On Friday, Ateneo de Manila University announced the creation of the Blue Eagle Athletic Scholarship Funds to honor the memory of former student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, both of whom passed away earlier this year.
The launch of the new financial aid program was formalized through a memorandum released by the university’s president, Fr. Roberto Yap SJ.
“More than a tribute, these Funds are our promise that their names, their spirit, and the joy they brought to Ateneo athletics will live on in the young Eagles who follow them,” Yap noted.
Yap explained that the initiative will provide financial assistance to deserving student-athletes originating from regions outside of Metro Manila, mirroring the backgrounds of both Baterbonia and Adili.
Baterbonia was originally from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, and later moved to Davao City, where he played basketball and studied at Ateneo de Davao University.
Adili, a native of Umueri, Nigeria, traveled to the Philippines in 2023 to pursue his higher education and basketball aspirations.
The two young athletes—Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21—tragically lost their lives in a drowning accident during a team-building outing at a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
For those interested in obtaining more information regarding the scholarship program, inquiries can be directed to the Office of University Development and Alumni Affairs.
“May we, as one community, honor Divine and Rene not only with our remembrance, but with our renewal,” Yap said.