Survivors and community say ‘No’ to Filipino BC’s Lapu-Lapu 2026

Lapu-Lapu Society
March 14, 2026

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Survivors of the April 26, 2025 festival tragedy in Vancouver and the wider community are opposed to the plan by event organizer Filipino BC to bring back the fair this year.

Amid demands from families and community members for immediate and full financial transparency from Filipino BC regarding funds received in the aftermath of the ill-fated festival, the organization has announced that it will stage Lapu-Lapu 2026.

Based on Filipino BC’s own report, over $2 million were collected in donations.

Out of this total, the single biggest allocation of $451,570 or nearly a quarter of the funds was earmarked for Filipino BC.

Val De La Cruz attended the 2025 festival with his wife and their two toddlers, a girl and a boy. He and his spouse and their boy were injured at the car-ramming attack.

De La Cruz believes that the plan by Filipino BC to stage Lapu-Lapu 2026 at the Italian Cultural Centre on April 19 is not appropriate.

“My family and I have not healed. We continue to deal with the horror we experienced. Another Lapu-Lapu Day is not what we need,” De La Cruz said.

De La Cruz also noted that his family has not received adequate support from Filipino BC despite the huge amount of donations that came in.

“Until Filipino BC is able to explain what happened to the donations, I don’t think they should be organizing another Lapu-Lapu day,” De La Cruz said.

The community is rallying behind De La Cruz and his family and the other victims and survivors who are opposing Filipino BC’s Lapu-Lapu 2026.

On the forefront is the United Filipino Canadian Associations in BC (UFCABC), the biggest alliance of Filipino community organizations in the province numbering 65 associations.

UFCABC president Arcie Lim says the community has come together to support victims and their families.

“We are standing in solidarity with victims and survivors. The wounds are still fresh. The trauma has not gone away. There is a time for everything and it’s simply not the time to hold another Lapu-Lapu event,” Lim said.

Lim also stated that the top priority should be the welfare and well-being of victims and their families.

“This is why UFCABC is also calling for the release of any or all unspent donations being held by Filipino BC to meet the needs of survivors and their loved ones,” Lim said.

It can be recalled that four individuals left the board of Filipino BC in 2025 after their questions about funds were not answered. They are Antonio Ortega, Lina Vargas, Concepcion Colobong, and Oscar Bisnar.

In separate letters dated December 3 and December 16, 2025, the four ex-directors called on Filipino BC, to fulfill its obligations for financial transparency under the Societies Act.

Ortega, Vargas, Colobong and Bisnar demanded, among others:

• Full disclosure of all disbursements, identifying recipients and support provided.
• Complete disclosure of salaries and fees paid to Filipino BC staff, board members, contractors, and consultants.
• Confirmation that no portion of the funds were diverted for personal benefit, including disproportionate salaries and honoraria.

In line with the wishes of survivors and families of victims for a solemn commemoration of 2025 tragedy, the community will gather for a remembrance dinner at the Fraserview Banquet Hall (8240 Fraser Street, Vancouver) on April 12, 2026, starting at 5 p.m.

The dinner is being organized by the Lapu-Lapu Society of BC.

Lapu-Lapu Society president Antonio Ortega says the community intends to honour the memories of those who perished and recognize the journey of those whose lives were impacted by the tragedy.

“At the heart of the community dinner is reflection, remembrance and compassion. Let’s mark the first-year anniversary of the tragedy in utmost respect and with collective healing,” Ortega said.