THE Department of Education (DepEd) has conferred the prestigious DepEd Heroes Award on the late Chris Lorenz Fabian, a 15-year-old Boy Scout and Grade 10 student from San Jose National High School (SJNHS), along with the school’s faculty and staff, following their heroic actions during a campus shooting on June 22.
The posthumous recognition was presented by Education Secretary Sonny Angara during the launch of the program’s second year.
Fabian sacrificed his life to protect his classmates by holding a classroom door shut against an intruder, giving fellow students crucial time to seek cover before he sustained fatal injuries.
Accepting the award alongside Fabian’s grandmother, his mother, Erbea Fabian, shared that her son had always put others first.
She expressed her deep gratitude to Secretary Angara for visiting their family personally and ensuring her son’s bravery was recognized.
Secretary Angara emphasized that while no honor can replace a lost child, the department remains committed to preserving Chris’s legacy.
The former senator noted that true courage knows no age limit and stressed the vital need for every student and staff member to feel seen, valued, and safe within the educational system.
In addition to honoring Fabian, DepEd recognized SJNHS faculty and staff—represented by School Head Dr. Liezl Pulga and Reading Coordinator Rosalyn Rosite—for their quick thinking and coordinated emergency response that safeguarded students during the attack.
Dr. Pulga dedicated the honor to the entire school community, highlighting how their unity carried them through the tragedy.
The tragedy reinforces the administration’s push to strengthen campus safety across the Philippines. Following directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., DepEd is enforcing stricter security protocols under DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026.
Public schools nationwide are deploying metal detectors, tightening visitor controls, conducting bag inspections, and executing regular active threat drills.
First established in August 2025, the DepEd Heroes program continues to celebrate extraordinary acts of courage and dedication within the country’s academic institutions.
