Families and Former Leaders Demand Clarity on Lapu Lapu Day Donation Spending
A grieving son who lost his family and former board members of Filipino B.C. are calling for greater transparency from the non-profit organization regarding how $1.5 million in donations has been spent over the past year following the tragic Lapu Lapu Day festival attack in Vancouver.
Personal Tragedy Fuels Calls for Accountability
Alejandro Samper, whose mother, father, and sister were among the 11 people killed when an SUV drove into a crowd at the festival last April, expressed deep concern about the organization's handling of funds. "There needs to be more help for the victims before moving on to another festival," said Samper, 34, who believes it is too soon to hold the festival again despite plans for 2026.
Samper's call for transparency is echoed by Lina Vargas, a prominent leader in Vancouver's Filipino community and one of four volunteer board members who resigned from Filipino B.C. in September. Vargas cited serious concerns over transparency regarding the Kapwa Strong Fund, a long-term endowment first established as an emergency fund following the devastating attack.
Community Questions About Fund Distribution
The Kapwa Strong Fund, temporarily managed by United Way B.C., raised $1.57 million from public and private donors over several months. According to available information, $1.5 million has been distributed as grants to 40 non-profit and charitable organizations as of December, with approximately $451,570 going directly to Filipino B.C. as specified by donors.
"After the tragedy, there were lots of donations coming in, and many community members were asking questions about where the Kapwa Strong Fund money was going," explained Vargas, founder of the Diversity and Inclusion Support Group of B.C. She emphasized that the public expected their donations to go directly to the victims of the attack and their families.
Organizational Response Raises Concerns
Vargas expressed shock at the organization's response to community inquiries about fund allocation. "They decided not to answer," she revealed. "Every community member should have the ability to ask where money is going — it's just a question."
This lack of transparency contradicts earlier public statements from Filipino B.C., which posted on Facebook that the fund would "ensure 100 per cent of proceeds will go to victims, their families and the services and programs that will aid recovery."
Requests for Detailed Breakdown Denied
When Postmedia News recently requested a detailed breakdown of how Filipino B.C. used donations from the Kapwa Strong Fund, the organization declined to provide specific information. Instead, they stated that "a detailed breakdown of expenditures and allocations will be provided in our annual report," without specifying when that report would be available.
Filipino B.C. has defended its use of funds, noting that all grant decisions for the broader Kapwa Strong Fund were made independently by United Way B.C. The organization emphasized that "kapwa" is a Tagalog word meaning kindred, conveying the core Filipino belief that all people are equal and connected.
Broader Context of Community Healing
The calls for transparency come as the Vancouver Filipino community continues to heal from the devastating attack that claimed 11 lives during what should have been a celebration of Filipino culture and heritage. The Lapu Lapu Day festival traditionally honors the first Filipino hero who resisted Spanish colonization, making the tragedy particularly poignant for the community.
As families like Samper's continue to grieve their losses, the demand for clear accounting of donated funds represents not just a financial concern but a matter of community trust and healing. The situation highlights the complex challenges non-profit organizations face when managing large-scale donations following community tragedies while maintaining public confidence.
