An old video of Ateneo student-athlete Rene Baterbonia signing keychains that his mother would sell gained renewed traction following his untimely passing days after it was recorded.
Before the 18-year-old Ateneo Blue Eagles new recruit went to their school-sanctioned team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, he helped his mother, Rovelyn Baterbonia, sell keychains bearing his signature.
Based on her Facebook post on June 2, she intended to sell the keychains for P50 each.
The keychains featured photos of her son, with his signature on the back.
Rovelyn also went live on Facebook, where she showed Rene signing the keychains.
The Facebook live has since garnered 5.6 million views, 15,700 reactions, 15,000 shares and 4,700 comments.
The live stream saddened Filipinos who looked back on Rovelyn’s posts following the tragic incident.
“Nakakaiyak! Ang mga keychain na pinirmahan ni Rene para makatulong sa pamilya, ngayon ay naging alaala na lamang niya,” a Facebook user commented on Tuesday, June 16.
“Nakakadurog ng puso isipin na bago umalis si Rene Baterbonia papuntang Maynila, naglaan pa siya ng oras para pirmahan ang maraming keychain na ibebenta ng kanyang ina para makatulong sa kanilang pamilya,” the Facebook user added.
“Hindi niya marahil alam na iyon na pala ang huli niyang pagpirma para sa mga taong mahal niya. Habang abala siyang nangangarap at nagsisikap para sa mas magandang kinabukasan, dala niya ang pag-asang maiahon ang kanyang pamilya sa hirap,” the Facebook user continued.
“Nakakaiyak isipin na ang mga keychain na pinirmahan niya noon para makatulong sa kanilang kabuhayan, ngayon ay nagsisilbing alaala ng isang buhay na naputol nang napakaaga,” the Facebook user said.
Rene was one of the two student-athletes who lost their lives after drowning when their bodies were swept away by strong currents during a water exercise at Hermanos Leisure Farm on June 8.
The team-building activity had been ongoing since Tab Baldwin, an American-Kiwi coach, took over the Ateneo Blue Eagles program. He has since resigned from his post following the incident.
Meanwhile, Rene was set to make his UAAP Season 88 debut as an Ateneo Blue Eagle player.
The student-athlete from Agusan del Sur led the Davao Region to a historic gold medal in secondary boys’ basketball at the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.
The son of fish vendors, Rene was a beneficiary of the 4Ps or the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” a government program that helps the country’s poorest households.
He was recruited by Ateneo de Davao University to play for its high school team and was later recruited by Ateneo de Manila University to join its men’s basketball team.
The drowning incident happened just days after his high school basketball coach dropped Rene off at Ateneo de Manila University in Katipunan.
ALSO READ: Rescue clip of Baterbonia raises questions: ‘What happened during those critical minutes?’
Rene had just celebrated his 18th birthday exactly one month before he lost his life on June 8.
Another teammate who died was 21-year-old Nigerian import Divine Adili, who helped Ateneo get off to an impressive start in UAAP Season 88.