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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Whenever they are ready': Ateneo makes public appeal to meet Rene Baterbonia's family

'Whenever they are ready': Ateneo makes public appeal to meet Rene Baterbonia's family

Published Aug 11, 2026 12:15 pm

At A Glance

  • ADMU said it was "heartbreaking" to see the deep pain and loss the Baterbonia family continues to endure following the deaths of Rene and Divine Adili on June 8.
  • "We take this opportunity to reach out once again to the Baterbonia family, this time publicly, in the hope that we can finally sit down with them again, listen to them, provide the answers we can, and extend whatever care or support they may need," the university said in a statement on Aug. 10.
Rene Baterbonia Facebook post
Rene Baterbonia Facebook post
The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) has made a public appeal to meet again with the family of late basketball player Rene Baterbonia following a recent podcast interview by his mother, Rovelyn.
In a statement issued Monday, Aug. 10, ADMU said it was “heartbreaking” to see the deep pain and loss the Baterbonia family continues to endure following the deaths of Rene and Divine Adili on June 8.
The university said it had continued efforts to support the Baterbonia and Adili families and their loved ones, much of which was done quietly out of respect for their privacy and their need to grieve.
“We have made every earnest effort to remain in touch with both the Baterbonia and Adili families, while respecting the wishes and circumstances of each family, and continue to do so to this day,” ADMU said.
At Rene’s wake in Manila, University President Fr. Bobby Yap personally met with Mrs. Baterbonia to offer his condolences and apologies, pray with her, offer Holy Mass, and assure her that the university was ready to extend whatever help the family needed.
Yap visited the wake several times, while other members of the Ateneo community also conveyed the university’s offer of support to the family on different occasions, ADMU said.
Following the wake at Ateneo de Davao University, the Baterbonia family brought Rene home to Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, where his wake continued.
In the weeks that followed, the family asked the university to give them the space they needed as they prepared for the commemoration of the 40th day of Rene’s death.
“We respected their request,” ADMU said.
The university said it had since repeated its request to meet with the Baterbonia family but had not yet been given a chance to do so.
ADMU said it was now making the appeal publicly in the hope that it could sit down with the family again, listen to them, provide the answers it could, and extend whatever care or support they may need.
“We take this opportunity to reach out once again to the Baterbonia family, this time publicly, in the hope that we can finally sit down with them again, listen to them, provide the answers we can, and extend whatever care or support they may need,” the university said.
“We remain here for them, whenever they are ready,” it added.

Related Tags

RENE BATERBONIA ADMU ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY DIVINE ADILI
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