Coming together as a community to invite others for a meal, whether in our home or on the street, is a labor of love. Kain na! Kaon sa ta! Mangan la! Filipinos in Vancover continued this very human and much-needed tradition last weekend for Lapu-Lapu Day. And then tragedy struck, as lives were lost and people were injured.

In the days that follow, we will need community even more. We must continue inviting each other in – for a meal, a conversation, or both. Meal after meal, day after day.

We must also examine how Asians in “Western” countries such as Canada and the US are afflicted with all sorts of issues especially when it comes to mental health. We can see physical scars and take action to heal them, but how do we approach scars in our minds? How do the countries we call home, from the Philippines, to Canada, to the US… approach these issues in mental health?

As more stories and conversations unfold after this moment we must also remind ourselves that no tragedy can ever be bigger than the love, hope, and conquering spirit of community. In the spirit of the ancestors we celebrate, the food we enjoy, and the words we use – “kapwa”, “dayon”… words that express inclusion and acceptance, but have yet to be put into practice in our world today – amping kanunay, ingat lagi.

Take care of each other.

The City of Vancouver has a webpage “dedicated to providing support and resources following the tragic mass casualty incident at the 2025 Lapu Lapu Day event” below:

https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/lapu-lapu-day-mass-casualty-incident.aspx