Camille Naredo

A tribute to Rene Baterbonia at the Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution in Davao City, June 14, 2026. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Rene Baterbonia

Hernel Tocmo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781437778203IMG_2931.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A tribute to Rene Baterbonia at the Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution in Davao City, June 14, 2026. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN NewsA tribute to Rene Baterbonia at the Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution in Davao City, June 14, 2026. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A tribute to Rene Baterbonia at the Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution in Davao City, June 14, 2026. <em>Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>DAVAO -- All the way from Agusan del Sur, Rene Clert Baterbonia and his parents traveled more than a hundred kilometers to Davao City in 2022 in the hopes of continuing his education through his talent in sports.</p><p>Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution (AMSAI) in Barangay Cabantian was among the first schools to believe in Rene Clert&#x27;s potential and offered him a full scholarship, despite having been turned down by several schools at the time.</p><p>The former beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) spent his junior high school years at the institution.</p><p>Tara Janelle Estrada, the school&#x27;s sports coordinator, said that when Rene Clert first began training in basketball, some of his teammates were more skilled than he was. However, through perseverance and dedication, he steadily improved and eventually excelled in the sport.</p><p>The large stone now placed beneath the memorial tarpaulins bearing his photos once served as Rene Clert&#x27;s improvised workout equipment, as there were no weights or barbells available at the school.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/13/in-baterbonia-home-awards-stand-as-reminders-of-rene-s-budding-greatness-1328">READ: In Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s Agusan del Sur home, awards stand as reminders of budding greatness</a></div><p>&quot;Determined talaga siya na bata, marunong siya makinig, tapos very down to earth. He is very good in leadership talaga. Magaling siya sa team. Hindi siya yung lumalaki ang ulo,&quot; Estrada said.</p><p>The 18-year-old Baterbonia <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/8/uaap-ateneo-s-adili-baterbonia-pass-away-in-drowning-incident-1959">passed away in a drowning incident</a> last Monday, June 8, while on a team-building activity with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Dipaculao, Aurora. The incident also claimed the life of his teammate, Nigerian student-athlete Divine Adili.</p><p>Rene Clert lived in the AMSAI dormitory for two years and developed close friendships with his classmates, teammates, and even school employees.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781437874669IMG_2929.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A tribute to Rene Baterbonia at the Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution in Davao City, June 14, 2026. Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A tribute to Rene Baterbonia at the Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution in Davao City, June 14, 2026. <em>Hernel Tocmo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>One of those who became close to him was Judy Alfeche, a school employee, who became emotional as she recalled that the school homecoming in March turned out to be the last time she would see Rene Clert.</p><p>She said that despite receiving an allowance, Rene Clert and some of the other athletes would still go hungry at times because of their demanding training schedules. He would sometimes ask if there was extra rice or food available and share it with his teammates.</p><p>&quot;Yung hindi ko makalimutan is, &#x27;Te, gutom man ko te. Gutom ako ba. Baka may kanin pa diyan. Baka may kanin pa diyan. Baka may ulam pa diyan na pwede namin na pwede namin kainin sa dorm.&#x27; Which is maghingi siya ng pagkain, hindi lang para sa kanya, which is yung sa group ba. Mga small little things lang na makatulong man lang siya sa kapwa varsity,&quot; she recalled.</p><p>At times, Rene Clert would stay in the dormitory and skip trips home to Agusan del Sur, saving part of his allowance so he could send money to his family instead.</p><p>Even after he was recruited to become part of the varsity program at Ateneo de Davao University, he never forgot the school that first opened its doors to him.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/14/ateneo-de-davao-offers-baterbonia-siblings-scholarships-as-kin-seek-answers-from-admu-0843">READ: Ateneo de Davao offers Baterbonia siblings scholarships as kin seek answers from ADMU</a></div><p>&quot;Sobrang nanghihinayang po. May mga plano pa siya na babalikan niya yung AMSAI. Magdo-donate daw siya ng ganito. Marami siyang plano, yung mga kapatid niya, yung bahay nila. Bibilhan niya ng kung ano-ano yung papa niya. Iaahon niya talaga sa hirap yung family niya. Iba yung goal niya. Iba yung nasa isip niya. Sa family yung purpose niya,&quot; Estrada said.</p><p>Rene Clert&#x27;s remains will be transported to his hometown of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, on Monday and will be laid to rest on June 24.</p><div><br/></div><p><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong>:</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FEYRs7qDR2E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>All the way from Agusan del Sur, Rene Clert Baterbonia and his parents traveled more than a hundred kilometers to Davao City in 2022 in the hopes of continuing his education through his talent in sports.</p>

All the way from Agusan del Sur, Rene Clert Baterbonia and his parents traveled more than a hundred kilometers to Davao City in 2022 in the hopes of continuing his education through his talent in sports.

'Determined and humble': Davao school that first believed in Rene Baterbonia pays tribute

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'Determined and humble': Davao school that first believed in Rene Baterbonia pays tribute

Hernel Tocmo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 14, 2026 07:52 PM PHT

Read More:

Rene Clert Baterbonia

Rene Baterbonia

Ateneo de Manila University

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Tab Baldwin

Ananda Marga Special Academic Institution

Davao

Agusan del Sur

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