Two months and a day after a tragedy sent shockwaves through Philippine sports, the family of one of the two student-athletes who drowned during a team-building exercise in Dipaculao, Aurora, is still searching for answers.

In an interview with Toni Gonzaga released Sunday afternoon, Rovelyn Baterbonia, mother of the late Rene Baterbonia, recounted her family’s humble beginnings, her son’s journey to Ateneo de Manila University, and her deep-seated frustration over how the university handled the aftermath of his death.

MAKING ENDS MEET

(C) Rene Baterbonia

A native of Agusan del Sur, Rovelyn shared that her hometown is where the famous crocodile Lolong was found and that her family once lived in a floating house. Her husband, Bobby, a former basketball player, became a tricycle driver to make ends meet, while Rovelyn took on various jobs—from selling food to doing manicures—to provide for their family of nine.

Rene, the second-born among the siblings, wore jersey number 2 to denote his birth order. Together, the children learned the game by watching their father compete in local tournaments across Agusan.

Even at a young age, Rene dreamed of building a successful professional basketball career that would eventually help lift his family out of poverty.

“Dati, ‘pag kumakain kami sa bahay, [sinasabi niya], ‘Darating din yung araw na ang kakainin namin hindi na ganyan,’” said Rovelyn. “Ma-pro-provide na natin lahat ng kailangan natin sa araw-araw.’ Sabi ko naman, hindi naman kailangang maging mayaman tayo; gusto ko lang na maiahon tayo na hindi hirap sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin.

“Sabi niya, ‘Baka isang araw, isa na akong sikat na basketbolista, Ma. Kailangan ko pong ipakita sa lahat na kung ano yung sinimulan ni Papa, ako ang magtatapos. Ako ang bunga.’”

It makes Rene’s untimely death all the more heartbreaking, especially as he had already begun taking on the role of one of his family’s breadwinners at such a young age.

“Maalalahanin, tapos hindi lang sarili ang inuuna. ’Pag nagkakaroon po siya ng pera o income sa basketball, hindi siya katulad ng iba na bibili kaagad ng bagong sapatos, bagong pants, o bagong t-shirt,” said Rovelyn of her son. “Sinasabi niya, ‘Ma, papadalhan kita para sa kapatid ko. Ibigay mo sa kanila, bilhan mo sa Jollibee.’ Tapos, ‘Ito, Ma, para sa ‘yo.’

“Noong na-ano po siya sa Palarong Pambansa doon sa Agusan, may incentive po siya sa DepEd. Nagsabi siya sa akin, ‘Ma, ipapadala ko yung pera sa ‘yo, ₱1,000 ‘yun, para ipapaayos mo doon sa bahay natin.’ Kaya ginawa ko naman yung sabi niya, kasi ang pera pinapahalagahan talaga namin para kahit mawala siya, may project kami.”

REACHING MANILA

(C) Rovelyn Baterbonia

Rene’s performances in varsity tournaments in Agusan and Davao gradually built his reputation, eventually catching the attention of several high-profile basketball programs in Metro Manila.

According to Rovelyn, major institutions such as San Beda, La Salle, UP, and San Sebastian actively recruited her son, with alleged financial offers ranging from several hundred thousand pesos to as much as ₱1.5 million. While Rene initially leaned toward San Beda, Rovelyn urged him to choose Ateneo de Davao instead because the institution offered scholarship packages that extended to his siblings.

However, the prospect of making it big in Manila was too enticing to ignore. The idea of moving to the capital ultimately came from one of Rene’s basketball coaches.

“Sinabi ng coach niya sa Davao, ‘Mommy, si Bobet i-endorse natin sa Ateneo de Manila.’ Kasi talagang pangarap ng anak ko na makapag-aral dito sa Maynila. Sabi niya, kahit saang eskwelahan, basta makalaro at makapunta ng Maynila kasi dito ang opportunity,” said Rovelyn.

Little did she know that when she dropped Rene off at the airport on June 6, it would be the last time she would see her son.

“Noong hinatid ko siya sa airport, iyak talaga ako. ‘Yun na po ang huling yakap namin sa airport patungo siya dito sa Maynila. Hindi mababayaran yung lungkot ko.”

TRAGEDY STRIKES

On the day he arrived at Ateneo de Manila, Rene told his mother about the Blue Eagles’ training camp in Aurora and said he would not be able to use his cellphone for a week.

Two days later, however, Rovelyn received a call that would change her life. Someone she could not identify reached out to her through Messenger and told her that Rene had drowned in an accident.

“Nung narinig ko ‘yun, iyak na iyak na ako,” recalled Rovelyn. “Noong sinabi niyang wala na talaga, iyak ako nang iyak hanggang sa nawalan ako ng malay for two or three hours. Noong nagising ako, umiyak na naman ako. Tapos tiningnan ko agad yung cellphone ko. Doon ko nabasa yung post ng Ateneo de Manila na wala na yung anak ko.

“Pero hindi pa nila dina-direct sa akin na bangkay na ang anak ko. Kaya hindi pa ako naniniwala kasi wala man lang isang picture na isinend sa akin na, ‘Ito na po yung anak mo, dinala na namin sa ospital or sa Arlington.’ Walang contact talaga, ma’am.”

Shortly after news of the tragedy broke, one of Rene’s aunts flew to Manila to retrieve his remains. During a video call from the scene, she confirmed the heartbreaking reality to Rovelyn, allowing the grieving mother to witness the devastating aftermath firsthand.

“Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Bet, gumising ka kasi hintayin mo pa ako. May pangarap pa tayo.’ Tapos nakita ko yung anak ko na umiiyak po,” she said. “Nakita ko siyang may luha kahit bangkay na po siya. May luha po siya.

