Zenaida 'Nedy' Tantoco
20 July 1946 to 8 February 2024
‘God is within her, her heart is at peace.’ — Philippians 4:7
A woman who lived her life to the fullest, Zenaida “Nedy” R. Tantoco passed on to life eternal, leaving behind a legacy that embodies her various passions and concerns.
As the ultimate exponent of luxury and style, she did not only bring to Philippine shores the world’s top brands. She gave the international community the best of Filipino craftsmanship especially through the Our Very Own section that pays tribute to exceptional Filipino creativity.
A consummate chief executive, she led the Rustan Group of Companies to unprecedented heights, and with her at its helm, the iconic department store known for purveying only the best, one that she anchored on personalized service and the highest quality of products, has kept to its status of eminence.
Known to her executives and staff as “GRT,” Nedy was loved and admired, even as she was equally respected as a formidable chairman of the board and chief executive officer.
As patroness of the arts, she generously shared her time and resources toward benefiting the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra as the president of the Philippine Philharmonic Society. She also served as a trustee of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Under her auspices, Filipino musical talent flourished, even as she brought in international artists, to the delight of the local audience, while giving our own artists the opportunity to collaborate with the
legends.
In the field of international friendship, her commitment to strengthening Philippine-Italian relations remained consistently strong as the longtime president of the Philippine-Italian Association. Close to heart as well was the promotion of trade and cultural relations between the Philippines and Morocco.
As a family woman, she was the guiding light and spirit that kept the Tantoco family intact, ensuring that the moral, social and spiritual legacy of her parents, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. and Gliceria R. Tantoco, would continue and remain embedded in the hearts of all family members through the second, third and fourth generations. As a result, the young Tantocos have upheld the values that had made their grandparents Benny and Glecy successful in their entrepreneurial and other endeavors.
As a mother, she raised her children Anton, Mike and Catherine to become caring family members, outstanding professionals and morally upright citizens of this country.
As a friend, she was devoted, loyal and generous, and in turn, she received her friends’ affection, sincerity and support for her favorite causes.
Finally, Zenaida R. Tantoco was a woman of faith who honored the Lord by using her God-given talents and gifts for the good of her fellowmen, specifically as president of the Tantoco-Rustia Foundation.
To say that she was a woman of substance would be an understatement. She was an amazing daughter, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, friend, boss, executive, art patroness, philanthropist and woman of faith, the likes of whom we may no longer see in this lifetime.
Nedy is survived by her longtime partner Patrick Jacinto, her three children and their spouses — SSI Group president Anton Huang and Nina Herrera and daughters Nikki and Isabelle; Rustan’s vice president for store development and expansions Michael Huang and Kathy Yap and their children Kenzie and Kameron; and Catherine Huang Endriga and Dr. David Endriga — and the family of dogs she doted on: Sabrina, Tricia, Tessa, Katlinka, Skippy, Bocelli and Tequila.
Nedy’s wake will be held at 25B Tamarind Avenue, Forbes Park, Makati City, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 10 to 12 February, then at Heritage Park, Taguig City, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 13 to 14 February. The funeral Mass will be on 16 February, 10 a.m., at Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church, Forbes Park, Makati City.