Filipino Community Commemorates Victims of Last Year's Lapu Lapu Festival Attack
Two weeks before the somber anniversary of the Lapu Lapu festival tragedy, the Filipino community in Vancouver came together in a poignant gathering to remember the victims and offer prayers for those injured. The memorial mass served as a stark reminder of the profound loss that continues to resonate throughout British Columbia's Filipino population.
A Community United in Grief and Remembrance
The presence of AJ Sico at the memorial mass at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in east Vancouver powerfully symbolized the ongoing impact of the tragedy. The 30-year-old survivor, who was wheeled into the church just blocks from where the festival turned deadly on April 26, represents both the resilience and the lasting consequences of that fateful day.
Eleven people lost their lives outside John Oliver Secondary School at 41st Avenue and Fraser Street when a man with a history of mental illness crashed his SUV into the crowded festival. Dozens more, including Sico, sustained serious injuries that continue to affect their lives nearly a year later.
Personal Stories of Loss and Survival
As his mother, Jhosie Sico, and supporters wheeled him up the ramp and into the front pew, the physical toll of the attack became painfully evident. AJ Sico's injuries have left him unable to speak or walk, while his mother also mourns the loss of her niece, Jendhel May Sico, 27, who was standing next to AJ and was killed in the attack.
"I'm here to get a blessing from the priest," Jhosie Sico explained, her simple statement carrying the weight of a year's worth of grief and hope for healing.
Political Leaders Join in Mourning
The memorial drew approximately 150 faithful community members and was attended by prominent political figures who came to pay their respects. Premier David Eby, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre all sat in the front pew of the high-ceilinged church, which remained decorated with potted lilies and spring bouquets from recent Easter celebrations.
In his homily, parish priest Salvador (Jun) Reyes reflected on messages he had read earlier that day during a visit to the memorial for victims at Mountainview Cemetery. "Yes, there was pain and sadness, but at the same time there was something else," he observed. "There was love and compassion and unity among those who chose to stand with others."
Moving From Mourning to Healing
Following the service, Mayor Sim reiterated that April 26 represented "the darkest day in Vancouver's history," while Premier Eby drew comparisons to the deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge in February, describing both events as "horrific." Pierre Poilievre read the same poem he had shared in Tumbler Ridge, reminding mourners that "there is solace in faith."
Despite the solemn atmosphere, organizer Lina Vargas explained that in Filipino culture, the memorial mass traditionally held one year after a loved one's death marks the end of the formal grieving period. "After a year, you have to get out of mourning and move on," said Vargas, who was just meters away from the crash as an organizer of last year's festival.
The community now enters what Vargas described as the healing period called "babang luksa," which translates to the end of mourning. This cultural tradition involves no longer wearing black clothing and coming together as a community for both the mass and a shared meal, symbolizing the transition from grief to collective healing and support.
