Ateneo rookie Baterbonia's mother recounts to Toni Gonzaga their last goodbyes

Weeks before he passed away, Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie Rene “Bobet” Baterbonia was captured on video saying goodbye to his mother, Rovelyn, at an airport. It would be the last time mother and son would see each other.

For Rovelyn, the mother of the victim, the video now carries a much heavier weight. What seemed like a simple goodbye as Bobet left for Manila would become the last time she would ever see her son.

“Nung hinatid ko na siya sa airport, umiyak talaga ako,” Rovelyn recalled in an interview with Toni Gonzaga.  She said she had no idea at the time that their embrace would be their last.

“Iyon ang last po naming yakap, sa airport po, patungo siya dito sa Manila.”

Rovelyn said the memory remains difficult to carry. “Hindi mababayaran po iyong lungkot na dala ko.”

Bobet had gone to Manila to pursue his basketball and academic dreams. Before leaving, he also told his mother about an upcoming training in Baler and mentioned that the players would not be allowed to use their cellphones for a week.

Knowing they would have limited communication, Rovelyn planned to keep sending messages to her son. “Iyong cellphone mo, magmi-message lang ako araw-araw sa’yo para pagdating ng Sunday, mababasa mo iyon.”

According to Rovelyn, their last exchange happened on a Saturday. On June 8, she received a call from someone she did not know.

“Ma'am, sorry kasi naaksidente po iyong anak mo.” The caller then told her that Bobet had drowned.

“Naaksidente iyong anak mo, nalunod sa dagat. Namatay po siya.” Rovelyn recalled breaking down after hearing the news.

“Iyak nang iyak na ako dun. Iyong narinig ko po iyong tawag niya. Tapos nung sinabi niya na wala na talaga, nawalan ako ng malay, mga 2-3 hours yata.”

She later saw a post from Ateneo de Manila University confirming her son’s death. Even then, Rovelyn said she struggled to accept that Bobet was gone.

When she eventually saw her son’s body through a video call, she said she still held on to hope that he could be saved. “Umasa ako. Siguro kung tinulungan talaga nila iyong anak ko, talagang 100% mabubuhay pa.”

Rovelyn also recalled the mix of emotions she experienced as she tried to process what had happened. “Pero feeling ko lang parang wala na, hindi nila tinulungan. Parang kailangan ko rin mamatay, magsama kami, ganyan iyong masasabi ko.”

Only days had passed since she last saw Bobet at the airport.“Hindi ako nag-expect na gano'n ang nangyari sa apat na araw lang, ganyan na iyong anak ko.”

She said the shock, anger, and grief became difficult to separate. “Parang nagsasama iyong nerbyos ko, galit ko, lahat parang gano'n. Parang nasabi ko gusto ko samahan siya,” she added.

As she tried to make sense of what had happened, Rovelyn found herself asking questions about her son’s final moments.“Bakit, anong nangyari sa’yo? Bakit pumayag ka na magpunta doon sa tubig?

“Hindi naman nila sinabi na doon magti-training. Hindi nila ako in-inform.”