The head of Filipino B.C. emphasized the significance of hosting a Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver in 2026 as a means of collective healing following a tragic vehicle attack that resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries last year. RJ Aquino expressed that the community’s clear feedback highlighted the importance of reinstating the cultural celebration to prevent it from being solely associated with the previous tragic events of April 26. Aquino stressed that the upcoming 2026 event, scheduled a week before the anniversary of the tragedy, will serve as a commemoration honoring the victims and all those impacted.
In a news release, the organization acknowledged the shared sorrow within the community. Aquino mentioned that the victims and their families have been actively involved in the event planning process, ensuring their engagement. While specific details are forthcoming, Aquino confirmed at least one memorial gathering will be part of the festival activities.
Scheduled for the weekend of April 17-19, the festival’s planning involves close collaboration with the City of Vancouver, the provincial authorities, and emergency responders to implement necessary safety protocols. The accused individual, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, faces charges including 11 counts of second-degree murder and 31 counts of attempted murder for the tragic incident on April 26, 2025. A provincial court determined Lo’s fitness to stand trial in September.
Following the incident, both the city and province conducted safety reviews on community events, resulting in recommendations to enhance safety measures, event risk assessments, and establish a central training and support hub to prevent similar tragedies. While the City of Vancouver assessed the Lapu-Lapu Day festival as low risk and found no prior indication of being a target for a vehicle ramming, victims have initiated a proposed class-action lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court, alleging negligence by the City, Vancouver Coastal Health authority, and Lo, citing his medical history and alleged requests to reduce medication leading up to the incident.