Opinions
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An Open Memo |
by Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan
Memorial-First, Festival-Second: A Trauma-Informed Sequence
(Proposed Structural Revision to Avert a “Second Disaster”)
March 16, 2026: Nearly a year ago on the 26th of April 2025, the LapuLapu Day tragedy in South Vancouver wounded the soul of the Canadian Filipino community and beyond. So devastating was last year’s tragedy that it moved me to write the Memorandum, Proposed Structural Revision to Ensure Psychological Safety: Memorial-First, Festival-Second, when I identified, drawing from the experience of large-scale trauma experts Melissa Glaser and Thomas Hübl, a significant risk of re-traumatization – a “second disaster” – for the victims and their families still in active recovery attending the “mixed-model” festival-memorial event on April 17-19 as announced in January by Filipino BC.
While Chief Program and Impact Officer Kim Winchell had promptly replied to my Memo of March 10 and clearly expressed that “United Way BC is not involved in event planning or funding for the upcoming 2026 LapuLapu Day events, nor are we affiliated with any day of festival activities,” the LapuLapu Day 2026 Organizing Committee has, at press time, yet to respond even after a follow-up to remind that the Hinkson Commission’s recommendation mandates “all public events in British Columbia should be supported by a risk assessment” that is “thoughtful, structured and appropriate to the scale and nature of the event.” Hence, this Open Memo in the hope organizers would take heed for the sake of safety and social cohesion.
MEMORANDUM
TO: United Way BC Kapwa Strong Leadership
Kim Winchell, Chief Program & Impact Officer, United Way BC
Michael McKnight, President & CEO, United Way BC
Dara Hill, Media & Communications, United Way BC
and
Lapu-Lapu Day 2026 Organizing Committee
Lapu-Lapu Day 2026 Team
Care Team, Trauma-Informed Support Leads
CC: Nicolas Jimenez, Board Chair, United Way BC
Taryn O’Flanagan, Board Member & Executive Director, Vancouver Island Mental Health Society
Erin Kapela, Board Member & Executive Director, CMHA Cowichan Valley Tanjeet Kalsi, Manager, Board Governance, United Way BC
FROM: Hon. Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, P.C., O.M.
Community Volunteer/Advocate
Retired Lung Specialist and Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health Former Member of Parliament and Federal Minister
DATE: March 10, 2026
SUBJECT: URGENT:
Proposed Structural Revision to Ensure Psychological Safety:
Memorial-First, Festival-Second (A Trauma-Informed Sequence)
Introduction
1. We are seven weeks away from two distinct yet integrated events: the Third Annual LapuLapu Day Festival and the First Anniversary of the April 26, 2025 Tragedy.
2. Drawing on trauma experts Melissa Glaser (Healing a Community) and Thomas
Hübl (Healing Collective Trauma), I believe the current programming carries
two significant risks: a) community re-traumatization and b) heightened social friction.
3. Current plans place the Festival on April 18–19 (mixing celebration with memorial) followed by a separate Memorial on April 25–26. This “mixed-model” approach poses a serious risk of a “second disaster”—unintended psychological harm caused by the immediate proximity of celebration to grief.
4. Given the urgency, I am submitting this Proposal via email to ensure the Board and stakeholders are seized of the matter for immediate review.
I. Purpose
A. This Proposal for Structural Revision—not cancellation – seeks to avoid re-traumatization, resolve social friction and prioritize community healing.
B. The Logic of Revision
1. The Risk of Proximity: Placing festive activities within the same window as memorial reflections can trigger a “thalamic hijack,” where the brain cannot reconcile conflicting emotional inputs, leading to severe distress or “shutdown.”
2. Eliminating Ambiguity: Mixed events create emotional cognitive dissonance and fuel social friction. Clarity of intention is required to restore public trust and address the concerns of aggrieved families.
3. Intentionality: We must honour the tragedy first as our highest priority, guided always by our sempiternal Kapwa spirit.
II. Proposal: The Three Pillars
A. Change in Content
Moving from “mixed” programming to distinct, separate festival-only and memorial-only events to ensure safety and solemnity.
B. Change in Sequence
Prioritizing the Memorial-First aligns with the “anniversary effect” – a known period of heightened vulnerability. It respects the natural psychological arc of healing: lament must precede hope.
C. Change in Schedule
1. April 25–26: Memorial-First (Solemn Commemoration on the actual anniversary).
2. May 2–3: Festival-Second (Community Celebration).
3. One-week “temporal buffer” between the two scheduled weekends: This provides the necessary physiological safety valve for the community’s nervous system to down-regulate after the intensity of the anniversary – the "psychological breathing room" to transition from mourning to resilience.
D. The Hazard of the “Mixed Model”: Seeing festive dance near a memorial altar can lead to overwhelming triggers. We must move away from "mixed" programming to reflect that the safety of trauma-affected families is our primary concern.
E. The Wisdom of the Anniversary: Holding the solemn commemoration on April 25–26 provides an unambiguous container for grief when community sensitivity is at its peak.
IV. Mitigation of Social Friction: This sequence addresses the perceived "disrespect" felt
by those calling for cancellation. It signals specifically to the aggrieved families that
we have prioritized compassion over tradition and stand in solidarity with their loss.
V. Conclusion: Primacy of Care
1. This revision reflects our community’s determination to “First, Do No Harm” – a safer framework.
2. By adopting the Memorial-First (April 25–26) and Festival-Second (May 2–3) sequence, we send a clear message: we have listened, and we care.
3. This is a proactive defense against a "second disaster." It offers the families the dignity of a focused memorial while eventually sharing the joyful resilience we all wish to see.
4. This strengthens the sinews of community trust and enriches our sempiternal Kapwa.
5. These principles we jointly affirm.
Regards, R.D. Pagtakhan, M.D.