MANILA, Philippines — Merchandise and a life-sized sculpture of the late Rene Clert Baterbonia drew mixed reactions online, with some netizens calling the tributes heartfelt while others say the family has gone too far.
Baterbonia's family has begun selling memorabilia, including T-shirts, keychains, ref magnets, perfumes, notebooks, and photo albums. Meanwhile, artist Alan Esclamado's life-sized sculpture also gained attention online as it was being treated more like a religious figure, according to netizens.
In separate posts on X, one netizen described the sculpture as "getting out of hand" and said it was becoming "cult-like." Others called the post-Baterbonia activities as a commercialization of his death
Others, however, defended the family.
One netizen said they would not mind if their own family earned money from merchandise after their death if it would help provide for them.
Another pointed out that Baterbonia's family had been selling jerseys and keychains even before his passing, arguing that there was nothing wrong with continuing the business. Some also said the merchandise could serve as a source of income for the family following the athlete's death.
Public opinion remains divided. While some see the merchandise and sculpture as heartfelt tributes to Baterbonia, others believe certain forms of remembrance have raised questions about the boundaries between honoring the late athlete and commercializing his death.
