One month after chaos erupted during Lapu-Lapu Day celebrations, Toronto resident Maria Santos still flinches at sudden movements and struggles with nightmares. “I can still hear the screaming,” she told me during our interview at a quiet café near her home. “One minute we were celebrating, the next minute everyone was running.”
The April 27th attack during the Filipino cultural celebration at Nathan Phillips Square left three injured and hundreds traumatized when an assailant wielding a knife charged through the crowd. Santos was merely ten feet away from where the first victim was stabbed.
“I was watching the traditional dance performance with my daughter when people started pushing and running,” Santos explained, her hands visibly trembling as she recounted the events. “At first, I thought it was just someone who’d fallen ill. Then I saw the knife.”
According to Toronto Police Service records, officers responded within four minutes of the first emergency call, but for those present, those minutes stretched interminably. The suspect, whose identity remains protected under court order, was apprehended at the scene after being tackled by two event security personnel.
Dr. Eleanor Kim, a trauma specialist at Toronto General Hospital who has treated several witnesses to the attack, notes that such experiences can have lasting psychological impacts. “What we’re seeing is classic post-traumatic stress responses – hypervigilance, flashbacks, sleep disturbances. The brain is essentially stuck in that moment of danger,” Dr. Kim explained.
The Filipino-Canadian Association of Toronto has organized several community healing sessions since the incident, providing a space for survivors to process their experiences collectively. Santos has attended three of these sessions.
“Being with others who understand has helped,” she said. “But I still haven’t taken my daughter to any crowded events. I’m not ready, and neither is she.”
City officials have responded by enhancing security protocols for cultural celebrations across Toronto. Mayor James Thompson announced last week a comprehensive review of event safety measures, telling CO24 News that “ensuring public safety while preserving our city’s vibrant cultural expression remains our highest priority.”
For the Filipino community, the attack has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a joyous celebration of cultural heritage. Lapu-Lapu Day commemorates the 16th-century Filipino chieftain who led the first successful resistance against Spanish colonizers.
Community leader Antonio Reyes emphasized the importance of reclaiming their cultural spaces. “We cannot allow fear to rob us of our traditions,” he stated during a recent community forum. “Next year’s celebration will be bigger and more meaningful because now it also represents our resilience.”
As Toronto prepares for summer festival season, many like Santos are facing difficult decisions about participation. Mental health professionals recommend a gradual reintegration into public events for those experiencing trauma symptoms.
“Recovery isn’t linear,” Dr. Kim cautioned. “Some days will be better than others, but with proper support, most people do regain their sense of safety.”
For Santos, that journey continues one day at a time. She has started attending smaller gatherings and is working with a counselor specialized in trauma recovery. “I refuse to let one horrible day define the rest of my life,” she said with quiet determination. “But I also know healing takes time.”
As our communities continue to navigate the aftermath of public violence, how do we balance legitimate safety concerns with the essential human need for cultural connection and celebration?
