WHY MOROCCO? BECAUSE IT WARMS THE HEART
There is a reason why, of all the many bucketlist countries on earth, Rustan’s chose Morocco for its festival this August.
Of course, Morocco is such a charming country with an exotic appeal all its own. At Rustan’s Makati right now, you feel like you are walking through the street markets of Morocco, choosing from colorful kaftans and carpets at a souk, while listening to exotic music by Moroccan musicians. There are artisans who can give you a henna hand tattoo or write your name in traditional Arabic calligraphy.
For the Tantoco family, transporting Morocco to Rustan’s is like sharing with shoppers some vignettes from a cherished country that was their second home for decades.
For Marilen Tantoco, it was home for seven years for her and her sons MJ and Chris who grew up absorbing the culture of the place and understanding its people. “MJ learned to speak and write Arabic and French, aside from English and Tagalog,’ says Marilen who is currently our country’s Honorary Consul General to Morocco.
For Chris Tantoco, Morocco was his childhood playground where he grew up in the loving embrace of his grandfather, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco and his grandmother Glecy Tantoco.
“Lolo Benny would go with us through all hills and waterfalls, and even take those rides not fashioned for senior bodies. From him, I learned everything I needed to know about being a gentleman. Even as young boys, we were already being taught by Lolo Benny how to open doors for ladies, how to remain standing up when a lady enters the room and wait for her to be seated,” says Chris.
I was fortunate to have Chris as my guide in Morocco during my visit in 2014, and I witnessed for myself what a gentleman with handsome manners he was. Working then with the Duty Free Shop in Morocco, Chris, now 30, is preparing to take his master’s degree soon. MJ Tantoco, now 33, is a family man and he works under his Manong Anton Huang, SSI president, as the one tasked with overseeing SSI’s food brands. He is busy with the orientation and the training of personnel in the US for the opening of Shake Shack in Manila in 2019.
For Maritess “Tokie” TantocoEnriquez, Morocco evokes magic and romance, for together with husband Renato Enriquez, she has memories of Tangier with its colored houses; Fes with its potters and artisans; Marrakech with its souks teeming with luscious food and wares, and its plaza by night brought to life by spontaneous shows with animals, including snakes.
So enamored were Renato and Tokie of Morocco’s charms that they transformed their home into Kasbah Habibi, with parts of it dedicated to the memory of Rustan’s founder Glecy Tantoco.
For Marilou Tantoco-Pineda, mom Glecy showed a Morocco that was a retailer’s paradise where beautiful kaftans were handcrafted and these would last for years. ”I still wear the kaftans I bought decades ago,” says Marilou. “And I can’t forget how our palates woke up to Moroccan cuisine everytime our parents made us try the range of Moroccan cuisine.”
For Rustan’s president Nedy Tantoco, running a store is not all about selling goods. Nedy is a retail and cultural visionary, who believes selling is also about bringing in a unique cultural experience for shoppers. As president of the Philippine-Italian Association and also a trustee of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Nedy has that eye for spotting things of lasting value. Items with history and back story. And goods that would excite Filipino shoppers. Proof is that the Moroccan Festival is such a hit — the Moroccan wares on exhibitsale are disappearing from the shelves fast. Nedy personally handpicked the fashion and beauty items, while Marilen chose the home wares. During opening day, shoppers insisted on buying and bringing home, the same day, the carpets, furniture, lamps, plates and even wall fountains on display. Happy OngpaucoTiu prepared the feast for guests that night, and when they returned for more, there was Casablanca Café on the fifth floor serving food by a guest chef from Morocco.
Ambassador Mohammed Rida El Fassi says: “It is always with great pride and excitement that we share the beauty and bounty of our home country. From our cuisine to our crafts, fashion and beyond, the Kingdom of Morocco is such an important cultural and historical country. It is with great joy that we are able to share more of it to the Filipinos.”
So there. If you can’t go to Morocco yet, Morocco will go to you. It’s already here. ***
Rustan’s Moroccan festival entitled “Le Coeur du Maroc” (The Heart of Morocco) is held in partnership with The Embassy of The Kingdom of Morocco, the Moroccan National Tourism Office in China, HSBC, and Fairmont Makati.
HSBC Premier and FSP cardholders are in for exciting surprises as Rustan’s prepares special events including an exclusive workshop with Happy Ongpauco-Tiu on Aug. 15.
Special surprises also await Rustan’s shoppers. Take home a decorative Moroccan camel gift for a minimum single receipt purchase of P15,000 on Moroccan rugs and carpets for the whole month of August. Shoppers can also avail of a decorative bottle holder for a minimum single receipt purchase of P5,000 on all Moroccan Merchandise from Aug. 8 to 31.