Beyond words

Rene Baterbonia went to the country’s premiere private university with nothing but a bag of dreams. Every sports prodigy from a humble family must be inspired by the rags to riches to richest story of the greatest Filipino athlete. Once a baker, he now lives like a king. A one in a multi-million success story. Billion even, but the country has not yet populated the earth that many. Leave it China and India. Otherwise, the country becomes poorer. Although population merely worsens, it does not cause poverty.

Just 19, the 6-foot-four Palarong Pambansa most valuable player had so much to play for. And live for. He vowed to pluck his family out of poverty. Now the dream is left undone, the dreamer is gone.

Beyond the dream, his sudden death is another reality check. Why a child is burdened to better his family’s future reflects government inability to at least alleviate poverty. The parents should, but could not, when the government does not create enough economic opportunities for them. Exactly why many had to leave home and family to be enslaved outside the country.

This is not unique to the country though. 6-foot-10 Divine Adili, only 21, had to leave his country and play the sport he loved for his family he loved more. Back home in Nigeria. Not necessarily a poor country, it has the largest economy in Africa. But just like the Philippines, it agonizes with widespread poverty. And it hit both these young, towering talents. Before they could drown poverty figuratively, they drowned literally.

Who is to blame for this tragedy? The university said their athletes drowned without details, an official statement that raised more questions than it gave answers. Ambiguity invites speculation, especially in a nation that sows intrigue, mongers rumors and peddles fake news. Never mention these wild speculations, otherwise it fuels them. That’s how they should end, unverified details should not be repeated. Gossip too. But this universal pastime can neither be eliminated nor minimized. It is part of humanity, or its decadent culture.

Authorities initially ruled out foul play. Expectedly. No one ever wanted this to happen. But while clearly there is no intent, it does not preclude negligence. Whose, let the investigation go deeper than the deadly waters. While accidents happen to anyone, anytime and anywhere, its probability can be avoided or reduced, even certainty of death delayed. Beyond best human efforts, call it mortality. It is time, person and place neutral. But a mother’s grief for losing a child is beyond eternal.