Statement of Condolence and Solidarity following the Lapu Lapu Festival Tragedy

The Filipino Alumni Leadership Network (FLAN) offers our deepest condolences to our kababayan who witnessed and are impacted by the tragic events that occurred yesterday, April 27, 2025, at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, Canada.

A driver, who authorities have now identified, drove his vehicle into a crowd at the festival, killing 11 individuals and injuring 20 others. The Lapu Lapu Festival is an important community event organized by our kababayan to honor our people’s rich history and culture. What was meant to be a day of celebration and community became a day of profound tragedy and grief.

The festival is named after Lapu Lapu, a Filipino hero who is celebrated for leading resistance struggles against Spanish Colonization. Lapu Lapu symbolizes courage, resistance, and the enduring spirit of the Filipino people, which is what events like the Lapu Lapu festival proudly honor.

Filipinos are one of the largest immigrant groups in Vancouver, and events like the Lapu Lapu Festival are vital spaces where our community can gather to celebrate and affirm our identity, resilience, and contributions. This loss deeply wounds not only the individuals and families directly impacted but our broader community, as well.

We stand with our kababayan as they mourn this unimaginable loss. We also join the community in calling for a complete, transparent investigation and demand genuine justice and accountability for all those affected.

FLAN remains committed to standing in solidarity with our community during this difficult time.