MANILA, Philippines – It was sunny on the morning that Filipinos in British Columbia (BC), Canada, were set to come together in a festival to celebrate their culture and heritage. In last year’s Lapu-Lapu Day celebration, it rained. But the weather was perfect on Saturday, April 26.

Roger Peralta, who works at the BC provincial government, felt that he had lost touch with Filipino culture, having long left the Philippines at 23 and was now in his late 30s.

After watching a YouTube video featuring Filipino historian Xiao Chua with the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party coming up, he said his patriotism was “reignited.” He invited his friends to go to the festival that paid tribute to the first national hero of the Philippines.

“I was so happy that day,” Roger told Rappler on Tuesday, April 29, Manila time. He and his friends, who were also part of an informal band they were in together that played OPM songs, ate kikiam and squid balls and all the things they missed from their home country.

Local titas danced zumba and budots. Children played in bouncy castles. In the event’s concert, someone was tossing out packets of instant pancit canton like party favors.

In his element, Roger was basking in feeling his Filipino-ness once again. But things would turn around in just a few moments.

‘Little’ decision

After just having watched Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.ap, they decided to check out the stall of a woman they just met, who flew in from San Diego, California, to sell her jewelry at the festival in Vancouver. Her little store had beautiful, intricate pieces that resembled Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s “Alab at Dangal” earcuff.

As Roger helped his friend, the last bandmate who stayed with him, try on one of the earrings for sale, he said that they should move since they were standing in the center of the road.

Little did they know that this decision, which seemed small and insignificant at the time, saved both of their lives.

“When we moved to the side, we heard a loud bang. Like, oh my gosh, what was that sound? You don’t know if it’s a shooting or what. That’s why we got scared. Then I saw that a person got hit and they were on top of the car,” he said.

In a split second, Roger’s eyes had to process someone being hit by a car and being pulled on top of it, something he had never seen before. Then, the driver revved up the engine so loud that it jolted him into the realization that the driver could turn towards him and his friend. Fight or flight told Roger to run.

“After 15 seconds of running, I realized my friend was not with me. He was not behind me. So I said, balikan ko siya (I’ll come back for him),” he said.

When he got back, he found the jewelry seller crying. There were bodies on the road. Without his friend immediately in sight, Roger called him up, and thankfully, he picked up. The two friends reunited and embraced in tears.

Meanwhile, taking from his own memory and stories from others who witnessed the incident, Roger said that when the SUV’s airbags popped up and the vehicle could no longer move, the driver got out. “Kinuyog siya ng mga Filipinos so he cannot escape (The Filipinos went after him so he could not escape).”

After the friends helped the jewelry seller get a ride home, police still invited them to give statements as witnesses. He saw other Filipinos at the police station who were visibly distraught, but understood that they had to help with the investigation.

The police sent Roger and his friend home in a free taxi ride. Finally, in a safe space coupled with the exhaustion from the day, the two rested.

‘This never happens’

Jaela Villegas, vice chairperson of human rights group Bayan Canada, was at the festival too. But like Roger, a decision to leave early may have saved her life.

Jaela left early with some friends to attend a despedida, or a going away party. This party is where she found out about the incident, worried that other friends who stayed behind were caught up in the tragedy. She was fortunate in not losing anyone she loved that day.

“It’s very scary to think that that happened, because it’s never happened in all my time here in Vancouver,” said Jaela, 26, who immigrated to Canada when she was 12.

Even though she was no longer physically present, Jaela said that watching videos of the incident and seeing the aftermath unfold was traumatic.

“It was the the individuals and organizers who tackled the suspect on the ground and stopped the car from moving and causing any more damage….The real heroes in the story are actually the volunteers, the community, and the healthcare workers that were working overnight to help the victims,” she said.

‘Huge irony’

As part of their organizations, Jaela and Myka Jaymalin of Anakbayan Canada helped organize vigils, where the community gathered and prayed together for the loss of at least 11 in their community, one as young as five years old.

Non-Filipinos also came by to condole, such as indigenous Canadians and Palestinians who said “Our loss is their loss,” Jaela recalls.

Myka, who only heard about the incident from Toronto, said that it was a “huge irony” for the Filipino community to experience this while paying tribute to Lapu-Lapu and the country’s rich history.

Roger has been unable to focus on his work, and is still grasping the gravity of the trauma instilled onto his local community.

“Noong nakita ko ‘yung mga bodies doon, sobrang sakit (When I saw the bodies, it was so painful). Because initially, I thought it was a hate crime,” said Roger.

Roger said that upon hearing that the suspect, now charged with multiple counts of second degree murder, had a history of mental health issues, he said it was important to advocate for mental health.

Myka, meanwhile, says that the issue should be looked at beyond the mental health aspect.

“We cannot erase that there might be a mental health problem on this scenario, but at the same time, in the context of Canada right now, it is federal elections… We want a clear demand when it comes to full transparency on what’s happening,” said Myka.

The Filipinos acknowledged how the community supported each other in the aftermath, such as in fundraising for the families of the victims, and Myka said that moving forward entailed sustaining the coordination everyone had for each other. Bayan Canada has been working to connect with the victims’ families to assist in any way they can.

“We are showing the best qualities of the Philippines despite the tragedy,” said Roger. – Rappler.com