Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Robin Padilla met with the family of the late Ateneo student-athlete Rene Baterbonia on Tuesday to discuss a planned film honoring his life and legacy.
In a Facebook livestream, Cayetano said they had lunch with Baterbonia’s family to discuss the film, titled “A Kid with a Big Dream,” which seeks to tell the story of the young athlete and the circumstances surrounding his death.
“Sa mga oras na ito pinipilit pa rin namin, ginagawa pa rin namin ang lahat para mapanood ninyo ang sa pelikula ang buhay ni Rene, itong ‘A kid with a Big Dream’,’” Padilla said in Filipino during the livestream.
Cayetano said Baterbonia’s untimely death made his story about more than the dreams he had hoped to achieve.
“Pagka yung buhay mismo ang kinuha, untimely kinuha, it’s much much more than the dreams,” Cayetano said.
He also shared lessons on perseverance, faith and supporting people experiencing grief.
“One lesson is never give up. God is bigger than our problems,” Cayetano said. He added that when people are grieving, sometimes simply being present with them can make a difference.
Cayetano also urged people offering condolences to avoid adding to the burden of those facing difficulties.
“Kapag makikiramay tayo sa taong may problema, huwag tayo mas maging malaking problema,” he said.
The senator said filming for the project was ongoing and that the movie would portray how Baterbonia, despite his young age, had given his life a greater sense of purpose through his dreams.
The film would also address injustices in society that, Cayetano said, needed to be corrected even after the young athlete’s death.
Rovelyn Baterbonia, Rene’s mother, thanked supporters who had helped the family, including those from Mindanao, Agusan, Davao and Manila, as well as those overseas.
She also expressed gratitude to people who had provided assistance privately.
“Sa lahat-lahat, sa international, maraming salamat. Yung mga taong palihim na tumutulong sa amin, maraming salamat din po,” Rovelyn said.
Meanwhile, at the start of the livestream, Cayetano and Padilla presented a short skit titled “How to Deal with Trouble,” which focused on how people can cope with difficulties and support those going through challenging times.
Baterbonia and his Ateneo teammate, Divine Adili, 21, were swept away by strong sea currents during an offseason team-building and training activity in Dipaculao, Aurora Province.
Initial reports state that two other individuals were rescued, while Baterbonia and Adili were recovered 30 to 40 minutes later and pronounced dead at Aurora Memorial Hospital.
