Pinoys recall horror of Vancouver Lapu-Lapu Festival attack

Several Filipinos who attended Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Festival last Saturday recalled the horrifying attack that shattered what was meant to be a joyful street celebration, leaving 11 people dead and more than 20 others injured.

In Mariz Umali’s Monday report on 24 Oras, friends Dale Felipe and Abigail Andiso recounted the terrifying moments when they heard the screams and cries of victims.

“People were screaming, kids were already crying kasi siguro nakita na it was very fast. Siguro from the revving of the car all the way to the end, ang bilis. It’s like seconds,” said Felipe.

(People were screaming, kids were crying because it all happened so fast. From the car revving to the crash, it took just seconds.)

“There was a baby on my right side, it was a couple who was crying… Mostly the bodies I saw there, there was this other lady, I was telling them na twisted na talaga yung kamay niya. Talagang pilipit na siya. Yung leg niya was really broke na,” he added.

(There was a baby to my right — a couple was crying beside me. Most of the bodies I saw… there was this one lady, her arm was completely twisted, badly mangled. Her leg was also clearly broken.)

Andiso immediately called 911 amid the chaos.

“Everyone was already in a panic. No one could give a clear answer. Everyone was screaming, everyone was crying. I just said, ‘Send us an ambulance, I can see about 20 to 30 casualties.’ There were so many people on the ground, lying there as if lifeless,” she said.

The festival, held to honor Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu, turned into a scene of tragedy after an SUV driver plowed through the crowd in Vancouver’s Sunset neighborhood. According to a Reuters report, the fatalities ranged in age from 5 to 65 years old.

Jen Castaneto, another attendee, ran toward the site in fear that her mother might have been caught in the chaos.

“Tumakbo lang ako kasi nagwo-worry din ako na baka nandoon yung nanay ko sa pinangyarihan ng event na ‘yun. Nakita ko talaga yung mga katawan na nasa ilalim ng food truck, may baby, may matanda, babae, mga bata nakitang kong duguan,” she said.

(I ran because I was worried my mother might be there. I saw bodies under the food trucks — babies, elderly people, women, children — all bloodied.)

Authorities have charged the 30-year-old suspect with eight counts of second-degree murder. Police, however, ruled out terrorism as a motive, citing the suspect’s history of mental health issues.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it was working to assist the victims' families.

“I believe our ambassador in Canada is either already in Vancouver or on the way, attending to the needs of those affected. We grieve and condole with the victims and their families following this horrific attack,” said Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/DVM, GMA Integrated News