By Filane Mikee Cervantes
MANILA – Lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Monday expressed grief and solidarity with the Filipino community in Vancouver, Canada following a deadly car-ramming incident at a Lapu-Lapu Day celebration.
In a statement, Speaker Martin Romualdez assured Filipinos in Canada that the Philippine government is grieving with them and ready to provide assistance.
“Today, our hearts grieve with our Filipino community in Vancouver,” Romualdez said. “As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I want our kababayan (compatriots) in Canada to know: Hindi kayo nag-iisa (You are not alone). We are one with you in mourning, and we stand ready to help in any way we can.”
A 30-year-old Vancouver resident, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, drove a sports utility vehicle to where the crowd was on Saturday night, killing 11 as of posting time.
Romualdez asked Philippine consular officers in Canada to “act swiftly” and ensure that Filipinos are given “the support, protection and justice they deserve.”
He also called on Canadian authorities to “strengthen measures that ensure the safety of all, especially our Filipino community.”
House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V condemned the “senseless act of violence” and joined in mourning with the Filipino-Canadian community.
“We mourn with our Filipino-Canadian brothers and sisters. We stand united in grief and in prayer for the victims of this senseless act of violence,” he said in a separate statement. “No celebration of our identity, our heroes, and our heritage should ever be marred by such violence. The Lapu-Lapu Day festival is a symbol of Filipino courage and resilience, and that spirit will never be broken.”
Ortega called on Filipinos worldwide to respond with unity and courage.
“In the face of this darkness, we must shine even brighter. Let us honor the memories of those we lost by continuing to celebrate the rich, vibrant culture they came together to uphold. Let us respond with hope, solidarity, and unwavering pride in who we are,” he said.
The Lapu-Lapu Day festival, held for only the second year, honors the heroism of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a 16th-century Filipino chieftain who resisted Spanish colonization.
British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023 to highlight the cultural contributions of Filipino-Canadians.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, stands ready to provide assistance and support to those affected by the violence, with the Migrant Workers Office in Vancouver coordinating closely with the Philippine Consulate General and Canadian authorities.
The DMW provided hotlines for immediate assistance: +1 604 653 5858 (Assistance-to-Nationals Hotline), +1 604 767 3354 (Migrant Workers’ Office), and +1 800 563 0808 (Vancouver Police Victim Support).
Families in the Philippines may contact DMW-OWWA Hotline 1348 or other available numbers, or email orcc@dmw.gov.ph.
In a separate statement, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) conveyed its condolences and affirmed its active monitoring of the situation.
“The CFO stands in solidarity with the Filipino-Canadian community during this tragic and difficult time,” CFO Secretary Dante Ang II said, also thanking Vancouver’s emergency responders for their swift action. (PNA)
