Filipino BC and the Archdiocese of Vancouver will be marking 40 Days of Mourning on Thursday, June 5 at 6 p.m. at St. Andrews Parish in South Vancouver.

We continue to hold space for everyone impacted: the victims and their families, witnesses, and all who are still navigating the emotional aftermath. Healing does not follow a straight line. It takes time, care, and community. And for many, this past month has been a heavy one.

A big thank you goes out to T&T Supermarket, which matched donations from customers for a total of $20,000 raised for the KAPWA STRONG Fund! The funds will be split between United Way BC and Filipino BC for crisis response work. 

Filipino BC was on site alongside provincial psychosocial services and the City of Vancouver at the temporary memorial at East 41st Ave. and Fraser St. to oversee the careful and respectful consolidation of tributes.

Filipino BC has communicated directly with the City of Vancouver to express that it is too soon to make major changes to the temporary memorial around John Oliver Secondary School.

Three families have started the financial support process with the Canadian Red Cross case manager who’s working alongside Filipino BC.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community, neighbours, friends and donors from across Canada and the world who contributed to the KAPWA Strong Fund, which has raised $860,000 so far.

The Kapwa Centre for Community Resilience will be open for the Victoria Day holiday tomorrow, Monday May, 19, from 5 PM to 8 PM. 

The Kapwa Centre for Community Resilience welcomed about 30 individuals and families with children this afternoon. While it was a quieter day, the space remained a place of rest and conversation. As usual, the therapy dogs from St. John Ambulance were the stars of the Centre.

The Kapwa Centre for Community Resilience opened in South Vancouver, welcoming 80 guests to its new location at Christ City Church. 

As families and community members continue to grieve and visit the memorial around John Oliver Secondary School, we’d like to gently remind the public that we are taking a victim-centred approach to the upkeep of the memorial.

A case manager from the Canadian Red Cross joined the Filipino BC team today to provide direct support for victims and families. They were able to speak with two families and will follow-up with them regularly to support their ongoing needs.

Today, we met with Consul Generals from Latin America, as well as with the organization Latincouver to share information about what resources are available to them, our crisis response and the joint task force we’ve convened to support the needs of victims, their families and the broader community that’s been affected by the tragic events of April 26, 2025. 

The team is making sure to pivot based on the community’s evolving needs, whether that means emotional support, access to emergency resources, or helping families navigate longer-term recovery.

About $140,000 in grants from the KAPWA STRONG Fund will be distributed this week via e-transfer in order to quickly deliver funding to nonprofits, non-registered charities and community groups supporting people affected by the tragic events that occurred following the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.

We would like to say thank you to Lele and Allan Chan, who hosted the Filipino BC team at Tahanan Studio. Amidst the heartbreak and around-the-clock crisis response, it’s easy to forget to take care of your mind and body. They reminded us of the importance of gathering to rest, have dinner and share laughs with friends.

The Resilience Centre welcomed over 70 individuals, families and groups of friends looking for a place to gather, reflect, and reconnect. It offered a calm space where community members could share a meal, check in with one another, and find small moments of comfort in being together.

We honour the lives lost in the recent tragedy and hold their families close in our thoughts. May their memory live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.

We have always shown up for one another, whether that be for our families, our friends or our neighbours across communities.  In times of hardship, when systems have failed us, it’s been our shared experiences, resilience and care that have carried us through.

We strongly encourage groups to apply for up to $25,000 in grants for the KAPWA STRONG Fund. Eligible initiatives include:

• Immediate to mid-term recovery provision, and strategic ongoing support for those impacted by this emergency

• Healing supports as well as basic needs

• Mental health and counselling support

• Opportunities for community members to grieve

• Community-led events