Jan Angelo Batongbakal

EXCLUSIVE: Macky Peligrino vows to carry on Rene Baterbonia’s dream: ‘Ako na ang bahalang umabot ng pangarap mo’

Article (news)

Jemuel Tandoc

Push Team

Student-athlete Macky Peligrino honored Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s legacy as the nation mourns the untimely passing of his friend and former teammate.In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PUSH ABS-CBN</a>, Macky recalled how their friendship began and the bond they shared on and off the court. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782225402819ebfd1a80-e112-41fa-81b3-c2bd361e26e7.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Courtesy: Macky Peligrino</div><div> </div>“Makulit kasi ako na tao saka gusto kong may kausap palagi. Yun, kinukulit ko siya masyado. Kapag nasa room siya, pinupuntahan ko siya, tas kinakausap ko lang palagi, tas dun, nag-close kami,” Macky recalled.He also shared some things people may not have known about his dearest friend, offering a glimpse of the person Rene was beyond the basketball court.“Mahilig siya matulog, tulog siya palagi. Mahilig siya maglakad-lakad, walking-walking lang. Parang adventure-adventure lang para sa kanya. Para pampawala bored dito sa dorm. Saka magaling siya magluto. Tapos kapag magluto siya, kahit lahat na may pagawa sa kanya, okay lang sa kanya. Basta pagluluto yung pag-usapan,” he said.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17822255573388f336d23-717a-4bde-a4ef-387396de69ed.jpeg" style="width:660px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="660"/>Courtesy: Macky Peligrino</div><div> </div>Macky also revealed Rene&#x27;s favorite dish to cook. “Marunong siya magluto ng adobo. Minsan, kaya magaling siya mag-gawa-gawa, imbento ng pagkain. Gusto niya palagi yung pagkain niya mainit. Tapos, pag pinainit niya… marami siyang gagawin.”The student-athlete even shared that Rene did love sharing horror stories.“Palagi niyang kinukuwento sa amin yung bahay nila saka yung mga aswang sa lugar niya. Saka yung mga multo. Yung always na nakakailabot sa amin yung nag-jogging daw siya meron siyang nakitang nakayuko na batang hindi makikita yung mukha,” he shared. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782225654018f13d1dcb-bc24-4d1f-a499-ed4affb9e312.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Courtesy: Macky Peligrino</div><div> </div>But beyond the memories he shared, Macky described Rene as a genuinely kind-hearted person who always made others feel valued and cared for.“Masaya ako na nakasama ko ang katulad niya kasi papayag lang siya na hindi siya papasahan ng bola. Hindi siya magagalit. Pag pagalitan mo, okay lang sa kanya. Babawi siya sa next. Saka magaling siya mag-motivate ng teammate niya. Talagang hindi siya nagsusungit kung wala sa kanya yung highlight ng laro. Gusto niya lang talaga manalo. Yung kumpiyansa niya umaapaw pa rin na kaya niya yun, na kayang-kaya yan. Yung mga mahirap na abutin para sa kanya, kaya niyang abutin,” Macky shared.Macky also looked back on the 14th ASEAN School Games in Brunei, when he was sidelined by injury, and how Rene supported and encouraged him throughout the tournament. “Palagi siyang pumupunta sa akin. Sinasabihan ako na, binibigay niya yung laro para sa akin. Gusto niyang panaluhin para sa akin. Tapos sabihan niya ako na okay lang yan. Meron pa sa susunod yan. Parang pinapataas niya yung kontensa ko pa rin kahit na gano&#x27;n yung sitwasyon.” <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17822257027781d6dd677-afaf-458f-bedf-5ce0a59280d1.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Courtesy: Macky Peligrino</div> Despite Rene earning the MVP moniker after their Palarong Pambansa win, Macky shared that his former teammate stayed grounded and never let the recognition go to his head.