BB Gandanghari attends Ateneo rookie Rene Baterbonia memorial

Former actor-turned-director BB Gandanghari traveled to Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, to attend the 40-day memorial for late Ateneo de Manila University basketball player Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia last July 17.

BB was among the friends and guests who gathered to remember the student-athlete, whose promising life was cut short in a drowning accident.

Senator and actor Robin Padilla, who had earlier visited Bobet’s wake, shared photos from the memorial on Facebook. The photos showed Gandanghari and her sister-in-law, Mariel Rodriguez, alongside members of Baterbonia’s family.

The Municipality of Talacogon likewise documented the gathering through photos and a video, showing Gandanghari, Mariel, and other guests who came to honor Bobet and offer their condolences to his loved ones. 

BB also met the basketball player’s parents and relatives in person. She had mentioned wanting to meeting Bobet’s parents during her appearance on “Fast Talk.” She said her brother, Robin, was the first to visit the wake and later told her that he would be attending the burial.

“Sabi ko, sasama ako. Sasama ako kasi gusto kong makiramay talaga kasi naiintindihan ko iyong sakit nung nawala sa pamilya, sa ina. Nagpunta kami and then doon ko nameet ng personal si Mommy at Daddy, ayun ang tawag ko sa kanila,” she recalled.

“Sa pagyakap ko sa kanila, naramdaman ko iyong sobrang hinagpis ba. I can’t, kung ako iyon, parang mahihirapan [ako] baka ikaloka ko,” she said. BB also took to social media to share photos and videos from the memorial.

“It is deep respect and honor that I get to wear your jersey, even just for a day. We will not forget,” she wrote in one of her posts.

BB has since returned to Talacogon and spending time with people in the community. Her continued connection to Talacogon comes as preparations continue for a planned biographical film about Bobet, which she has expressed interest in directing.

She previously hinted that casting for the project was already being prepared.

“The Search is ON…. Who will be? Mommy Rovelyn, Daddy Rene and BOBET! Abangan,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

BB said Bobet represented a promising young life and a dream that was tragically left unfulfilled. She previously described his story as a “shattered dream” and emphasized the great potential he could have achieved if the tragedy had not happened.

Bobet and his teammate, Nigerian Divine Adili, died by drowning on June 8 during an Ateneo men’s basketball team activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. 

Their deaths shocked the basketball community and the public, prompting several personalities, including actress Claudine Barretto, to visit Bobet’s wake in Manila.