Filipinos in Vancouver are devastated and incensed over the festival incident.
The Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver, which was supposed to be a celebration of Filipino pride, ended in a scream and siren roar. A man crashed an SUV through the gathering, killing eleven people and injuring numerous more. Many of us remain numb. Many of us are still upset, perplexed, depressed, and angry—and others of us are unsure of how or what to feel," said R.J. Aquino, chairman of Filipino B.C., the group that organised the festival. On Sunday night, he spoke at a vigil that drew hundreds of people from all over the Lower Mainland. "Honestly, I'm kind of all of the above right now," he stated. Talking to folks in the community surrounding the festival site throughout the day gave me that feeling: a strong mixture of astonishment, grief, and rage. Consider Roger Peralta and Bjorn Villaruel, two Filipino friends I made on the street where it occurred. They both came to Canada in 2016, and they were enjoying a great evening at the festival while eating foo...
