Remembering Chad Booc - a teacher, an activist, a Filipino

Three years after his passing we remember Chad Booc–not just as a dedicated activist, a passionate teacher, and a selfless kababayan–but also as someone who upheld humility, social responsibility, and the fight for education as a means to uplift his fellow Filipinos.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “I don’t ever want you to forget that there are millions of God’s children who will not and cannot get a good education, and I don’t want you feeling that you are better than they are. For you will never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be.” –This seems to be understood well by Chad Booc, who dedicated the latter years of his life to teaching indigenous children in Surigao del Sur through the Lumad school, advocating for their rights. 

As a cum laude graduate from the University of the Philippines (UP), Chad Booc could have easily chosen a path that was much safer and easier. But after joining the Manilakbayan in 2015, a protest caravan calling to stop Lumad killings, Chad had a grasp on what he ought to be–a grasp on the reality of many Filipinos that he had the will to be a part of the solution. Hearing their stories not only reinforced his principles but also ignited a fire in him, strengthening his commitment to stand in solidarity with his fellow Filipinos. 

In 2016, Chad Booc began volunteering as a Mathematics teacher at the Alternative Learning Center Agricultural Development (ALCADEV), a school dedicated to educating Lumad children in Surigao del Sur. Despite the many opportunities ahead of him, he chose to serve in the Lumad school–a decision that spoke volumes about his humility and selflessness. 

One of his students, Kat Dalon, recalled how this choice reflected Booc’s deep sense of justice and commitment to equality for his people. Beyond his dedication to education, Booc was appreciated for his unwavering presence in the community. He actively participated in cultural and solidarity nights, standing alongside the people and showing his support. Those who knew him admired the warmth of his words–always encouraging, comforting, and reminding them to keep fighting and face society’s struggles with courage. 

But Chad Booc’s story was cut short on February 24, 2022, when he was killed by the military in what was later claimed to be an ‘encounter.’

In a democratic country paradoxically marked by a history of impunity–where human rights defenders, activists, environmentalists, indigenous advocates, journalists, and countless revolutionaries have been brutally silenced–how do we truly make sense of deaths like this? And what does it say about a nation that seems to fear progress?

Booc and DevCom are unisolated

Booc’s life and activism exemplify why development communication (DevCom) is crucial in all societies. As an educator and advocate for indigenous rights, he used communication not just to teach but to empower, ensuring that the struggles of the Lumad people were heard beyond the margins. This was evident, in fact, not just in Booc’s advocacy for social issues, but also in the way he carried himself–in the value he placed on friendships, the ease with which he built rapport, and the sincerity in how he connected with others.

A friend of Booc and fellow activist, Mench Tilendo, testified how effortless it was for Booc to get along with people. Tilendo shared how interestingly Booc was human–sharing how he was scared too and felt hopeless at times. But feeling these things did not stop him–he persisted through it all carrying his purpose of teaching marginalized communities, and fighting for their rights. He understood that his life was intertwined with theirs–that their struggles, aspirations, and right to dignity were just as important as his own.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “...you will never be what you ought to be until they are what they ought to be.” – Booc lived by this principle, recognizing that true freedom and justice cannot exist in isolation, and that, as humans, we are all deeply connected–that the equality we strive for is not just a distant ideal, but something we all are capable of realizing, just as we are capable of fulfilling our own dreams. 

Booc’s story is a call to action–a reminder that the fight is not over. We must stand together, amplifying the voices of those who have been silenced and fighting for the rights of those who have been deprived of them.

We remember Booc’s life with the responsibility to carry forward the advocacy for equal rights, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities–recognizing that our voices and platforms can be used to achieve greater things bigger than ourselves.