19/06/2026
OA ra kaayo mo. Know the story first not that short Reels.
Supporta mi saimuha Rolando Castillo Fortajada Jr. from the Start.
One thing people need to understand is that a single game, a single moment, or a single emotional reaction does not define a person's entire character.
Basketball is an intense and emotional sport. Players spend countless hours training, sacrificing, and pushing themselves to compete at the highest level.
When the stakes are high, emotions naturally run high too. Competitiveness, frustration, excitement, and pride are all part of the game.
I've heard people bring up stories about Rolando Fortajada being arrogant on the court with Rene, but confidence and competitiveness should not automatically be mistaken for bad character. Those who truly knew him know there was much more to him than what people saw during a heated game.
The same goes for Rolando Fortajada. Many people know him as one of the humblest athletes in our province. Like Rene, he started from nothing and worked his way up through hard work, determination, and sacrifice. From a small town he made his way to one of the biggest schools in Davao City and Big Teams across the Province and even played in national levels too. Becoming an NBTC MVP wasn't handed to him—it was earned.
That game between Rene and Rolando was incredibly intense. Both players wanted to win. Both were competitors. In moments like that, emotions can be at their highest.
But a competitive exchange during a game should never be used to define who someone is for the rest of their life.
Athletes are human beings, not just highlights, clips, or isolated moments on a court.
What saddens me the most is that Rene has already passed away, yet instead of allowing him to rest in peace, some people continue to dig up old stories and create unnecessary division. His passing has nothing to do with those moments. This should be a time for respect, remembrance, and compassion—not judgment.
No one should be reduced to their worst moment, their most emotional game, or a rumor that people continue to repeat. Every person is so much more than that.
Rene is no longer here to speak for himself.
The least we can do is honor his memory with understanding, respect, and kindness. Let us remember the years of hard work, the lives he touched, and the passion he brought to the game—not a single narrative that fails to tell the whole story.
