Benny Tantoco
{{use mdy|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Benny Tantoco
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Bienvenido Tantoco
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|4|7}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|7|6|1921|4|7}}
| death_place =
| other_names =
| nationality = Filipino
| occupation = Businessman and diplomat
| years_active =
| known_for = Co-founder of Rustan's with Rustia
| notable_works =
|spouse={{marriage|Gliceria Rustia|1941|1994|reason=died}}
| relatives =
|children=7
| module=
{{Infobox criminal
|embed=yes
| criminal_charges = Illegal possession of firearms
| conviction_penalty = 3 years of imprisonment
| criminal_status = Temporary release; pending appeal (no information on result)
| apprehended= August 22, 1986 in Rome
| imprisoned=Regina Coeli
}}
}}
Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. was a Filipino businessman and diplomat who was the founder of the department store chain Rustan's along his wife.
Early life and education
Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. was born on April 7, 1921.{{cite news |title=Happy Birthday Mr. Ambassador! |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4lQ1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=bSUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2930%2C18116743 |access-date=25 March 2025 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=7 April 2001 |page=C2}} He hails from a clan started by Chinese trader Tan Tok Che. Bienvenido was born to Luis Buendia Tantoco, a farmer and fishing trade based in Malolos, Bulacan and Carmen Fabella Rufino, a music teacher. He was the second eldest of eight children.{{cite news |last1=Mananquil |first1=Millet M. |title=100 years of love, laughter & lessons from Benny Tantoco |url=https://qa.philstar.com/lifestyle/modern-living/2021/03/27/2087199/100-years-love-laughter-lessons-benny-tantoco |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=The Philippine Star |date=27 March 2021}}
Due to the erratic nature of his father's business, Tantoco worked to support his siblings. At 16 years old he began working for a theatre chain in Manila which was ran by his relatives. While working, he attended the Jose Rizal College under a scholarship granted by his mother's cousin Vicente Fabella. He obtained a degree in commercial business in 1941 with a thesis entitled "Modern Advertising in the Philippines".
Business career
Tantoco co-founded Rustan's along his wife, Gliceria Rustia{{cite web |last1=Francisco |first1=Irene Martel |title=Bienvenido "Benny" Tantoco passes away at the age of 100 |url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/business/bienvenido-benny-tantoco-passes-away-at-the-age-of-100 |website=Tatler Asia |language=en}} It was named after the first three letters of the couple's family names.{{cite news |title=RUS-TAN: Perfect Combination |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19920928&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Manila Standard |date=28 September 1992 |page=14}} They started Rustan's in 1952 at their residence in San Marcelino, Manila initially as a showcase of their souvenirs obtained from their trips overseas. It later became a chain of department stores.{{cite news |title=Rustans founder Bienvenido Tantoco, Sr., 100 |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2021/07/06/380430/rustans-founder-bienvenido-tantoco-sr-100/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=BusinessWorld |date=6 July 2021}}
His company, Store Specialists Inc. introduced to the Philippines various luxury brands such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Givenchy, Prada and Tory Burch .{{cite news |title=Rustan's founder Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. passes away |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/07/06/21/rustans-founder-bienvenido-tantoco-sr-passes-away |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=6 July 2021}}
Diplomatic career
Tantoco was a close associate of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.{{cite news |title=Close Marcos Friend Fined $250,000 for fleeing trial |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yX1TAAAAIBAJ&dq=tantoco+italy&pg=PA1 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Daily News |date=March 25-26, 1991 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Resurrecion |first1=Lyn |title=Tantoco's fate known in October |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OWcVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QwsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2626%2C2847784 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Manila Standard |date=5 August 1987}}
He was appointed as Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See presenting his credentials to Pope John Paul II on July 7, 1983.{{cite news |title=Italian anti-terrorist police arrested a former Philippine ambassador to... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/22/Italian-anti-terrorist-police-arrested-a-former-Philippine-ambassador-to/8241525067200/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=UPI |date=22 August 1986 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Ex-filipino ambassador jailed on gun charges in italy s |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/09/26/Ex-filipino-ambassador-jailed-on-gun-charges-in-italy/1125528091200/ |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=UPI |date=26 September 1986 |language=en}} His appointment is part of the Marcos administration to dissuade the Vatican the Philippine Catholic church from supporting the opposition.{{cite news |title=Ex-Philippine Diplomat Is Arrested in Italy (Published 1986) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/24/world/around-the-world-ex-philippine-diplomat-is-arrested-in-italy.html |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=New York Times |date=24 August 1986 |language=en}}
For his effort to develop ties between his country and Italy he was conferred the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1978.
He resigned from his position in April 4, 1986 following the ousting of Marcos during the People Power Revolution in February 1986.{{cite news |title=Ex-Philippine Envoy Arrested in Italy; Arms Cache Seized |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-08-23-mn-15783-story.html |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=23 August 1986}}
Legal issues
=Arrest in Italy=
Tantoco was arrested when police found firearms in his villa in Rome on August 22, 1986. He was detained at the Regina Coeli. Tantoco was charged for terrorism but this was reduced to illegal possession of firearms. He was sentenced to three years and prison. He was freed pending appeal.
=PCCG case=
The Presidential Commission on Good Government filed a lawsuit in December 1987 in the United States against Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos and ten other people to acquire alleged ill-gotten assets in New York City. Tantoco and his wife were among those accused to have served as dummies in the acquisition of the assets for the Marcos family.{{cite news |title=Filipino government sues Marcos for N.Y. wealth |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XFg_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_VIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3954%2C3521684 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=The Windsor Star |agency=Associated Press |date=29 December 1986}}{{cite news |title=What Went Before: Ill-gotten wealth case vs Marcoses, cronies |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1175362/what-went-before-ill-gotten-wealth-case-vs-marcoses-cronies |access-date=25 March 2025 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=9 October 2019 |language=en}}
Death
Tantoco died on July 6, 2021 while on a hospital due to pneumonia. He was a centenarian.{{cite news |last1=Mananquil |first1=Millet |title=Retail icon and ambassador Benny Tantoco dies at 100 |url=https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/951310-retail-icon-and-ambassador-benny-tantoco-dies-at-100?page=3 |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Philstar Life |date=6 July 2021}}
Personal life
Bienvenido Tantoco married Gliceria Rusti in April 1941, first meeting her at a bowling place in San Marcelino. His wife was a pianist. They are Roman Catholics and are devotees of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Divine Mercy and the Our Lady of Guadalupe. The couple had seven children.{{cite web |last1=Vergara |first1=Alex |title=Paolo Tantoco: 'I want to give back to the family' |url=https://peopleasia.ph/paolo-tantoco-i-want-to-give-back-to-the-family/ |website=PeopleAsia |access-date=25 March 2025 |date=10 March 2025}} His wife died in 1994.
Tantoco lived in Italy as part of his role as an ambassador to the Holy See. He continued living in the ambassador residence in Appian Way after the deposing of Marcos as president during the People Power Revolution. This was after he obtained political refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner.
In 2019 was among the 50 richest Filipinos by net worth as per Forbes with a worth of {{USD|140 million}}.{{cite web |title=Bienvenido Tantoco, Sr. |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/bienvenido-tantoco-sr/ |website=Forbes |access-date=25 March 2025 |language=en}}
References
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Category:Filipino business executives
Category:Filipino businesspeople in retailing
Category:Filipino company founders
Category:Ambassadors of the Philippines to the Holy See
Category:Filipino expatriates in Italy
Category:Foreign nationals imprisoned in Italy