Celebration of Filipino culture becomes display of unity after deadly Vancouver attack

Winnipeg's Filipino community came together Saturday for an annual celebration of culture that was tainted with security concerns after last week's deadly attack in Vancouver, but also offered an opportunity to display unity and strength.

The Mayflower Festival is part of a month-long celebration to honour the blessed Virgin Mary, featuring prayers, floral offerings and processions, said Alden Novallasca, organizer of Saturday's parade with the Quezon Province Association of Manitoba. 

The annual Filipino tradition is being celebrated this year at Winnipeg's Maples Community Centre, against the backdrop of a deadly car-ramming attack at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver last Saturday that left 11 people dead and dozens more injured.

"We're mourning about that," Novallasca said.

After the attack, Novallasca said there were conversations to ensure there were enough security measures in place for the outdoor parade that was part of Saturday's celebrations.

Police officers were on hand, and cruisers blocked access to roadways during the parade, which ran for less than two hours before more programming held indoors.

Dozens of people from different age groups wearing colourful attire and holding banners decorated with flowers joined in Saturday's parade.

In recent years, the parade has brought out about 30 people on average, but Novallasca said the number of attendees jumped this year, with just over 100 participants coming together for the celebration. 

"It's so much bigger this year," he said.

The car-ramming attack was in the back of Gloria Agravande's mind as she walked in the parade, but with the streets barricaded and a police presence on site, she said she felt safe. 

"This event means to me [the] unity of Filipinos, happiness, unity, love," she said. "We are our own and we are proud, and we're thankful to God that we came to Canada … and continue with our cultures."

While it was an opportunity to celebrate an annual tradition, Saturday's parade was also "to show the people that we're not scared," Agravande said.

"We should not hold back our lives, for love and unity and development of Filipino culture."