thorough review, acknowledging the public’s need for answers.

In the wake of such horror, words from leaders feel both necessary and inadequate. Prime Minister Mark Carney, pausing his election campaign, expressed heartbreak and solidarity, assuring Canadians there are no active threats. Vancouver Coun. Pete Fry called the tragedy unprecedented, while local NDP candidate Don Davies, who attended the festival hours earlier, spoke of a community robbed of its joy. Former MP Harjit Sajjan, a ex-police officer, emphasized support for the victims’ families, trusting the VPD to uncover the truth.

The Filipino community, one of the Lower Mainland’s most vibrant, now bears an unimaginable wound. Lapu Lapu Day, meant to celebrate resilience, has become a symbol of loss. Yet, even in grief, there are glimmers of humanity—bystanders who restrained the suspect, medical professionals working through the night, and a city rallying to support its own. As Davies said, “We’ll get through this, but for now, we’re just gonna have to grieve.”

This tragedy forces us to confront uncomfortable questions. How do we balance mental health challenges with public safety? Can we ever truly prevent such “senseless” acts? And how do we heal when the fabric of a community is torn apart? Vancouver, a city that prides itself on inclusivity and peace, now faces the daunting task of rebuilding its sense of security.

For now, the focus must be on the victims, their families, and the Filipino community. As we mourn, we hold space for their pain and honor their resilience. Lapu Lapu’s legacy of resistance reminds us that even in the face of unimaginable loss, communities can rise again—together.(TAMBULI NG BAYAN-Ronnie Estrada)
PHOTO: by Angelyna Mintz (X)from East Vancouver at the tragic scene of the Lapu Lapu block party crash. Multiple fatalities and injuries reported after a vehicle struck the crowd.