Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.Ap and Other Lapu Lapu Day Festival Performers Speak After Van Attack in Vancouver

Artists are sharing their heartbreak after a deadly attack at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day festival.

The attack killed 11 people, leaving dozens more injured, when an SUV drove through the block party on Saturday, April 26. A 30-year-old man has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder.

Organized by Filipino BC, the festival is a celebration of Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu and an annual occasion for the Filipino-Canadian community to celebrate resilience and cultural heritage.

The attack took place in the evening, following a day of performances from artists like Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.Ap (the Filipino-American artist also known as Allan Pineda Lindo), multi-disciplinary artist Kaya Ko and R&B singer Sade Awele. Festival performers are sharing messages and calling for support to the B.C. Filipino community following the attack.

Apl.de.Ap and Filipino singer J. Rey Soul had recently left the stage, finishing their headlining set, when the attack took place.

"It's hard to describe the shock and heaviness we feel," they shared in a joint statement on social media. "Please keep the victims, their families, and the organizers in your prayers."

"The one thing I have noticed, from the audience to the messages sent around, is the sense of community that wraps its loving arms around us."

Festival chair RJ Aquino spoke about the support that's been pouring in from around the world.

"It's not lost on us ... that the spirit of the festival was about that resistance, resilience, that courage, that strength," he told reporters, per CBC. 

"And you know, we're going to have to call that up in ourselves."

Performer Sade Awele shared her prayers for the BC Filipino community on Instagram. "I was barely able to sleep thinking about the tragic incident that occurred after the festival," she said. "We can't keep living like this — treating each other with hate and violence. We have to do better."

"We are resilient and we are loving and we are so so so strong," wrote performer Kaya Ko. "This is such a massive blow to our community and I am sending all of my prayers and love up."

Filipino BC shared a message of support to the community and discouraged the sharing of any videos from the attack. "We are focused on supporting our community right now, in addition to experiencing this trauma." A vigil was held on Sunday, April 27 at Vancouver's Kensington Community Centre to honour the victims.

"We encourage everyone to check in, support and hold each other. Do not hesitate to access resources available. You are not alone."

Victim Services are available 24/7 for those who witnessed or experienced trauma. To access the services, call or text 1-800-563-0808 or email 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca. Emergency response resources and fundraisers for impacted families can be found here.