A seller of Japanese goods is donating part of its profits to the family of the late Atenean recruit Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia.
Tokyo Treasures, which claims to sell authentic, high-quality goods sourced from Japan, announced it is giving P500 for every watch sold in June to the Baterbonia family as they cope with the aftermath of their son’s death.
The business said it is their “small gesture of support for his family,” lamenting Baterbonia’s death, whom they said was a “young athlete with a bright future.”
“Whether it’s a Seiko, Grand Seiko, G-Shock, Citizen, or any watch from our collection, a portion of every successful sale will go directly to Rene’s family,” the shop said in an announcement on Thursday, June 11.
“This is not a marketing campaign. This is simply our way of giving back and extending help during a difficult time,” the business added.
The business also defended its initiative in the comments section, saying it was not “milking” Baterbonia’s death for profit.
“Hindi namin ‘pinagkakakitaan’ ‘yung pagkamatay ng bata. We were already selling watches before this happened, and we will continue selling watches after. The difference now is that part of our earnings will go directly to Rene’s family to help during a difficult time,” it said.
“Fundraising through businesses has existed for YEARS. Restaurants, brands, sports teams, and even international companies do donation drives tied to sales because it helps raise bigger amounts using their platform and audience. Hindi porket business ‘yung tumutulong, ‘marketing strategy’ agad,” it added.
“If helping while using our reach means more support for Rene’s family, then we’d rather do that than stay silent. At the end of the day, may totoong pamilya at tao kaming gustong matulungan,” the business said.
The shop also shared screenshots of its GCash transactions with Rovelyn Baterbonia, Rene’s mother, as proof that the donations had been sent.
Rene was a basketball standout from Agusan del Sur who was set to make his debut for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 89.
Reports said the drowning incident happened less than a week after he moved to Ateneo’s Katipunan campus in Quezon City.
He was among the student-athletes who lost their lives in a drowning incident during a school-sanctioned team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora led by Ateneo Blue Eagle head coach Tab Baldwin.
Rene had just celebrated his 18th birthday exactly one month before the incident on June 8.
Another student who died in the incident was Divine Adili, a 21-year-old Nigerian student-athlete.