A 15-year-old scout who died trying to protect his classmates from a gunman has been formally honored by the Tacloban city government, which named Chris Lorenz Fabian the city’s “Young Hero” on Thursday.
The distinction was granted through City Ordinance No. 2026-16-15, which cited what it described as his “extraordinary selfless courage and supreme sacrifice.” Officials said the measure permanently embeds his story in the city’s records so that future generations of young people can draw inspiration from it.
Fabian died in the June 22 attack at San Jose National High School, one of three students killed in a shooting that drew national attention and grief across the country. Accounts documented in earlier resolutions credit him with a split-second decision to seal the classroom door as the assailant approached, keeping those inside out of the line of fire. The students in that room survived because of what he did.
Accepting the honor at the ceremony was his mother, Erbea Fabian, who thanked local officials and everyone still keeping her son’s memory alive. “I am deeply grateful that my son’s courage has not been forgotten,” she said.
City leaders framed the “Tacloban Young Hero” title as a way to spotlight youth who demonstrate bravery, leadership, and a willingness to serve their communities.
The ordinance was not the first tribute to the teenager. In the weeks following the shooting, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Leyte Council passed its own resolution praising his devotion to the Scout values of service and sacrifice. He had also been posthumously selected as a recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Eastern Visayas Awards, an honor recognizing his heroism and concern for others despite his young age.
