NewsCrimeCanada

Philippines flag raised at Vancouver Sun Run start line after Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy

Kenneth Chan
Kenneth Chan
|
Apr 28 2025, 2:57 am
Philippines flag raised at Vancouver Sun Run start line after Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy
Flag of the Philippines at the start line of the Vancouver Sun Run on April 27, 2025, honouring the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party incident and the Filipino community. (Rob Fai)

The Philippines flag flew proudly at the Vancouver Sun Run start line on Sunday morning, a powerful tribute to the victims and families affected by Saturday night’s deadly attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party — what was supposed to be a celebratory Filipino community street festival in South Vancouver.

The gesture by race organizers was meant to show solidarity with the Filipino community as the city continues to mourn.

The flag was raised near the intersection of West Georgia and Burrard streets, where tens of thousands of participants gathered to begin one of Canada’s largest annual mass start running races.

The tribute on Sunday morning came less than 13 hours after a driver plowed an SUV into crowds celebrating Lapu Lapu Day at the festival zone on East 43rd Avenue near Fraser Street — next to John Oliver Secondary School — killing at least 11 people and injuring dozens more.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. Saturday, just as the event was winding down. Late Sunday afternoon, police named the male suspect in their custody and announced that he had now been charged with at least eight counts of second-degree murder.

“This festival is a gathering of the Filipino community. Lapu-Lapu is a cultural hero of the Philippines, a person who represents the strength and resilience of the Philippine community,” said Vancouver City Councillor Mike Klassen during his speech to race participants before the start of the event. Prior to the race day, organizers announced they expected upwards of 47,000 participants.

During the early morning hours of Sunday, after the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) determined there was no ongoing public threat and confirmed the incident was not an act of terrorism, the race proceeded as planned under an increased police presence.

There was a moment of silence in the Sun Run crowd following Klassen’s remarks.

“Our hearts go out to all of those people who are lives lost, to those injured, to their families, and to the entire Filipino community. By being here this morning, you represent the resilience and strength of our city,” continued Klassen.

This year marked the second annual Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, organized by the not-for-profit Filipino Canadian Community & Cultural Society of B.C. Their inaugural event in 2024 was a major success, drawing widespread community support and participation.

“Our community is grieving. I’m heartbroken. Our thoughts and love are with the victims, their families, those injured, and our volunteers,” said Mable Elmore, a member of the Filipino-Canadian community and the MLA for Vancouver-Kensington, where the incident occurred.

Speaking at a press conference Sunday morning alongside Lapu Lapu Day festival organizers, Elmore added, “Our priority now within the Filipino community is providing support to those who lost their lives, those who were injured, and their families.”

Elmore’s constituency office is located on Fraser Street, two blocks away from ground zero.

lapu lapu festival incident april 27 vancouver

On Sunday morning, community members left flowers at a small memorial at the festival site. (Daniel Chai/Daily Hive)

“It was a celebration, [but] yesterday just steps outside of my office, just an unspeakable tragedy. We are collectively shattered, but we are coming together as a community,” she said.

“I just want to say my message to everyone, to those in the Filipino community, the broader community, we are in incredible pain. The Filipino community will show true resilience, and we will come together out of this catastrophe with the support and the love from the broad community, from all of you in the public across British Columbia and around the world who have expressed support.”

ADVERTISEMENT