Artist paints mural to honour victims of Lapu Lapu Day vehicle attack

A woman taking part in a Vancouver mural festival has created artwork to honour the victims of the vehicle attack that took place at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in April.

Mara Cortez, a Filipina-Canadian, worked with Filipino BC on the project, which is part of the Astro Arts Festival.

The three-day event saw dozens of volunteer artists take over the alley between the 100 blocks of West 4th and West 5th avenues.

“There was a major void created by the loss of the Vancouver Mural Festival earlier this year, and other festivals,” said festival organizer Drew Young. “So, everyone pulled together to make sure that murals and urban artwork continues its super amazing legacy in the city.”

Artists filled almost every available space in the alley with a variety of colourful murals.

For Cortez, who attended the Lapu Lapu Day Festival, the project is personal.

“What I wanted to bring to the community, is just to bring them some hope and to show them that even though the physical bodies are gone, that they’re still with us today,” she said. “There’s a lot of moving through grief but I really want to highlight healing and joy and hope.”

According to Cortez, the mural depicts a folklore character from the Philippines called Mayari, who is a goddess of the moon and the underworld.

The mural also contains a boat filled with people who represent the 11 lives lost at the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy.