Mga magulang ni Rene “Bobet” Baterbonia, nagsalita na! | Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Podcast

The day you hugged Bobet so tight.Why was it so tight?

I hugged him, ma 'am, because I thought he'd be home for a long time.That's why.I'll miss that, ma 'am.I hugged him until December, because we were going to meet again in December.So it's been 6 months since you hugged him?

Yes.

That's why it's so tight.Yes.I brought all my children and my husband, because I was the only one there.I brought them so that I can hug all of his siblings.

Ma 'am, is it true that someone donated P1M to her jersey?

Yes, ma 'am.Someone really sold it.Then they said, I'll buy her jersey for P1M.So I said, I don't want it.Even if it's P1M, I won't give it to her because all of her jerseys, ma 'am, that will become MVP and Mythical 5 Champions, she's giving them to me.But the others, she's giving them to others.

But the memorables, ma 'am, are really with me.

What do you miss the most?

The memories, ma 'am, when we were together.When we were playing, I didn't hear anything.I was like, shit, Beth!When I played with Bobet, I was also one of the number one fans.I really screamed.

Coach Baldwin is asking for forgiveness.He televised the apology and the ateneo.What is your answer to that?

Sorry and forgiveness is not enough, ma 'am.That's not what we need.What we need is a sorry that has compassion and truth.

Message to Bobet.Is there anything you want to say to Bobet?

If I have something to say to my son, I hope he won't let people sleep.did something to him go to sleep.I hope that wherever he is now, he will bring that spirit of people who have no fear and respect for us, even if it's hard for us.

First of all, thank you so much for this interview.I am so grateful to you.How are you?I'm okay.

I feel like I'm okay too.I can tell myself that I'm okay now.I still have a lot to talk about.I'll leave it for later.

How about you, sir?How are you?

I'm okay, ma 'am.

How are you able to cope with the suddenness of what happened?Of course, you were shocked.You were very sad.And from what you heard, you must have felt different emotions.And of course, you were tired because You moved from Manila to Davao, and now you're here in your town.How did you manage that?

It was hard, ma 'am.But I had to do it.

I had no other choice.I had to do it with the help of other people who were with me.

What were your emotions?Were you shocked?Were you stressed?And when you saw that Bobet's body was so sad, can you tell us how you were able to do all of that?Ma 'am, we weren't able to do all of that until now.

But we were really trying to do it.Because of the people who support us, who are on the lens of showing their concern, not just financially.

What about you, sir?How were you able to do it?

Ma 'am, because a lot of people supported him, we were able to do it because a lot of people love Boobit.

How did you overcome those new emotions?How did you overcome those days when you received the call, right?Then you saw the body.It's unimaginable for a parent like you.How did you overcome when they told you that he's gone?

It was painful for me because we realized that he's gone.I felt like I lost consciousness because I didn't expect that to happen to me.That's when I realized that he was really gone.I felt like I was blaming myself.Why did we agree to go to him?I was just so supportive of him.

I felt like I was blaming myself.I couldn't explain it.I felt like I was blaming myself.I couldn't explain it.I felt like I was blaming myself.I couldn't explain it.

I felt like I was blaming myself.I wouldn't have gone to Manila if I knew that this would happen.

But, sir, don't you think that Bobet is the one?Because you didn't become a professional basketball player, so you were hoping that Bobet would fulfill your dream.Is that true?

That's true, ma 'am.

Then, it's harder for you.This is what happened.What are they saying?to yourself?

Before, I used to play basketball.Until I joined the regional team, I didn't have any dreams because there was no support.There was no financial support.There was no transportation, social media.That's why I was able to reach my original goal.

Did you tell Bobet that you're the one who will continue his dream?

Yes, I told him that he's the one who will continue his dream.

Because he has a good height, right?What did he say when you told him that?

He said, okay, I'll continue my dream.

But is he also interested in playing basketball?

Yes, he's interested.

Does he also like it?

Yes.

But is it harder for you now, the burden, the regret?Because of basketball, is that what you're thinking?Did he go home because of this?Is that what's going through your mind?

Maybe not because of basketball.Maybe it's because of his dreams.life, ma 'am, that we will survive.Maybe that's all.

Because ma 'am said that she's regretting that she shouldn't have continued, that this shouldn't have happened.Is that the same for you?

Because Bube has a dream.Whatever comes to her, she will be able to do it because of her dreams.

Tell us, ma 'am, if you can, araw na may send -off kayo kay Bobet.Ang ganda ko kasi nung video noon eh nakita namin yung ang higpit po nung yakapan niyo.

That day, she told me, Ma, my flight is on June 4.I was given a ticket.Then I said, is that so?It's so easy.I hope it's just for one week so I can be with you.He said, that's okay because the game is about to start and we're going to train.

I said, okay, I don't have a problem.As long as you're happy, as long as you're able to support each other.Until we arrived in Davao, they still banded for 10 minutes.10 minutes for the 2025 and 2026 games.They all banded together, they took a bath.I'm still mad at him because he came home early.

He came home 10 minutes early.

And then when he got home, I told him to go home now.The day you hugged Bobet so tightly, why was it so tight?Did you feel like it was the last time?No, ma 'am.

I hugged him because I felt like he had a long way to go.He had a long way to go because It's not like here in Davao.If he has time, he'll be home in a month.If he says, Ma, we can't go in, I can tell the coach that I'm not training, I'm going home.I'll miss that, Ma 'am.I hugged him until December, because we were going to meet again in December.

So you hugged him for six months, that's why it was so tight.

Yes.I brought all my children and my husband, because I was the only one there.I brought them so that I can hug all of his siblings.

You hugged all the people who wanted to hug him?Yes.

He said, Ma, don't talk to me.Just give me a ballpoint pen.Why?He said, I went to Manila because we were selling t -shirts.There was a t -shirt that hadn't been printed yet.It was small, maybe three or four.

He said, I'll give you this as a sign.He said, I'll give you a form.You have to make this so you can hang it on the t -shirt.

Until he arrived here in Manila.I saw a picture of you making a kitchen.Tell us about that, ma 'am.

The kitchen, ma 'am, is one of the things that we need to fill up our kitchen.Because our income is really lacking inside the house.So we need to make another income to fill that up.So I told her, this is how you do it.There's someone who knows you.What if your jerseys, your pictures, you sign them and we can make feeds and we can sell them there.

What if, I told him, I don't want to fish anymore.I told him, because fishing is in the early morning.I went to the market, and when I got home, it was already night, and I couldn't reach my other children.So I said, if this one clicks, I'll stay here.Because I was the only one in the house, I took care of your brother, and I also did some income.He said, okay, Ma.

That's why I posted, he shared.

I didn't think that in just one day, we would have this many posts.And the next day, we had 100 posts.Wow.I really hoped that would continue.Then I made another 40 pieces to dispose of, but I haven't disposed of them yet.I don't know if someone sent me a request to pay them.

I haven't posted that we have another case.I don't know who paid for it, I haven't sent it yet.But I sent the 100 pesos first.

I saw the K -chain, it's like she's the one signing it.

Yes, ma 'am.

How much is the K -chain?The K -chain, ma 'am, we only sell it for 50 pesos.Ah, okay.How's Bobet with his popularity?

He's not that popular.

But a lot of people buy his merch.

Yes, but for us, If you ask him, he's not famous.

Oh, really?

If you ask him, he's not famous.

He said, he only met me because of basketball, but I'm not famous.He doesn't feel famous.No, he doesn't.He's not that young, Bobet.What kind of a son is he, dad?What kind of a son is Bobet?

Ah, Bobet?He's really kind, Bobet.If you ask him to do this and that, he'll do it.There's no problem.She's such a kind child.

Ma 'am, what kind of child is Bobet to you?All of my children, ma 'am, I can say that they're perfect.Perfect?You can't say anything about them?

I can't say anything about any of my children.Though, I have small children.It's normal for us to scold them because they're naughty.

They have five brothers, two boys and two girls, but they never gave me a problem.I saw a picture of him with his back turned.dun sa inyong puestos a pali.Does she help you sell?Yes, ma 'am.

When they come home, they have their own rules.We have our own rules inside the house.When they come to us, no one sits down.As long as there's work, we'll work.When I say, hey, we're the only ones who sell fish in the market, because what we sell, ma 'am, is sometimes a lot, sometimes not.We didn't have any.

So we were stuck there.We didn't have any estimated supply.For three months, we didn't have any.For three months, we had a lot.But we couldn't sell because there were a lot of vendors.So when he came here, when he got to know us, he said, let's really sell.

They were like that.He said, Ma, you can ask for money.I said, if you ask for money, you'll get something in return, right?I said, yes.So you have to keep an eye on the marketplace.Keep an eye on it.

It's just going to take a while.But it's really just a load, ma 'am.

It's just for loading?Yes, it's not for anything.

My children are not demanding.They don't complain as long as there's something to wear.But sometimes, there are people who are really nice.They give us slippers, they give us things.That's new for them.

My children, at some point, I feel ashamed, especially when it comes to women.I don't want to sell.Bobet, he doesn't...

He doesn't feel ashamed.

He doesn't feel ashamed.He really helps us in the market.

He really helps.Because I said, the dead people aren't ashamed.The ones who stole, they're not ashamed.They can do it.They're brave.They can do it.

That's what I always say.Even when he became famous in the market,

he still help sell fish?Yes, he said that he wanted to sell fish.

Then he said, Ma, don't do it because if I'm there, I won't be able to get a lot of pictures.

That's all he said.

He wanted to help but he said, just hide it.Because people don't really go there to take pictures.So he's a bit shy.

But when it comes to selling, he's not shy.You said that what you miss the most about him is when he calls you Pa.That's what you miss.How does he say it?

When he calls us Pa, that's what I really miss about him.He doesn't call me Pa anymore.Galing kay Bobet.

Ano pong pinaka -mamimiss niyo ho sa kanya?Nasabi na po ni papa eh, kayo po.Ano pong pinaka -mamimiss niyo?

Yung mga memories, ma 'am, na magkasama kami.Yung maglalaro na parang wala na kong tinig na, shit, Bet!

Ganun.Ano nilalaro honin niyo?

Wala akong nilalaro, ma 'am.Pag maglaro kasi sa Bobet is isa din rin ako number one fans.

As a basketball?

Sigaw na talaga ako ng sigaw, ganyan.

Ah, that's what you'll miss, watching him play basketball until you lose your voice.You guys are his cheerleaders.

Yes, and the referees didn't see the fouls.We, the parents, would fight with the referees.Why is it like that?I hope it's fair.You would fight with the referees?Yes, especially when he plays a game where He gave it to her, and even though the referee saw it, it was a foul.

right?I really thought that we were the ones who did it.But he didn't like it.He said that sometimes he gets mad at me because he says things like that.

He's the one who's apologizing to you?So you're the one who's scolding the referee.What do you say to the referee?

You know, you think that we didn't see it.We saw it and we thought it was fair.

Ma 'am, is it true that someone gave 1 million to her jersey?

Yes, Ma 'am.Tell us about it, Ma 'am.Ma 'am, when someone really sold it, they said, I'll buy her jersey for 1 million.So I said, I don't want it.Even if it's a few million, I won't give it to her.All of his jerseys, ma 'am, that he won MVP and the Medical Five Championship, he gave them to me.

But the others, he gave them to others.But the memorabilia, ma 'am, are really with me. I heard from his grandparents, when I interviewed our team last week, that some of the jerseys he wore were not even washed.

He used to call them that because, ma 'am, my mother and his brother, a woman, that's the husband.Like my aunt.Of course, I can say my grandfather because he's really my grandson.I'm his niece.That's how it is.

They don't have the same jersey?Yes, ma 'am.So what do you smell?

Maybe that.Maybe, ma 'am, he has something else there.This one, like this.This one, ma 'am.Is this his?And he also has a coat.

He also has a coat there, ma 'am.I don't know.people to comment that I want to buy 1 million.So wherever I go, I bring them with me. I don't want to be left alone.I don't dream of 1 million.It's a memory of my child.