“Tinatanggap niya lang. Tsaka kapag tumatanong ako sa kanya na paano niya naha-handle yon sabi niya lang sa amin na wala, normal lang. Parang huwag ka daw magpadala sa emotion mo. Dapat normal ka lang na tao,” he explained.He also looked back on how Rene was determined to lift his family out of poverty and how he managed financial difficulties as a student.“Gusto niya na makamit namin yung mga pangarap namin na sabay ganon. Saka (sinasabi niya) yung maiahon ang pamilya niya sa kahirapan. Kami dito sa dorm, matipid kami kapag yung mga gala pero kapag pagkain, hindi siya matipid sa pagkain,” he shared.Macky said Rene was full of hope and dreams for the future, often sharing his desire to get into his dream school and pursue a better life.“First pa lang, nagsabi na talaga siya na yung pangarap niya na school, Ateneo de Manila University. Tapos kapag kukunin daw siya doon, gagawin niya daw lahat para lang na magustuhan siya, tsaka makamit niya yung mga pangarap niya na maging pro player,” he said,The student-athlete also remembered the last time he was with Rene, a memory that now carries deeper meaning as he looks back on their time together.“Last meeting namin yung kina Father JBoy (Gonzales) para sabihin namin na congrats sa nakamit namin. Sinabihan kami na mag-iingat, gano&#x27;n. Saka last na contact ko sa kanya is nasa bus na siya patungong Aurora. Sabi niya sa akin na, pag pumunta ka na dito, pre, pakita ko dorm namin dito kasi dito na ako titira, hindi na ako dyan sa bahay natin,” he recalled.Upon learning the tragic news of his passing, Macky said he could hardly believe it.“Nag-gym kami nun kasi pinapunta kami kasi may tryout yun. Masarap pa ng bonding namin ng mga kasama ko tapos, pumunta si Coach Jess (Evangelio). Tapos, parang hindi rin makapaniwala na sinabihan siya ng coach ni Rene na nalunod daw, tapos unconscious daw. So kami, parang hindi kami makapaniwala kasi napakagaling yung lumangoy. Gusto niya, gusto niya nga pag nasa tubig kami, maglaro kami ganon. Tapos yun, ilang oras ang lumipas. Bumalik si Coach Jess, umiiyak. Tapos sabi niya, wala na daw si Bobet. Tapos ako, si Rysus (Bejenting) at si JM (Sanoria) parang hindi talaga makapaniwala. Walang luha na lumabas. Parang masikip lang sa dibdib. Kaya yung utak namin na, ha? Si Rene? Namatay? Parang ganun ba? Shocked na shocked talaga kami nun,” he expressed.He added that he knew Rene was a good swimmer:  “Marunong talaga siyang lumangoy. Yung hindi niya lang alam sa tubig is yung dive. Pero pag sa langoy, magaling talaga yung maglangoy.”Macky recalled the moment he came to terms with Rene’s passing, when it finally became real to him that his friend was gone forever.“Yung first kita ko sa kanya sa Ateneo de Davao, yung nasa kabaong na siya, doon ko pa nasabi na patay na talaga siya,” he said.He went on to express how heartbreaking it was, recalling Rene’s dream of helping his family, and how painful it felt that he was no longer around as those opportunities began to arrive.“Gusto niyang iahon yung pamilya niya. Naiahon niya pero wala na siya. So para sa akin, kaibigan niya na alam yung mga pangarap niya, gagawin ko lahat para na makamit niya. Baka siguro mas sasaya siya doon sa taas na makita niya kami,” he shared. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178222576921942185ec5-c214-4bd8-875c-bffca1804103.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Courtesy: Macky Peligrino</div><div> </div>Macky also shared a heartfelt message for his beloved friend Rene, affectionately known as “Bobet,” thanking him for their friendship and promising to carry on his memory.“Bet, kung naririnig mo ito, ang mga interview, at kung mga lalabas pang interview sa akin, nagpapasalamat ako na nakilala kita. Hindi ko inakala na dadating ang panahon na mawawala ka sa buhay namin. Kung nasaan ka man ngayon, sana ay gabayan mo ang pamilya mo, sana ay gabayan mo rin kami. Ako na ang bahalang umabot ng pangarap mo,” he expressed.

Student-athlete Macky Peligrino honors Rene Baterbonia's legacy by continuing their shared basketball dream.

Student-athlete Macky Peligrino honors Rene Baterbonia's legacy by continuing their shared basketball dream.