from Reuters
Thousands
of Filipinos in Vancouver were celebrating Lapu-Lapu Day on Saturday,
marking a defining moment in Philippine history, when tragedy struck - a vehicle drove into the crowd killing multiple people and injuring others.
The
festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honours
Datu Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino chieftain who famously defeated Spanish
forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521 and
became a national hero.
The
centrepiece of the festivities in Vancouver is a multi-block street
party in the Sunset neighbourhood featuring Filipino food and
traditions, live performances and cultural displays. The party on
Saturday was just starting to break up but many people were still in the
streets when a dark SUV rammed into the crowd.
Police
said they were investigating a mass casualty incident and had arrested a
30-year-old Vancouver man at the scene, but did not immediately give
the number of fatalities or injured.
"We
pray that our community remains strong and resilient imbued with the
spirit of bayanihan (community spirit) during this difficult time," The
Philippine consulate in Vancouver said in a statement...
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