I won't be able to go back.

When did you see Bobet's potential to play basketball?I think it was in 12th grade.

What grade was he in?

He was in 6th grade.

He started playing in 6th grade.

Because he's also tall.Yes.When did he get his height?You're both tall.I left him.Where?

What did you feed him?Laot, ma 'am.What's laot?Laot.What's laot?

Bigas na giniling na mais.

Ah, yung mais!Yun ho ang bigas ninyo.

Kasi hindi ako makabili ng gatas, yan, i -laot, tapos lagay doon sa didi, ilagyan ng asaw para yun na madili na nila.

Akala ko margarine, pero laot.Ano pa ho, ano pa ho yung mga nakakatuwa na maalala ho tungkol kay Bobet?Ano pa ho yung mga gusong -gusong yung maalala sa kanya?

Pag mapira yun, magsasabi yun sa akin, Ma, anong gusto mo?Sabi ko nga, He said, I don't have any money.He said, I have some.I said, where do you want to go?He said, I'll just go live.I already have money.

He said, if you go live, you can be a senior star.You can date him.Then he said, let's go shopping.If it's just the two of us, he'll buy pizza.What flavor do you want, Ma?Just you.

Pizza, please.And then, he'll also say, Ma, I'll send it to Agusan because of my siblings.

And then, you told me that when he wasn't able to join the game, he would dunk.then he went to the ring.After that, did Ateneo transfer him there?No, ma 'am.

He just played here in our Governor's Cup.From Puroc to Barangay, to Municipality, to Governor's Cup.It was really a marriage.

Before he played?Before he played?He didn't play yet.He didn't play yet, okay.

When he played in the Governor's Cup, Tanan was the All -Star MVP.Everyone played, North and South.They were the champions there.I think it was North.Was it North or South?

My All -Star MVP?I mean, my All -Star game, ma 'am.He was the MVP.

Yes.He was scouted by Ateneo Di Dabao.But before, he studied in Amsai, ma 'am.The scout of Ateneo Dabao, but he said, where can we find a child like this?Where can we find this?Where are the parents of this?

So what they saw in the force, they really went here to Agusan.

I talked to you.

What did he say to you?He said, Ma 'am, do you want your son to be placed here in Tiliud, Dabao?My dorm and allowance.I said, I'm not going to talk like that because we still have a meeting.It's not just the two of us having a meeting.He has siblings, then my children.

I'm still getting their respect.I said, let's do it.Maybe we can make a decision like that.Because ma 'am, there are a lot of schools that want to enroll.

Like 30 schools.So you're very proud, right?Yes, ma 'am.

Very proud.But we don't show it to other people.It's just us.Because we don't want it to be like that.We don't want that.

But how do you feel about that?Of course, it's up to you.like you were in a cave.

Yes, because not all people are like us, right?Especially in our difficult life.

We were the only ones who were able to enter.

So I said, just stay in Tinibet because your brother is with you.Because when you're in Manila, the offer is big, but your brother is back here in Busan, he can't train.He said, okay Ma, I'll just stay in Ateneo, we'll go together.

Ateneo in Davao?

Yes.But Ateneo also transferred him to Manila.How was the decision made there?

Because the one who taught him in Davao was the one who talked to Ateneo in Manila.until I told them, you know, because they're really kind.They're like my own children.That's why I said, just you, as long as I can say that my son is safe, safe, and so on.Because we didn't expect that to happen.

So you have a son in Davao who is studying?Yes, he has one.He's also playing basketball?Yes, 14 years old.So all of your children are basketball players?My three children are basketball players.

One of them, my eldest, is a basketball player.I'm an archery player.Oh, archery.So your children are all athletic.Yes.Because of poverty, you need to have talent to study.

Girlfriend.Can I ask that?

Does Bobet have a girlfriend?He used to have a girlfriend.But when he came home, I told him, I told you to play basketball and study.Because girls will come to him too.I told him that he will really attract them.I didn't know, ma 'am, that a few months, a few days later, they were gone.

Then my friends told me.Maybe she became his girlfriend or something.I don't know.Maybe to him, it's just this, because there's nothing here.Mama won't get mad.It's far away.

