FAMOUS FUNERAL for “ORDINARY” ONE
“Who says that flowers are only for Princess Diana?”
Davao de Oro, the boundary of Davao Region to Caraga Region (Agusan area), stamped the region’s endless love and tribute to Rene Clert Baterbonia in what could be said as the most famous and the longest funeral travel for non-politician and a non scion or heir of a “wealthy” family to have ever happened in the region and of the entire Mindanao per Pahayagan’s documentation and files.
Davao de Oro folks, and the people of Nabunturan, the capital town, slowed down the funeral travel home for Baterbonia with a throng of fans and supporters who gathered to witness travel and to personally bid goodbye to the basketball icon on June 15, 2026, around 3PM. Baterbonia is a local and resident of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.
Local talent basketball player Rene Clert Baterbonia with another basketball player Divine Adili of Atene de Manila’s Basketball team were reported to have drowned during a team building in Dipaculao, Aurora of Region III, Philippines, on June 8, 2026.
While Adili is a Most Valuable Player being a basketball player of New Era, Baterbonia was also the Most Valuable Player for the 2026 Palarong Pambansa which gained him popularity among the young ones in the country.
Both were born and raised in a simple family where to become an athlete under Ateneo de Manila University is the opportunity to have a better life not only for their own but to their parents and siblings too.
The loss and dissipitation of hopes for Nigerian Adili and Baterbonia’s families stirred frenzy across the country.
“Basketball ang sports ng anak ko, hindi naman swimming,” mother Rovelyn Baterbonia could only say amid tears.
She has just opened an ATM Account because Rene intended to give the 70% of his income to his mother so the entire family will have a breather life.
Rene’s grand father loaned a wide flat screen television with his excitement to witness his grandchild play in Collegiate Athletic Association of 8 Universities in Metro Manila (UAAP).
His father Rene, who had been silent, was a good basketball player during his younger years also.
In the dawn of Independence Day, June 12, 2026, Baterbonia’s body arrived in Davao and had a 4 days wake in Ateneo de Davao (ADDU) High School where he graduated as Grade 12 and where he was honed as Davao Eagles Basketball Player where Davao Region made a history as Palarong Pambansa champion for the first time ever.
“Bubuhayin natin si Bobet sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga pangarap,” Fr. Karel San Juan, Atene de Davao, President said.
The good priest announced that since its Rene whose pet name is Bobet dreamed to alleviate the family from poverty and send all his siblings to school, ADDU would be giving scholarship to all his siblings.
In honor to the good kid, the covered court of ADDU high school is already named after him as RBBCC Rene Bobet Baterbonia Covered Court.
Meanwhile, while the families of Baterbonia and team mate Adili grieved with their supporters and almost everyone in the country, their Coach Tab resigned and the ADMU Team also suspended their participation in a recent tourney.
Baterbonia is set to be buried in June 24 while Adili whose parents could not readily afford to be in the Philippines are still being arranged as of writing this story.
Rene now known as Mr. MVP, is not just a school athlete, he also play in the big courts of Davnor and DavOr competing in basketball leagues of the said areas. (By: EIC Domsy Ramos & Wilfe Garcia/Bureau Chief/ Pahayagan de Oro/some are from De Oro Province)