• Date: June 18,205
• Location: Vancouver City Hall

On behalf of the Filipino Canadian community, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mayor Ken Sim and his entire team here at Vancouver City Hall. Thank you for welcoming us today, and for standing with us through moments of celebration and sorrow.

Today, we stand as a united Filipino community to mark the 127th Philippine Independence Day—a day that honors our nation’s hard-fought freedom, the resilience of our people, and the strength we draw from community

But this year, the spirit of resilience takes on deeper meaning.

Alongside our celebration of independence, we also bear the weight of grief. We remember the tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Block Party—a gathering intended for joy, community, and culture—that was transformed into a moment of heartbreak, deeply affecting us all.

And so today is not only a celebration of our past—but a call to action for our present.

The same spirit that fueled our ancestors’ fight for independence—their unity, their courage, their hope—is the same spirit we must now channel as we come together to heal and support those affected by the tragedy in our own community.

In the wake of that pain, we have seen true leadership. Mayor Sim and his team were there—not just in words, but in action. They listened. They showed up and offered tangible support. They stood beside us in real and meaningful ways. And for that, we are deeply grateful. They approached every step with compassion and the utmost sensitivity toward the victims and their families.

In response, an initiative was put together moving forward with purpose— an event that captures both the heart of our culture and the strength of our city: “Come Together: Vancouver Strong.”

This benefit event is more than a concert. It is a reflection of who we are—as Filipinos, as Canadians, as neighbors. It’s a continuation of the fight for dignity, care, and unity that our independence day represents.

“Come Together: Vancouver Strong” is not about any one group or voice. It’s about the victims and their families—their immediate needs, but most importantly, long-term support, healing, and rebuilding. It’s also about a city choosing love over fear, and action over silence.

Through music, community, love, and a shared sense of purpose, we strive not only to raise vital funds, but to create a space for hope, healing, and unity.

We believe in this city. We believe in its people. And we believe in the strength we hold—together.

So today, as we honor our past and face our present, we do so with courage in our hearts, and unity in our steps. Because this is what our independence has always been about—not just freedom, but responsibility. Not just pride, but purpose.

Thank you, Mayor Sim, and thank you to everyone who continues to stand with us. Your support means more than words can say.

Maraming salamat po. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

We move forward—one city, one community, one purpose.

~ Janice Lozano, UFCABC Secretary

Photos By: Khim Mata Hipol