The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society (FACL BC) is horrified and devastated by the recent incident at the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver, B.C. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the Filipino community.

Lapu-Lapu Day is an opportunity to honour Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino national hero who is celebrated for his courage and will in the pursuit of freedom, and celebrate the history and contributions of British Columbians of Filipino heritage in our province. The Province of British Columbia declared April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023.

For this incident to occur at a celebration of this day is unimaginable and we cannot begin to express our grief and condolences for those who have been impacted. FACL BC stands by the Filipino and wider community during this difficult time and will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.