It was late Saturday night when I first read reports online about the horrific and senseless incident at the recent Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver. Initial reports were of several deaths and several serious injuries after an SUV drove through a crowd of people, but it sounded likely to be much worse, a feeling confirmed the next day when it was announced that 11 people had been killed and dozens more injured.
Almost Immediately I thought of a recent interaction days earlier at Westland Insurance in Marketplace. The happy and helpful Filipino insurance agent helping me, whose name escapes me, left a positive impression. I asked her jokingly if there were any grumpy people in the Philippines. She just laughed and then laughed some more as I asked her why Filipinos always seemed so happy and friendly... she told me she didn’t know why. I think maybe it’s in their DNA or perhaps it comes from their deep faith and love of family and community. I told her she reminded me of Nancy from Nesters Market and asked her if she knew Nancy, she replied yes and went on to say that Nancy’s daughter also worked with her at Westland Insurance.
Nancy is another beautiful local soul that always talks with a laugh and a smile and makes me smile whenever we chat at Nesters.
Not only are the Filipinos I meet in Whistler some of the happiest people around, they are hard working and have a clear sense of community and faith... I can only imagine this terrible event has torn a large hole in the hearts of many Filipinos as it surely did in mine.
While I am not a religious person myself, I do feel a spiritual connection to life, mostly in the mountains and forests, and the sad news of this tragedy hit me hard emotionally and had me teared up and sending out as much love and compassion as I could to everyone affected.
Premier David Eby’s talk at the church service the following Sunday was very heartfelt and touching. I saw a side of him I had not seen before and was very impressed. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Canadian community as a whole could take a lesson from our Filipino friends and neighbours? Not only by being more cheerful, but more importantly seeking unity and common ground even with those we may disagree with politically.
The ongoing mental-health crisis and the need for action is something I believe 99.9 per cent of us can likely agree upon. Imagine what we could do together pulling as a team!
I realize there were some problems and abuse with the large institutions in the past and nothing is going to be perfect. That said, the streets don’t seem like the right place to leave people struggling with addiction and mental health. The strain it puts on the police and paramedics is costly on many levels. Too often these days we seem to be pulling in opposite directions and then somehow we expect positive results from our elected leaders. Well guess what? There is no leader with a magic wand coming to save us. It’s up to all of us to find the common ground and fight for it together. Be the change we want to see.
Prayers and much love to all the Filipinos in Whistler and around the province and country... I love you all for the joy you bring in the most mundane moments of everyday life!
Be strong, smile on and may we all be blessed by your endless positivity!
