Filipino-Canadian Artist Chito Maravilla leads painting workshops & exhibit as homage to loved ones of victims of the April 26 Lapu-Lapu day tragedy

By Dulce Cuenca (Posted by ReyFort Media)

Healing Hearts through Colours and Brushstrokes 

Filipino-Canadian Artist Chito Maravilla leads painting workshops & exhibit as homage to loved ones of victims of the April 26 Lapu-Lapu day tragedy

(by Filipino-Canadian Friends of Libraries)

In a first-ever collaboration of the Filipino-Canadian Friends of Libraries (FCFL) and Samper Caicedo Legacy Society (https://sampercaicedolegacy.com/ ) the community and loved ones of victims of the April 26 Lapu-Lapu day tragedy gather for painting workshops led by award-winning Filipino Canadian artist Chito Maravilla, that will culminate in an event dubbed “Flight – A Healing Art Workshop & Exhibit” on 30 November 2025 at 1 – 4 pm,  Room 120, Surrey Public Library, Main Branch 10350 University Drive, Surrey, BC.

The Samper Caicedo Legacy Society “has been set up by Alejandro Samper and is dedicated to meaningful, positive impact in our community. This initiative is his way of honoring the legacy of his mom, Glitza Maria Caicedo Samper (Bachita), dad, Daniel Samper, and sister, Glitza Daniela Samper (Nena)—who were tragically taken from us on April 26th, 2025, at the Lapu Lapu Festival. Each had a deep passion for helping others. Through this foundation, their spirit of love, generosity, and service will continue to live on” (https://sampercaicedolegacy.com/about-us/_).The Filipino Canadian Friends of Libraries (FCFL), is an informal group of individuals, working on engaging the community in libraries through literacy, art, music, culture, and programming.

The workshop and exhibit on 30 November 2025 are the continuation of the first workshop held at a private home in Surrey on 11 October 2025 when loved ones of some of the victims of the April 26 Lapu-Lapu day tragedy painted as they celebrated their first Thanksgiving after the tragedy. Maravilla stresses the purpose of this community collaboration: “The 11 October get-together and private workshop and the 30 November 2025 are focused on honouring the memories of the 11 who were killed in the Lapu-lapu Festival car-ramming tragedy. They are also aimed to assist, through art and community togetherness, the families of the victims and survivors in their journey through grief and rebuilding their lives. The meaning of art, like grief, is in the process rather than the end product. The inherent power of using art in navigating grief is that we all have it in us because we all feel and have the desire to share and connect. It is not focused on technique and talent; it’s about expressing emotions through brush strokes and colours.”

The details of the event are as follows:

• Flight – A Healing Art Workshop & Exhibit
• w/ award winning Filipino-Canadian Artist Chito Maravilla 
• Let’s soar, heal, and paint together.
• 30 November 2025, 1pm-4pm
• Surrey Libraries, City Centre Branch – Room 120
• 10350 University Drive, Surrey

Sponsored by:

• SURREY LIBRARIES

Opening address by:

• Vice Consul Marco Frederick Harder, Consulate General of the Philippines Vancouver

Remarks by:

• Her Worship Brenda Locke, Mayor, City of Surrey

Exhibit & Gala Host:

• Michele Elliot of CBC’s BC Today

Workshop Host:

• Ria Renouf, Mrs. Galaxy Vancouver 2025

Performances:

• Miguel , Himig Kabataan Cultural Society
• Double Take (Aria & Mireia)

Featured Painting:

• “Flight”

A symbolic representation of nurturing, embracing diversity, and thriving together as a unified community, ready to soar on a global scale.