26-April-2025 will forever be remembered by the K-JAM team, as with most all Filipinos in the Lower Mainland, and beyond.
We were there. The K-JAM team were there also as part of other Filipino Organizations like The Alpha Phi Omega Alumni Association of BC, the Vancouver Hinirang Eagles Club, and the Pinoy Canada British Columbia Association, BC. We could have been part of the statistics. We would have been one of those needing help.
The morning started with so much positive energy, so much pride in being Filipino, and so much love for the culture and traditions we all brought from our different regions. It was also an interesting contrast of ideologies when parts of the parade had (healthy, fun) banter between being Pro and Anti the previous Philippine President.
Part of the program start even had – arguably a national symbol or pride, a mascot from a Proudly-Filipino company that gave a Clown a run for his money – making a surprise appearance with a dance number.
The sun was shining bright, but it wasn’t hot. Birds were chirping, a breeze was flowing and in the distance you can hear the different programs from the many different stages they had showcasing different Filipino talents across multiple generations.
It was a beautiful day, filled with beautiful people. If you were there, you would have felt that this wasn’t your regular Filipino Cultural event.
To end what would have been the most amazing day of the year, we witnessed the performance of truly world-class Filipino. Apl.de.ap, sang his heart out when he asked, ‘where is the love?’
Prophetic words sung by everyone in the crowd, not knowing what will happen after such a remarkably lovely day.
We all know of the tragic events that followed. The loss of life is deplorable and the permanent scars they leave all victims, reprehensible. But what makes us sick to our stomach are the Vultures and Mariteses that have come out of their caves calling attention to themselves, riding the wave of sorrow as if it was a trend to make them relevant if not viral.
There were calls to blame the organizer for not securing the venue.
There were comments on fund raising posts to ask the Organizers for Insurance Settlements.
There were brazen comments focused on the shoulda-woulda-coulda’s and how safety was ignored.
There were even posts about how other groups and organizers are better equipped to handle large events like this because they are better prepared and have better considerations.
Hindsight has always been 20/20.
The organizers, the volunteers, the individual attendees who went to the event were all there in high spirits fostered by TRUE pakikisama, driving by REAL desire na magkaisa.
These insensitive Vultures seem to forget: this could have happened to YOU. These oblivious Mariteses fail to realize that none of the people who were there, who were HURT physically and emotionally, woke up that morning wanting to get f-d up by that person with extreme mental health issues. Wasn’t it written in the good book, “let he who is without sin…”?
My grandma taught me that if I have nothing nice to say, nothing to contribute to positive action, manahimik ka lang. In other words, I was told to shut up if I wouldn’t be of help to anyone.
These Vultures and Mariteses who cried tears like alligators, but were spiting out words that insult the very memory of those who were victimized like mad dogs, can take a queue from my grandma.
As the late Max Soliven often said ‘SANAMAGAN!’
You want to be relevant? You want attention? Want to be remembered as a hero like the Block Party’s volunteers were?
HELP.
Help by spreading legitimate donation drives.
Help by taking your own turn at volunteering at the different fund raisers and memorials. Please, we implore you, help.
But if you refuse to spread fund raisers instead of misinformation, if you don’t feel like going to the memorials, if you don’t want to volunteer, at the very least take a page from my grandma’s book and shut the…
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By Allan
