Ateneo de Davao University has offered full scholarships to the six siblings of Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia, one of two students whose deaths recently prompted Jesuits to acknowledge that more could have been done in responding to the tragedy.
In a social media post, the university said its president Fr. Karel S. San Juan, S.J., announced the scholarship grant following a Mass celebrated in honor of Baterbonia on June 13.
The scholarships will cover the siblings’ education from basic education through college, the university said.
“After the Holy Mass held in honor of Rene Clert ‘Bobet’ N. Baterbonia, University President Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ announced that Ateneo de Davao University will be offering full scholarships, from Basic Education to College, to all of Bobet’s siblings,” it said.
The university said the assistance is intended to help fulfill one of Baterbonia’s aspirations for his family.
“This is one small but heartfelt way for the university to contribute to fulfilling one of Bobet’s dreams: a better future for his six siblings,” it added.
The announcement came a day after Jesuit provincial Fr. Xavier Olin said the congregation recognized that “more could have been done” in the way the deaths of Baterbonia and Divine Adili were handled and communicated.
In his June 12 statement, Olin said the Jesuits were listening to the grief and anger expressed by members of the Ateneo community and acknowledged shortcomings in the response to the incident.