FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: April 15, 2026

Gathering Our Breath: A Community Anthology Launches at the Museum of Vancouver

A Free Event Honouring Those Lost in the Lapu Lapu Day Tragedy — Sunday, May 17, 2025 | 1:00–3:30 PM | RSVP Required

VANCOUVER, BC — On Sunday, May 17, 2025, the community is invited to gather at the Museum of Vancouver for the launch of Gathering Our Breath, a collaborative grief anthology created in the wake of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy on April 26, 2025. The event runs from 1:00 to 3:30 PM and is free and open to the public. RSVP is required at showpass.com/gathering-our-breath.

About the Anthology

Gathering Our Breath is a community collaboration rooted in collective mourning, memory, and care. Bringing together writers, artists, photographers, musicians, artisans, and educators from across Turtle Island, the anthology serves as a living memory — an altar and an offering to those lost. Created to preserve grief beyond the fleeting nature of social media, it offers a tangible place of witness, reflection, and return.

The anthology centres voices often marginalized or underrepresented, grounded in inclusivity, social justice, and intersectional care. The creators honour Indigenous sovereignty and the ancestral lands on which the work was made, and extend solidarity to communities worldwide who have experienced displacement, violence, and loss.

About the Event

The afternoon is designed to feel soft and welcoming. Guests are invited to sit together, enjoy snacks, refreshments, and baked goods from Cake It Easy’s fundraiser supporting AJ Sico — a survivor of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy who was left permanently disabled — and spend time in community. A portion of each cupcake sold goes directly to AJ Sico and his family.

Dr. Bonnie Nish, Expressive Arts Therapist, Executive Director of WORD Vancouver and Pandora Collective, will be onsite to offer support throughout the afternoon. Gentle movement through music or dance will create moments of pause and breath throughout the gathering.

Copies of Gathering Our Breath will be distributed free of charge to attendees while supplies last.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Sunday, May 17, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Location: Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver, BC

Admission: Free | RSVP required

RSVP:showpass.com/gathering-our-breath

More information:museumofvancouver.ca/gathering-our-breath

Media Interviews: Authors available before and during the event

Media Kit available here
Media Inquiries: Dee de los Santos,  domenicdls@gmail.com

Creators & Supporters

The anthology was created and self-funded by Dani Alcalde-Sidloski, Asia Alcalde-Sidloski, Nathalie De Los Santos, and Maria Bolaños, with support from Place to Be Books, Sampaguita Press, and the Filipino-Canadian Book Festival.

Contributing artists and writers include:

Nelli V. Agbulos, Mak Aruta Konefall, Dionne Co, Sol Diana, Francis Arevalo, Carlo Sayo, Shruthi Budnar, Elysse Cloma, Clara Sanchez, Neema Ejercito, Carmela Cruz, Asia Alcalde-Sidloski, JP Catungal, Michelle Uy, Chiara Susanto, Living Hyphen, Sid Thota, Alyssa Victorino, Nathalie De Los Santos, Adam Arca, Dani Alcalde-Sidloski, Maria Bolaños, Isa Carlin, Mariel Abella, Mary Poirier, Rina Malagayo Alluri, Kyle Doria, Glady Kama Guinto Lee, Bek, Christine Añonuevo, Jules PF, Marilynn Quigley, Anneliese Herbosa, Keana Aguila Labra, Arlene Biala, Lorenz Mazon Dumuk, Renato Gandia, Lani Domaloy, and Maria Bolaños.

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Authors are available for interview prior to or during the event.

Media Kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10fLhte3Gk5iaxPHHVwMlEzl2pbtJHU6r?usp=sharing

Media contact:Dee de los Santosdomenicdls@gmail.com