1 week Ago
Celebrities have expressed their heartbreak and shock following the attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day Filipino festival in Vancouver, Canada that have left at least 11 people dead . Black Eyed Peas singer and Filipino-American Apl.de.
Ap performed at the festival over the weekend with fellow Filipino-American and Black Eyed Peas member J. Rey Soul. In a statement on Instagram, Apl.
de.Ap said that they exited the stage minutes before the horrific attack happened. "Our hearts are broken for the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Festival," he said.
"J-Rey and I had just finished performing and left the stage minutes before it happened. It's hard to describe the shock and the heaviness we feel." Apl.
de.Ap thanked those who checked in on them and asked the public to pray for the victims, their families, and the organizers of the event. "They need all the love and strength right now.
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. We love you all," he said. A post shared by Apl.
de.Ap (@apldeap) On Instagram Stories, J. Rey shared photos of her and Apl.
de.Ap performing on stage during the event. According to her, they were excited to celebrate with the attendees that day.
"To hear about the tragedy that happened shortly after we performed has left us heartbroken, devastated, and still in shock," she wrote. "My heart aches for the families who lost their loved ones. Sending all my love, prayers, and strength to everyone affected.
" Filipino comedian Jo Koy took to Instagram to mourn those who lost their lives at the festival. "I am heartbroken to hear what took place at the Vancouver Filipino Festival. This is supposed to be an event that honors and celebrates our beautiful culture, and now we're mourning the loss of 11 lives that were taken too soon," he said in his post.
"My heart goes out to everyone that was affected by this horrific event. Mahal kita," he added. OPM icon Martin Nievera also commented on Jo Koy's post, sending prayers to the victims and their families.
"Prayers to all those lives lost and their families who have to go through life without them," wrote Martin in his comment. "This is a terrible unbelievable event that took place and I pray with millions of others that this day will never be repeated." A post shared by Jo Koy (@jokoy) On Saturday, a man drove an SUV through a crowd at the festival, killing at least 11 people aged between five and 65, and injuring several others.
The suspect, identified as Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder by prosecutors in British Columbia. Vancouver Police also said that "further charges are anticipated." The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has condoled with the families of the victims and also said that it is ready to provide necessary assistance and support.
""Rest assured, the DMW through its Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Vancouver is now in close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, as well as Canadian authorities to monitor the situation and well-being of the victims and their families," the DMW had said. —CDC, GMA Integrated News.
