Bienvenido Tantoco

Bienvenido Rufino 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 Rufino Tantoco Sr. was born on April 7, 1921. 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.

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 run 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". It was named after the first three letters of the couple's family names. 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.

His company, Store Specialists Inc. introduced to the Philippines various luxury brands such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Givenchy, Prada and Tory Burch .

Diplomatic career Tantoco was a close associate of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. He was appointed as Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See presenting his credentials to Pope John Paul II on July 7, 1983. His appointment is part of the Marcos administration to dissuade the Vatican the Philippine Catholic church from supporting the opposition.

For his effort to develop ties between his country and Italy he was conferred the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1978.

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.

Death Tantoco died on July 6, 2021 while on a hospital due to pneumonia. He was a centenarian.

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. His wife died in 1994.