IFEOMA Adili made it clear as she addressed the Philippine press formally for the first time since the tragic passing of her son Divine after the dreadful bootcamp in Dipucalao, Aurora last June.
“I'm delighted to be here. But I wish I am watching my son," she said.
“I really appreciate what I see, because I know that my son is there. Divine and Rene, they are there. They might be invisible, but I know my son is there. God knows what I've been desiring. And I know my son desired that, to bring us to the Philippines to come and watch him live.”
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Ifeoma was with Divine’s father, Elias, who recalled that Divine involved them as much as he could in every institution he ever played for.
“We are supposed to watch Divine play. He promised us that. But it's now cut short," Elias said.
“But so far, the game is okay. It's moving fine. Because Divine made us to be fans of Ateneo. He took us to New Era and brought us to Ateneo."
In search for answers
Though initial reports said that the bereaved couple was to be in attendance for Ateneo’s Wednesday opener against the University of the East, Elias revealed that the true reason for their arrival is in search of answers.
Because much like the gripe of the grieving Baterbonia family, Ateneo failed to alert them in a timely manner.
“To be honest with you, I don't know about my husband, talking about myself, he spoke to us very late,” Ifeoma revealed, talking about resigned shotcaller Tab Baldwin.
“About four days after the incident, which is not proper. So that is just it. I am not okay with that, to be honest with you. Since then, we've not heard from him.”
Meanwhile, Elias expressed gratitude for the transparency of the remaining coaching staff and players that welcomed him to Loyola, saying that their cooperation brought clarity to a personal battle that they were facing back home.
“It's only the truth that will set you free. So we have known the truth. And I think I can now go back to my kinsmen and tell them that this is what happened. Because we two are being bashed at home from our tradition,” Elias explained.
“A father burying his son is a taboo. So it's a thing of pain, it’s a thing of shame to us. Because all along, different stories were coming up. And today, now I can totally tell them. This was what happened. And this is what happened."
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