MANILA, Philippines – The promise was simple yet profound: by June, his mother would no longer have to worry about their family's financial struggles.
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| Rene Baterbonia dreamed of lifting his family out of poverty through basketball, a promise left unfinished after a tragic drowning incident. |
Rovelyn Baterbonia, who continues to mourn the loss of her son, Ateneo de Manila University student-athlete Rene Baterbonia, recently recalled the heartfelt assurance he made before leaving their hometown in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, to pursue his dream of studying and playing basketball for Ateneo.
In an interview with GMA News reporter JP Soriano, Rovelyn shared that the 18-year-old athlete had vowed to help lift their family from hardship through the allowance he would receive as a student-athlete.
She revealed that Rene planned to allocate 70 percent of his allowance to his family while keeping only 30 percent for himself.
According to Rovelyn, her son even accompanied her in opening an ATM account where the financial support would eventually be deposited.
“Pinag-usapan kasi namin, pagdating daw ng June, hindi na ako mamomroblema kasi lahat daw provided na,” Rovelyn said as she recalled their final conversations.
She added that Rene insisted she freely use the money intended for the family because he had no plans of spending his own share.
The memory of that promise has become even more painful for the grieving mother following the tragic death of her son on June 8.
Rene and fellow Ateneo player Divine Adili lost their lives in a drowning incident during a Blue Eagles team-building activity in Aurora.
READ: Ateneo’s Adili, Baterbonia pass away in drowning incident
The tragedy shocked the Philippine basketball community and drew widespread sympathy for the families left behind.
SEE ALSO: Ateneo de Davao grants full scholarships to Rene Baterbonia’s 6 siblings
Rene had been regarded as one of the country's most promising young basketball talents after helping the Davao Region capture its breakthrough championship in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Sur.
He later guided the region to another finals appearance during the succeeding edition hosted by his home province of Agusan del Sur.
As relatives, friends, and supporters pay their final respects during the public viewing of his remains, Rovelyn continues to seek answers about the circumstances surrounding her son's death.
The grieving mother recently rejected the apology issued by resigned Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin as investigations by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continue.
For Rovelyn, the memory of her son's promise to provide a better future now stands as a painful reminder of a life filled with potential that ended far too soon.
— The Summit Express
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