The rains did not dampen the excitement of festival-goers who walked the six blocks to experience the first Lapu-Lapu Day block party in Vancouver.

Various booths lined the blocks, served food, and offered goods and services as well as fun and games.

There was also plenty of dancing — from Zumba enthusiasts, to those manning the bao buns food truck, and to the barber in front of their barber truck.

Even Filipinos from Seattle in the U.S. came to Vancouver to be a part of the block party – which honors the chieftain of Mactan in the natives’ 1521 victory against colonizers from Spain.

The celebration drew Filipinos and non-Filipinos, many of whom were young adults.

"The spirit of Lapu-Lapu is rooted in the identity of resistance and struggle," said Christy Bernados of Sulong UBC. "It's so important as Filipinos that we come together and try to understand the issues in our community and also celebrate our history and our heritage."

Filipino BC, which organized the celebration, is happy with the success of their event.

Said the group's creative director Joe Tuliao: "To have a new event, spearheaded by a new generation of Filipinos, and embracing our culture, now more than ever is just such a fulfilling feeling."

Filipino BC president RJ Aquino likened the huge project to their own coming out party as well. Timed with the celebration was the announcement that the group will partner with Hungerford Properties.

The indigenous developer, which has a huge portfolio of properties and investments, will help Filipino BC conduct a study on the establishment of a Filipino cultural center.

Mabuhay House Society is already working with the B.C. government on the cultural center project.

But Aquino insisted that Filipinos can have more than one cultural center if that is what the community needs.

"Let's not sell our community short," he said. "If we can build 20 community centers, why not? What we've done here is demonstrate that we can move ahead."

Riding high on the success of Lapu-Lapu Day, Aquino urged sectors that are thinking of funding the project to choose the group that has proven its capacity to deliver.

With the excitement generated by the first block party, Filipino B.C. plans to celebrate Lapu-Lapu Day again next year.