Lapu Lapu Festival new location revealed as grieving son asks for pause
Global News
A Burnaby man who lost his entire family at last year’s Lapu Lapu Block Party is calling on organizers to halt plans for this year’s event.
A Burnaby man who lost his entire family at last year’s Lapu Lapu Festival is calling on organizers to halt plans for this year’s event.
Alejandro Samper’s father, Daniel, his mother, Glitza, and his sister, Glitza, were among the victims when an SUV plowed through the festival grounds.
“This new Lapu Lapu Festival that’s happening this year, they need to stop that. Give us a break. Give us time to to heal, rather than going back at it to fill their pockets with money,” Samper told Global News.
When Filipino BC announced on social media that it is holding the event over three days, from April 17 to 19, it wrote, “We invite the community to join us in honouring lives lost, celebrating Filipino culture with care and continuing the work of healing together.”
But Samper said this announcement has only added to the raw wounds.
“It’s too early. They never consulted us victims. It’s very traumatizing. They’re not doing anything to help us, so they need to reconsider their actions,” he said.
When Global News interviewed chair RJ Aquino about calls to put the festival on hold, he evaded questions.
“I have no new information to share about Lapu Lapu Day at this time,” he repeatedly said.
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