“Tapos hindi siya katulad kay Divine Adili na totally rigid na. Yung mga kamay niya, hindi pa totally matigas, tapos mainit-init pa. Umaasa ako, ma’am — siguro kung tinulungan talaga nila yung anak ko, 100% mabubuhay pa ‘yun. Pero feeling ko, hindi nila tinulungan,” she continued.

“Parang kailangan ko ring mamatay para magkasama kami… Ganyan yung masasabi ko. Kasi noong huli kaming nagkita, magkayakap pa kami, tapos sa apat na araw lang, nakahiga na siya. Nagsasama yung nerbiyos ko, galit ko, lahat… Parang, a part of me died.”

IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH

(C) PPIO Agusan del Sur

To this day, Rovelyn Baterbonia remains dissatisfied with the explanations provided regarding her son’s death. Beyond the lack of clear answers, she expressed deep pain over how Ateneo handled her family and managed the crisis from the beginning.

The administration faced severe backlash over its handling of the tragedy. During a town hall on June 16, school leaders led by University President Fr. Bobby Yap confronted intense criticism from members of the Ateneo community.

More than two months after the incident, the emotional wounds remain open, with little sign of reconciliation between the two sides.

“Siguro po sa ngayon humihingi na sila ng tawad kasi alam nila na lalaban ako,” said Rovelyn.

“Pero nung time na ‘yun, hinintay ko talaga sila na pumunta sa akin at mag-explain na, ‘Ganyan ang nangyari, aksidente talaga,’ at humingi ng tawad. Tao lang naman ako. Marunong din akong magpatawad. Pero sa feeling ko, parang wala silang respeto sa amin na mahihirap.

“Kasi ma’am, ‘pag may respeto ka sa kapwa tao mo… Galing pa yung anak ko sa Aurora, pero hindi man lang nila binihisan, hindi linisan. Parang sinabi lang nila, ‘Hoy, kunin mo yung baboy doon na nakatay ko, dalhin mo dito sa Arlington.’ Tapos dinala nila yung anak ko sa Arlington nang walang kasamang Ateneo staff o reps. Maski mag-convoy man lang, wala talaga,” she lamented.

“Noong dumating kami sa Arlington, ilang oras akong naghintay mula 2:40 p.m. ng June 9 hanggang 1:00 a.m. ng madaling-araw bago ako pumirma sa imbestigasyon kay attorney. Hinintay ko yung pagdating nila para damayan ako at sabihing, ‘Mommy, patawad talaga, ganyan ang nangyari.’ Pero walang nangyari. Kaya masasabi ko na wala silang respeto. Kapal talaga ng mukha.”

MOVING FORWARD

(C) PPIO Agusan del Sur

The Baterbonia family continues to seek closure and justice for her son. She and her family have been left to deal with the aftermath, particularly as Rene was expected to become one of the family’s main breadwinners.

She has also faced criticism on social media from people who accused her of cashing in on her son’s death. However, she clarified that the family had already been selling merchandise before the tragedy.

“May mga bashers na magsasabi na porke’t napatay yung anak ko, parang atat na atat ako magbenta ng Baterbonia Collection. Pero sa totoo lang, noong buhay pa ang anak ko, nagbebenta na kami niyan. Siya ang nagsabi sa akin na magbenta kami,” she said.

“Yung unang post pa lang namin sa TikTok, sa isang araw lang nakadispose kami ng 150 jerseys at 100 keychains. Sabi ko, ‘Bet, ‘pag nag-click ito, itutuloy-tuloy ko kasi makakadagdag sa income natin.’ Pinipirmahan niya ‘yun isa-isa kasi sabi niya, ‘Ma, itong mga memorable items ko, ibenta mo para magkaroon ka ng extra income,’” she explained.

“Kailangan ko talagang mag-income kasi maliliit pa yung mga anak ko. Yung mga taong bumibili ngayon, na-touch sila o nagpapadala ng pakikiramay, at na-a-appreciate ko ‘yun. Hindi natin maiwasang may mga taong masama ang maiisip, pero may Panginoon naman na nakakakita kung ano ang tama at totoo.”

Reaffirming her family’s unwavering pursuit of truth, Rovelyn closed with a poignant message of love for her late son—a young man whose brief life left an indelible mark on his family and whose death has sparked a reckoning that extends far beyond the confines of collegiate sports.

“Masakit man na nawala ka, alam ko kung nasaan ka ngayon. Salamat sa mga biyayang binigay mo sa akin. Salamat sa mga oportunidad na binigay mo kahit wala ka na. Pero hindi ako masaya sa ganito kasi hindi dugot pawis namin ito. Ang pangarap natin noon ay makatapos kayo ng pag-aaral at maiahon natin ang pamilya sa kahirapan sa sarili nating sikap,” said Rovelyn.

“Gusto kong sabihin sa iba na yung respetong ipinakita ng anak ko, ‘yun ang ipagpatuloy nila. Mahirap ka man o mayaman, ‘pag may respeto ka sa kapwa tao mo, makikilala ka talaga sa buong mundo.”

BLUE EAGLES SET TO FLY

Ateneo, it seems, is already eager to close the curtains and move on from one of the most tragic chapters in its illustrious history.

In a short statement released last Friday, the Katipunan-based school welcomed the UAAP’s decision to allow its varsity teams to compete in Season 89, referring to the move as the dawn of a “new chapter” and urging members of its community to support its teams across the league’s various events.

“As we begin this new chapter, we remember Divine Adili and Rene Clert ‘Bobet’ Baterbonia with gratitude and continue to pray for their families and their loved ones,” read the statement.

“We invite the entire Ateneo community to stand together as One Ateneo in supporting our Blue Eagles across all varsity as they continue their journey of healing, growth, resilience, excellence, and formation.”

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