Lapu-Lapu Day in Vancouver is on April 27th
Within many urban cities across the world, there are areas that are dedicated to specific cultural communities – Chinatowns, Thai Towns, Filipino Towns and more.
Often within a few block radius is a high concentration of folks of that specific cultural descent, as the result of generations of patterns of migration.
On April 27th 2024, Vancouver B.C.’s Filipino community is being celebrated in the first-ever Lapu-Lapu Day by the City of Vancouver. This proclamation commemorates the historic ties between the Philippines and Canada, celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Lapu-Lapu Day honours the legacy of Datu Lapu-Lapu, a revered figure in Filipino history known for bravery, resilience and the spirit of independence.
To celebrate, Filipino BC and MYX Global are hosting a block party filled with food, performances and other cultural activities on Fraser Street in Vancouver.
Lapu-Lapu Block Party 2024
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location: John Oliver Secondary, East 41st Ave to East 48th Ave, in the back parking lots West of Fraser Street
See more details here.
The Lapu-Lapu Block Party
Headlining the event are renowned artists such as Juno-nominated Manila Grey, two-time Grammy-nominated John Concepcion, Ruby Ibarra, Jeremy Passion, Gabe Bondoc, and Russell!. Local Filipino talent will also be performing, including Mikey Jose, Jaenna Cali, Kaya Ko, Mar Emanuel, Julie Rae, Nikkaela, Finest Summer, KeeMajore, Kardias Quing and many others. Drag performers including Kimmy Couture and local talents like Margaux Rita, Bongganisa and Pia Little are what the organizers describe as an important reflection of modern expressions of art and identity.
Culture creator and Creative Director for Filipino BC, Joe Tuliao, shares his excitement for the event. “I’m eagerly looking forward to being present at the festival and seeing the faces of all ages, from different communities, and stimulated by the vibrancy of our culture. It’s going to be an exciting opportunity to witness the strength and unity of our community firsthand,” says Tuliao.
Tuliao shares his genuine pride and appreciation for those who make Lapu-Lapu Day possible. “As someone who once yearned to find belonging among fellow Filipino creatives and to fulfill a purpose, I can confidently say that I’ve found that and more through this experience.”
See also: Joy Ride brings new opportunities for the Asian Canadian creative community
Growing up as a Filipino Canadian in Vancouver
“Growing up as a half-Filipino in Vancouver during the 80s and 90s was a unique experience, shaped by both the size and dynamics of the Filipino community at the time,” shares Kristina Corpin-Moser, Project Director for Filipino BC. “The community felt relatively small compared to now.”
In the 80s and 90s, Corpin-Moser would see Filipino culture honoured as part of other major community events. “These events served not only as celebrations of Filipino culture but also as gatherings for a close-knit community that felt like family,” she says.
However, growing up in a racialized community in Vancouver came with its challenges. Neighborhoods with a higher density of Filipino folks lacked culturally-specific resources and amenities, reflecting broader patterns of inequality.
“I remember when we were younger my brother and I were in the Filipino marching band that wasn’t allowed to participate in the Remembrance Day parade. The incident made headlines, with my brother unintentionally becoming the face of the discrimination we faced, as his photo appeared in The Province newspaper. Today, the racism is less overt, but we still have a long way to go.”
Efforts like the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party represent a celebration of Filipino culture and community diversity, aiming to recreate the warmth and joy of past events while paving the way for new memories and experiences for future generations.
Big news and a permanent fixture for the Filipino community in Vancouver
Recognizing the historical, cultural and future impacts of honouring the diversity in Vancouver is something that the Canadian federal government has put significant funding behind.
Last July, the first-ever national Chinese Canadian Museum opened in Vancouver’s Chinatown, on the 100th year anniversary of when the discriminatory Chinese Immigration Act (also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act) was brought into law, which limited the immigration of Chinese to Canada in 1923.
The recently-announced Canadian Federal Budget for 2024 cited a landmark commitment to the cultural communities in Canada in the sum of $11 million dollars. Included in this is the commitment to fund a new Filipino Cultural Centre in B.C.
With this announcement, Filipino BC’s Corpin-Moser shares her pride in her heritage: “Regardless of geographical location, Filipinos have a remarkable ability to build communities wherever they are in the world…Whether one is born in the Philippines or is a second or third-generation Filipino Canadian who may not even speak the language, they are part of a diverse and dynamic people. Their collective views, hopes, dreams, and experiences shape what it means to be Filipino.”
See also: Reimagining nature documentaries with Filipino Canadian comedian Gordie Lucius
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