apl.de.ap | File photos
Filipino-American artist mourns victims of the Vancouver tragedy and calls for unity within the Filipino community
Filipino-American artist Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas has broken his silence following the deadly vehicle-ramming attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.
The incident, which claimed 11 lives and injured more than two dozen others, occurred just minutes after Apl.de.ap and fellow singer J Rey Soul finished their headlining performance. In an emotional statement posted to Instagram, the Grammy Award-winning performer—born Allan Pineda Lindo Jr.—expressed his heartbreak and solidarity with the victims and the community.
“Our hearts are broken for the victims, their families, and everyone affected by the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Festival,” he wrote. “J Rey and I had just finished performing and left the stage minutes before it happened. It’s hard to describe the shock and heaviness we feel.”
The festival, intended as a joyful celebration of Filipino culture, turned into a scene of horror when a black SUV drove through barriers and into the crowd on East 41st Avenue. Authorities have charged 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo with multiple counts of second-degree murder. Investigators ruled out terrorism, citing his history of mental illness.
Apl.de.ap, who has long championed Filipino culture and youth empowerment through the Apl.de.ap Foundation, said the tragedy deeply affected him not only as a performer, but as a Filipino.
“I perform all over the world, but it means something different when I’m standing in front of my people. I saw joy, pride, and family that day. What happened broke all our hearts. But I still believe in the power of our unity.”
He also thanked those who reached out in support, praising the community’s resilience in the face of tragedy:
“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 are devastated, but we are not alone.”
The Lapu-Lapu Day Festival was launched to honor Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Philippine hero and symbol of resistance. It was meant to uplift heritage and identity—values Apl.de.ap has long celebrated in both music and activism.
As the community mourns and healing continues, Apl.de.ap’s message resonates across a grieving diaspora: a call for remembrance, unity, and enduring cultural pride.
