One of the dreams of the late Rene Baterbonia will continue to live on.
During the Saturday evening Mass held for his wake at the Christ the King Chapel of Ateneo de Davao Senior High School’s Bangkal Campus, Ateneo de Davao University President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ announced that the university will provide full scholarships to all six of Baterbonia’s siblings.
“Gusto ko pong i-announce, bunga ng aking kwentuhan kay Mama (Rovelyn) at Papa (Rene) ngayong hapon, na isa sa mga pangarap ni Bobet ay matutupad — yung pangarap na nagdala sa kanya sa Maynila at iwan ang kanyang pamilya dito sa Davao,” said Fr. San Juan.
“Ang pangarap niya para sa kanyang anim na kapatid ay bibigyan po ng Ateneo de Davao University po ng scholarship.”
The announcement came just days after the tragic death of the 18-year-old Rene, who, together with teammate and Nigerian student-athlete Divine Adili, passed away in a drowning incident in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Rene was a monitored child under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
He first studied at the Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution in Davao City before transferring to Ateneo de Davao University for senior high school.
(C) Rene Baterbonia
His standout performances on the basketball court eventually earned him an athletic scholarship to Ateneo de Manila University, allowing him to pursue both his studies and his athletic aspirations in Manila.
Beyond his personal ambitions, Baterbonia was driven by one motivation — helping secure a better future for his family.
Rene leaves behind six siblings: one older brother, three younger brothers, and two younger sisters.
Fr. San Juan shared that he had initially offered the family the option of sending the children to any Jesuit school they preferred, including institutions outside Davao.
“Handa rin pong tumulong ng ibang Ateneo, tulad ng Xavier University sa Cagayan de Oro. Pero sabi po ni Mama, dito na lang po sa Davao para mas malapit po sa Agusan. Kahit sa’n po gusto nilang pumunta… Kuya, hindi ba sabi ko sa’yo kung gusto mo ng another course after Criminology?” he said.
The family ultimately chose to keep the children in Davao, allowing them to remain close to home.
For Fr. San Juan, the scholarships are a way of ensuring that Baterbonia’s sacrifices for his family continue to make a lasting impact.
“Tuloy lang po natin ang pagdarasal para sa pamilya ni Bobet para ang pangarap ni Bobet para sa kanyang pamilya ay matupad,” said Fr. San Juan.
“Kahit na po sobrang lungkot natin na wala na po siya, pero bubuhayin po natin si Bobet para sa pangarap niya para sa kanyang minamahal.”
Fr. San Juan expressed hope that the entire Ateneo community would continue supporting and praying for the Baterbonia family as they navigate their loss, while helping fulfill the dreams that ‘Bobet’ worked so hard to achieve for those he loved most.
