By Salven Lagumbay
Cebu Daily News
JAKARTA, Indonesia–He left the Philippines a virtual unknown. Now, he knows he is returning with celebrity status.
Florante “The Little Pacquiao” Condes, raised in poverty in Sampaguita, Looc, Romblon, said he is preparing himself for the media and numerous interviews the moment he steps out of a Philippine Airlines flight from this city to Manila.
Condes, a devastating war machine of a human being, shocked the whole of Indonesia last Saturday evening by knocking down International Boxing Federation champion Muhammad Rachman twice en route to scoring a split decision verdict to snatch the IBF world minimumweight title.
The victory silenced a boisterous crowd that trooped to the RCTI TV studio in Jakarta that expected their local hero to easily dispatch the boyish-looking Condes.
“No problem,” Condes said in English, this time trying to brush up on the language he knows would be very useful especially when he meets the international press. He was answering a query on whether he would give Rachman a rematch.
However, once he gets home, Condes plans to first take care of his aging mother Juanita, and take a 15-day rest from the three months of hard training for the fight.
A home for Mama
“Gusto ko po sana mapagawan ng bahay yung nanay ko po. Wala po kasi kaming bahay dun sa Romblon at pulubi lang kami. Kahit papaano makagawa man lang ako ng bahay para sa kanya, (I just want to build a house for my mother. We don’t have a decent house in Romblon and we are very poor. I just want to give her a house),” said Condes, the youngest in a brood of six.
Condes’ father, who like him is named Florante, had died years ago from a serious illness.
“Simple lang po naman ang ikinamatay ng tatay ko. TB lang po,” Condes said, adding that due to extreme poverty, his family failed to bring his father to a decent hospital.
Condes also plans to recover some parcel of land that his father was supposed to inherit in Romblon, but were not given to them due to their lack of education.
“He really wants to get what is due his family. They have lands in Romblon, but some relatives took it all for themselves leaving Florante’s family with nothing,” Condes’ manager Aljoe Jaro said.
Jaro believes that Condes, who initially worked as a gasoline boy prior to his foray into professional boxing, will ultimately earn the money that would allow him to give a decent life not only to his mother, but also to his other siblings.
Once in Manila, Jaro said he will immediately negotiate for a possible title defense for Condes in the Philippines. Jaro also said that Condes stands to earn a certain amount for the television rights once the fight with Rachman gets shown on Philippine TV.
“I will fight whoever my manager will want me to fight. That’s for sure,” Condes said in Filipino.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
hmmmmm…. PROUD of U..
naalala ko noon kwento ng Lolo koh..(Mr. Jose Fabellar) hmmm..he descover condes when Florante Condes is a active Student Atletes of Looc .. National High School… hmm..Lolo Pepe says.. Condes is so amazing atletecs…..In that time StRaa..hapenned..Condes is one of the most active players.. in LoocNHSchool..
Noong panahong iyon..si Condes ay isa lamang sa kalahok sa isang Paligsahan ng School.. sa larangan ng Pagtakbo…Subalik hinimok sia ng Lolo ko na Lumaban sia sa isang Boxing Remach..
dahil noong panahong iyon wala silang manlalaro sa levelong iyon..”then Condes agree”he say..sige subukan natin..”
the fight start” and after that Condes WON..’
hindi nia inisip na mananalo sia..dahil biglaan nga lang ang pagsali sa kanya..
kahit wala siang practice .. hindi sia nagdalawang isip na lumaban kahit masaktan, matalo man o manalo.. Karangalan niang sumali dahil sa kagustuhan niang maipagmalaki di lang sa kanyang sarili ..higit sa lahat ang karangalan ng Paaralang pinapasukan nia..(LNHS) .. in that time doon nagsimula ang kanyang pagiging Boxingero ..and after that in year 2002 FLORANTE CONDES named continued sucess in his fight..
..after all the work and sacrifice u deserves… im very PROUD of you..
GOOD Luck for ur Carrier..
Hope GOD Bless u in every Fight…
August 16th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I have known Florante for many years, first meeting him and his family in Looc while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer there. On my annual trips to the Philippines to visit my friends I have made several trips to Florantes home in the suburbs of Manila. He lives in a very simple house but has a good family. His dedication to his sport is amazing and he is already a champion in his home town of Looc. While visiting him he is always proud to show me his training gym as well as his good friends there. I’am very proud to have him as a longtime friend and look foreward to his continued success. After all the work and sacrifice he deserves and will soon give his mom a good place to live.