ICYMI: More than 20 people were also injured at Lapu Lapu celebrations, but police rule out terrorism as motive after man arrested at scene
* PM says Canada ‘heartbroken’ after at least 11 killed in Vancouver car-ramming
The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honours Datu Lapu-Lapu, an indigenous Filipino leader who famously defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521 and became a national hero.
The centrepiece of the festivities in Vancouver is a multi-block street party in the Sunset neighbourhood featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays.
The party on Saturday was just starting to break up but many people were still in the streets when the dark SUV rammed into the crowd.
The government of British Columbia officially recognised 27 April as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province.
Lapu-Lapu’s victory is celebrated in the Philippines as a symbol of nation’s resistance to colonisation and the bravery of its early leaders. The city of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island in the central Philippines is named in honour of Datu Lapu-Lapu and serves as living tribute to his legacy.
The Philippine consulate in Vancouver said in a Facebook statement that it “expresses its deep concern and sympathies to the victims of the horrific incident”. Continue reading…
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