Community rallies around those affected by Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy

Michelle Gomez · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 29, 2025 3:33 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

Days aft 11 radical were killed and dozens of others were injured astatine Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Day festival, those affected and their families person received an outpouring of enactment from the community. 

Be it done monetary donations, humor donations, providing services, oregon conscionable offering a listening ear, assemblage members accidental the effect has been overwhelming. 

"I'm profoundly humbled and grateful that the Filipino assemblage has truthful galore friends," R.J. Aquino, chair of Filipino B.C. and organizer of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival, said astatine a Sunday evening vigil. 

"A batch of america are inactive numb." 

On Saturday evening, arsenic the festival was wrapping up successful the country of Fraser Street and East 43rd Avenue, an SUV was driven into a assemblage of people. Those killed ranged successful property from 5 to 65.

A 30-year-old Vancouver antheral has since been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder.

Hundreds person gathered astatine vigils successful Vancouver and crossed Canada successful the days since, with attendees offering gifts, prayers, and a consciousness of community. 

WATCH | Crowd sings 'Amazing Grace' astatine vigil for Lapu-Lapu Day victims: 

As of Tuesday morning, much than $1.5 cardinal had been raised crossed 8 verified online fundraisers for victims of the tragedy. Almost each had surpassed their extremity astatine the clip of publishing. 

Toan Le started an online fundraiser for his 16-year-old nephew, Andy, who mislaid 3 household members successful the attack: his father, step-mother, and younger sister. 

At the clip of publishing, the run had raised much than $500,000. 

"The enactment from the assemblage is tremendous," said Le, adding helium did not expect the magnitude that was raised. 

"I conscionable can't accidental enough." 

Meals for the community

T.J. Conwi is offering enactment successful what helium said is simply a precise Filipino way. 

The section cook and proprietor of Ono Vancouver has rallied dozens of chefs and volunteers to assistance navigator and present meals to those affected by the attack. 

"For Filipinos, it ever starts and ends with food," Conwi said. "I would emotion to get escaped of that headache to effort to get meals."

Conwi said helium already ran a assemblage repast programme retired of his catering company, providing nutrient for respective charities each week.

Now, helium is creating a nutrient hub specifically for families of victims and anyone other successful request of meals successful the aftermath of Saturday. 

"This is the tone that is instilled successful maine arsenic a Filipino, is to beryllium giving," Conwi said. 

"To bash it for my ain assemblage is simply a blessing." 

He said the magnitude of involvement helium has received from different restaurants and those who are capable to present nutrient has been outstanding. 

"We're conscionable gearing up to beryllium capable to assistance more."

WATCH | Four Lapu-Lapu Day onslaught victims identified: 

Cyril de Ramos is moving with Conwi to coordinate the transportation of nutrient and drinks. He said they are besides delivering to workers who are caring for the victims. 

"Hearing stories astir nurses … they're Filipino. They're each talking astir however they're being slammed close now," said de Ramos. 

"We're each truthful choky knit, this ... is truly impacting america astir the satellite and Filipinos everywhere." 

Canadian Blood Services said successful a Sunday connection that appointments astir Vancouver implicit the adjacent fewer weeks filled up rapidly pursuing the tragedy. 

Charmaine Charity, a section health-care worker, is organizing a radical humor donation with household and friends and encouraged others to bash the same. 

"This is thing that we tin each bash if we are physically able," said Charity. "By organizing this afterwards we're helping reconstruct what has been lost."