Permanent Memorial For Lapu Lapu Day Tragedy In Early Planning Stages

If you walk past the site of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy, you will find rows upon rows of flowers, candles, messages, and flags. There are things to remember the victims by and prayers left by friends, family, and community members.

Many people are longing for a more permanent fixture for the victims, though. Something to memorialize those who were lost to this attack, and those who continue to suffer from it.

IN THE TALKS

Although nothing is set in stone just yet, a permanent memorial seems to be on the table. The chair of Filipino B.C., RJ Aquino, is currently meeting with the City of Vancouver to begin discussing that memorial.

What the memorial will look like or its location have yet to be determined, as everything is still very fuzzy. All we know is that a memorial is being talked about, and that a permanent fixture to remember the victims must respect their memory.

Part of this permanent memorial planning is a Vancouver school board trustee, Preeti Faridikot. She is motioning to have that memorial nearby John Oliver Secondary. Only, it shouldn’t be on school grounds.

Both she and Aquino advocate that the community needs a place to reflect and grieve. The makeshift memorial is constantly having new flowers and candles added to it, even as they wilt or melt. It is clear that people wish to gather, grieve, and heal collectively, and a permanent memorial would be a major help for that.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Additionally, many members of the Filipino community have set up “resilience centres”. These are temporary facilities that offer support, but are also a location for people to gather and be together. Aquino notes that a Filipino cultural centre could provide a permanent location for the community to provide constant support.

In a statement, Premier David Eby said that, “Our government’s committed to a cultural centre of the Filipino people where they can gather and celebrate together.” It seems that both a memorial and cultural centre are a possibility, and have no foreseeable conflicts.

You can also support the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy by donating to their GoFundMe pages or even donating blood. Keep them in your thoughts and hold your community tight.