The Philippine-Canadian Centre of Manitoba held a vigil on Tuesday to remember the victims of a tragic event that took place in Vancouver on Saturday, where a man drove his SUV into a crowd, resulting in 11 fatalities.
This is just one of the many initiatives by Manitoba’s Filipino community to support each other following the incident at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party, an event celebrating Filipino culture that was held for the second time this year.
“It’s been heartbreaking. It’s been devastating for our community,” expressed Jackie Wild, president of the Manitoba Filipino Business Council.
Wild and the council organized online support circles on Sunday and Tuesday, which were open for public participation.
“When the news broke, our community came together quickly to establish both online and in-person safe spaces where we could gather, grieve, and begin to heal,” she said.
“These past few days have been incredibly inspiring as we’ve seen our community unite and work hard to make sure we look after one another during this difficult time.”
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Perla Javate, president of the Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba Inc., resonated with this sentiment.
“We come together instantly during incidents like this… In the Philippines, when faced with calamities, we unite and do everything in our power,” she stated.
Javate shared that the council is planning an ecumenical service to pay tribute to the victims in the upcoming weeks. She mentioned that the incident will influence the council’s plans for events during Filipino Heritage Month in June.
Ley Navarro, chairman of the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival, is also reflecting on how to proceed with this year’s festival. He has decided to hold the parade indoors at the Maples Multiplex rather than outside as in previous years.
“Such incidents don’t happen frequently, but you can never be sure,” he commented. “As chairman, I believe it’s crucial to prioritize safety.”
The B.C. Ministry of Health has confirmed that the suspect, currently in police custody, was receiving care from Vancouver Coastal Health’s mental health team when the incident occurred. He faces eight counts of second-degree murder.
“We recognize that this is an unpredictable situation, and we hope for positive outcomes, but it shouldn’t deter us from fulfilling our responsibilities as a community,” Javate stated.
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