Film about Rene Baterbonia in the works

MANILA, Philippines — The life story of late student-athlete Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia is set to be brought to the big screen.

Sen. Robin Padilla confirmed on Saturday that a film about the young basketball player is in the works, with his sister, BB Gandanghari, set to direct the project alongside filmmakers from Mindanao.

Padilla shared photos of a presentation for the upcoming film, titled “Just a Kid With a Big Dream: The Rene Clert ‘Bobet’ Baterbonia Story,” on Facebook.

The photos also showed Padilla and Gandanghari discussing details of the project.

“Kahit ginigipit na po tayo kahit sa usaping pinansyal ng mga mapaniil na mga nagsasabing sila ay matitinong tao at pati mundo ng industriya ng entertainment ay kanilang pinupolitika,” Padilla wrote in his post.

He went on to assure that plans to tell Baterbonia’s story through film remain underway.

“Hindi po tayo bumibitaw sa paglalahad sa pamamagitan ng pelikula ang buhay ni Rene Baterbonia. All set na si Direk BB Gandanghari and the filmmakers of Mindanao,” he added.

Padilla and Gandanghari had previously reached out to Baterbonia’s family following the athlete’s death. Padilla attended his funeral, while Gandanghari visited Baterbonia’s hometown and was a given his jersey during the visit.

Baterbonia, an 18-year-old basketball player from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, died in a drowning incident in Dipaculao, Aurora, in June.

His promising basketball career, along with that of fellow Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball player Divine Adili, 21, was cut short following the fatal incident during the Blue Eagles’ team-building activity.