Ateneo de Davao offers scholarships for 6 Baterbonia siblings

AdDU president Fr. Karel San Juan condoles with Rovelyn Baterbonia during Friday’s Holy Mass. ADDU PHOTO

DAVAO CITY – Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) on Saturday has offered scholarship for all six siblings of Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia.

Fr. Karel San Juan, AdDU president, made the announcement after the 6 p.m. mass inside the Christ the King Chapel of Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School – Bangkal Campus.

READ: Baterbonia’s mother questions ‘accident’ claim in son’s death

“Matutupad na ang isa sa mga pangarap ni Bobet [One of Bobet’s long-held dreams is finally becoming a reality]” San Juan said, drawing a hearty applause from the crowd.

San Juan noted that this was the very aspiration that brought Baterbonia to Manila in hopes of making it big in the country’s premier sports.

During his homily, Fr. Eric Anthony Escandor, who presided the mass, said Bobet’s love is the deepest reason why he strive.

Mourners line up to pay their respects to Rene Baterbonia. JOSELLE R. BADILLA

“Bobet lived the maxim ‘mens sana in corpore sano,’ sound mind in a sound body in his own beautiful and unmistakably unique way,” Escandor said.

Academics “were not Bobet’s strong suit” with his teachers always catching him dozing off during classes, Escandor said.

“But when he enters the basketball court, he transforms. Bobet was a young man whose mind came fully alive the moment a basketball was in his hand,” Escandor added.

Escandor invited the congregation not only to mourn Baterbonia’s death but also be grateful for his life.

“And he lived in a way that touched many lives. That is what we celebrate tonight,” Escandor said.

Amid the rains early on Saturday, mourners still trooped to AdDU’s Bangkal campus to pay their respect’s to Baterbonia. /jpv