by Maria Veronica “Vernie” G. Caparas
[N.B. This is Part I of a 3-part article on Babáng Luksâ. Part I narrates the memorial masses and the community dinner in remembrance of the eleven lives lost in the 2025 LapuLapu Day Festival.]
April 10th, 2:00–3:00 pm: Memorial Mass
The memorial mass at St. Andrew’s Parish marks the start of Babáng Luksâ for the victims of the tragedy. On the left front pews facing the altar sat BC Premiere David Eby, Philippine Consul General Gina Jamoralin, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and the Councilors, while on the right front pews sat the victims and the families of the victims. AJ Sico, who has been suffering from a brain injury and broken legs from the car-ramming tragedy, came in wheelchair.
The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist became the provincial government leaders’ symbolic gesture of peace offering to the victims and the victims’ families when, during the Rite of Peace, MLA Mable Elmore asked the former to cross the middle aisle and shake hands with the latter.
In his speech after the Holy Mass, Premiere Eby had not ceased to refer to the tragedy as a crime. His resolve for justice rings loud. Consul General Jamoralin opens her office for services to the victims and their families. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also expressed grief over what happened in the LapuLapu Day 2025.
April 12 th, 5:00–9:00 pm: Community Dinner of Remembrance
The families of the victims themselves requested the Community Dinner of Remembrance when consulted on how they wanted to respect the victims for Babáng Luksâ. Community leaders Ching Colobong, Tony Ortega, and Lina Vargas lost no time in organizing the event at Fraserview Banquet Hall.
Dean Warren Flandez, a well-known performer, rendered songs of love and faith with the choir. Performing artists like Himig ng Kabataan also serenaded the dinner guests with popular Filipino songs of remembrance. Alejandro Samper, who lost his parents and his sister to the tragedy, delivered a heartbreaking speech; he calls out the names of the dead in “a tragedy that, in many ways, was preventable. There were systems that failed. Organizers that did not take precautions [that are] necessary. Institutions that overlooked warning signs. A system of care that lets someone fall through the cracks. A city that allowed an event without the level of protection it deserves. And a police presence that, on that day, was not enough to keep people safe. These are not easy things to say, but they must be said because accountability matters. . . No family should ever have to go through this. . .Thank you to firefighters, paramedics, first responders, and to the bystanders who stepped in to help the injured.
In the aftermath, something else has been deeply painful to witness. Millions of dollars were raised in the name of helping victims. People showed up with open hearts, with generosity and trust, but not all of that support reached the people who needed it most. Some of it was redirected. . . Some of it served agendas instead of healing and that is heartbreaking. . . I have witnessed people coming together, holding each other, showing up with love, presence, and integrity and intention. . . The Samper Caicedo Legacy Society has raised $3,400 through one fundraiser on my sister’s heavenly birthday, to help AJ Sico.”
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for British Columbia, Nina Krieger, along with municipal leaders, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and Councilors, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Delta Mayor George Harvie, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, expressed solidarity with the families of the victims in their continuing call for financial help, respect for the memory of the dead, transparency, and accountability.
Approximately 500 people participated in the fundraising dinner that aims to help cover the financial needs of the victims and their families.
April 26th, 10:30 am–12:00 pm: Commemoration Mass, Ang Babáng Luksâ ng Bayan
Retired Bishop Alexander Wandag of the Episcopal Diocese of Santiago, Philippines, officiated the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at St. Mary the Virgin South Hill Church that commemorates Jennifer Darbellay, Kira Ganapol Salim, Vicky Bjarnason, Glitza Daniela Samper, Glitza Mari Caicedo-Samper, Daniel Samper Toro, Jhendel Sico, Richard Le, Katie Le, Linh Hoang, Nerissa Pagkanlungan whose lives were tragically snatched by Kai-Ji Adam Lo when he rammed his car on the stretch of 43rd Avenue to Fraser Street that fateful night of April 26, 2025. Lo has since been charged. St. Mary the Virgin South Hill Church became the first and only church to hold the Holy Mass for the dead the day after the tragedy, 27 April 2025 – a Sunday. Seen among the congregants were Prime Minister Mark Carney, MP Don Davies, BC Premier David Eby, and MLA Mable Elmore. The Reverend Expedito Farinas officiated the Holy Mass.
In his Babáng Luksâ homily, Bishop Alex – in reference to the eleven lives lost – reminds the congregants, “like the early Christians who survived and overcome [sic] the challenges and disaster by way of their resiliency and strength in faith, we, too shall overcome as we draw comfort and strength from the Easter message through Christ who [overcame] death by His resurrection. We continue to pray and cling to the power of faith . . . and we shall all live in peace.”
Right before the recession, the congregants lit candles of peace and justice for the victims. MLA Elmore spoke on behalf of the BC Government, “Thank you, Bishop, for your sermon and for the service here in the church. It was very touching. It was healing. A very important commemoration of this day. Thank you for memorializing the lives of the eleven victims, the lives that were lost. We recognize your leadership, your thoughts, and your prayers to bring support to the community together with the victims and the families of the victims as we move
forward, as a community, to heal.”
Maria Veronica “Vernie” G. Caparas, a freelance journalist, offers snapshots of how the communities in Vancouver, BC, remember the eleven lives lost and the more than 30 other victims of the LapuLapu.
BC-Premier-David-Eby-assures-the-congregants-of-justice-for-the-victims-April-10.
Opposition-leader-Pierre-Poilievre-laments-the-loss-of-lives-April-10.
Philiippine-Consul-General-Gina-Jamoralin-expresses-support-for-the-victims-and-families-April-10
Vancouver-Mayor-Ken-Sim-and-Councilors-offer-support-to-the-victims-April-10.
Alejandro-Samper-is-shown-with-MLA-Mable-Elmore-community-leader-Noemi-Victorino-Surrey-Mayor-Brenda-Locke-April-12.
MLA-Mable-Elmore-and-the-choir-lead-and-complete-the-candle-lighting-for-the-dead-April-26.
Congregants-of-St.-Mary-the-Virgin-South-Hill-Church-light-the-candles-of-justice-and-peace-for-the-victims-April-26
Dean-Warren-Flandez-and-the-choir-open-the-Community-Dinner-of-Remembrance-with-songs-of-love-and-faith-April-12