He didn't tell you that?His girlfriend?He told me, ma 'am.What did he say?

He talked to her, but she doesn't like English.Then he will be the one to interpret.Then he will transfer our words to him.

You might have watched the press statements of Father Robert Yap, the president of Ateneo de Manila University in Manila.Did you also read the interviews of some of the players, Bobet's teammates?They already told their story because you asked me what really happened.Now, the details are coming out.Do you read it?Do you watch it?

No, ma 'am.Since the death of my son, I don't want to look at Facebook.We don't look at Facebook.We don't read anything.Even social media, nothing.I don't want to confuse our minds because we're still here.

We're still with our son.I don't want to hear that, that, that.I don't want that.Because the other players are already telling what happened.I left it, ma 'am.I still don't know if they told the truth or not.

I haven't proven it yet.As for us, we didn't think about it first.We were here for a while.recovery.

Thank you.

In the end, we'll just be here with him.

Ma 'am, do you have anything to say to your teammates, coach, and Ateneo in Manila?Do you have a message for them?

If I have a message for them, Ma 'am, thank you for accepting my son in Ateneo de Manila.And then, if...That's how it happened.I can't do anything about it.I hope they can tell the truth before the child dies.I hope everyone will be aware of what really happened.

That's all, ma 'am.You don't have anything to ask them?I don't need to ask them, ma 'am.Because if you're a true person, you don't need to ask anymore.Just speak up in front of us.I don't know who in our family to go to if they have something to say to me. I can't let that happen.

If you're really concerned, if you're a person, you should be concerned.If you don't want to reach out to your friends, you should really direct them.

That's all.Sir, the PNP and CIDG said yesterday, I don't know if you heard about it.

We didn't.

They said it wasn't an accident.They said someone should be responsible.What is your reaction to that?

I don't think it was an accident.It was just water.

You don't believe that it was an accident?We'll just leave it up to the investigation, ma 'am.The PNP said it wasn't an accident.

I left it, ma 'am, because we're not watching it now.That's what I've been saying.Some people have told us that it wasn't an accident.I said, it's up to God.If it's true, the truth will come out.But if I comment on those words, we won't do it.

We'll just leave it to God.

Let's go to Sir.Sir, I asked Coach Baldwin for forgiveness.He televised an apology and also Athenaeo.What is your response to that?What is your response to that?

Until now, I haven't made a decision.I haven't watched the apology yet.You don't want to watch it.

They asked for forgiveness from you and from everyone.It's not enough, ma 'am.Sorry and forgiveness.It's not enough, ma 'am.That's not what we need.What we need is forgiveness.

Sorry na may malasakit at katotohanan.

Sabi po ng Ateneo, bibigay daw nila lahat ng maitutulong nila sa inyo.

Okay naman po yun, ma 'am.Pero hindi naman yun din sapat.Lahat ng tulong na ibigay naman po, kumbaga.Pero sa dibdib mo, at sa lalo na sa amin, mag -asawa, hindi yun sapat sa amin.

Kahit anong bagay naman, ma 'am, hindi mo yun mapapalitan.

Ang gwapo ng anak ko, tapos papalitan mo lang ng bagay na ganyan.I don't have anything materialistic to say.We don't need that because we're used to poverty.We're just used to being sorry, to be honest, and to stand up for ourselves.Like us, ma 'am, we're just poor, but we're rich in respect.That's all we're looking for, respect.

I hope they understand that.Because if we don't have respect, there won't be a lot of people who will listen to us.The respect that I gave to my children, they also gave it to me.That's why, no matter where they go, they come here because of respect.If they heard this now, what I'm really looking for is respect.Respect that brings truth.

Message to Bobet, is there anything you want to say?to Bobet?

Nothing can be taken away from us.

I also want to tell you something.For Bobet?Yes.

For my son, my daughter, and all of us who are here today, we are here to pray for you.We are here to pray for you.We will take care of you.We are here to pray for you.We are here to pray for you.We are here to pray for you.

very much.I'm sorry for bothering you again.

Thank you.