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Personalities Mourn the Passing of Rustan’s Group Matriarch Nedy Tantoco

Her legacy as a visionary leader will be remembered by the people she has largely influenced and impacted

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Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso

<p>Retail tycoon <strong><a href="https://metro.style/people/society-personalities/icons-of-christmas-nedy-tantoco-of-rustans/22432" target="_blank">Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco</a></strong> recently passed away, and with her passing comes a saddened community of industry players. She is instrumental in structuring the luxury market landscape and shopping in the Philippines.<br/></p><div><br/></div><p>On <strong>February 8, 2024</strong>, at age <strong>77</strong>, it was with a heavy heart that <strong>SSI Group</strong> announced the tragic loss of the legendary careerist and business connoisseur.</p><div><br/></div><p>“It is with profound sadness that SSI Group, Inc. announces the passing of Zenaida ‘Nedy’ R. Tantoco. The retailer, philanthropist, patroness of the arts, loving mother, and grandmother passed away on February 8, 2024,” the statement says.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Although known in the industry for her astute professionalism, Nedy will always be better remembered as a nurturing force in fostering family empowerment and unity.” </p><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, society personalities shared their tributes to the <strong>Rustan’s Group</strong> matriarch. Classical pianist <strong>Cecile Licad</strong> captioned her post: “RIP to this great lady who I called ‘Tita Nedy’ and the ‘Action Lady.’ [She] will be missed by so many whom she had touched so deeply. [I have] absolutely no words to describe her! I will think only of happy times with my very dear friend who inspired me in so many ways.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Mnd-KM3jv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Mnd-KM3jv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 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translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"> <div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Mnd-KM3jv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Cecile Licad (@licadc)</a></div></div></blockquote> </div><div><br/></div><p>Nedy’s final concert for Cecile Licad, whom she was fond of and whose shows she had presented in the past, will still push through in March. Nedy planned the gig, but the grand showcase will be shown as a tribute to Nedy instead.<br/></p><div><br/></div><p>The <strong>Cultural Center of the Philippines</strong>, too, was deeply disheartened upon hearing of Nedy’s unfortunate demise.</p><div><br/></div><p>In a statement, it declared: “The CCP and the art community in general grieves the loss of a strong ally in pursuing cultural endeavors and promoting artistic excellence. May her soul rest in peace and rise in glory.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Nedy was a luminary who served CCP for a long time as a trustee. She was part of the CCP Board of Trustees from 2002 until 2021.</p><div><br/></div><p>“During her 19 years as [a] CCP trustee, her accomplishments were defined by her integrity and reliability, as well as her unwavering love and inspiring passion for arts and culture,” the company stated.</p><div><br/></div><p>Ex-Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) Musical Director <strong>Olivier Ochanine</strong> expressed his sadness on social media as well. His message for Nedy was truly touching. “This one really hits hard. Tita Nedy Tantoco was like a second mother to me—literally walking me down the aisle in 2012 when my mother couldn&#x27;t come,” he started. “From even before I moved to Manila to take on the role of Music Director with the PPO, Nedy was already reaching out to help in whatever ways she could.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Folivierochanine%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02KBwvoPwsDRCLzSNEfwM33xJVdUEkJvBwbRMkiXGbyYP8DZmthHJf7S37YWYoNkaLl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="709" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>“Up until her last messages to me days ago, she was always positive and inspiring. She helped me to organize the PPO reunion just a couple weeks ago, and we were meant to have lunch together, but she then was hospitalized with pneumonia. [It is] incredibly hard to think now that just days later, this superb, generous and kind woman—bigger than life, as they say—would leave this world,” a grief-stricken Olivier continued. “No words can adequately describe how important you are to me and to so many others,” he put in the caption.</p><div><br/></div><p>Fashion designer <strong>Puey Quiñones</strong> felt heartbroken as well and wrote on Facebook, “Thank you, Tita Nedy Tantoco, for [the] focus—the opportunity to be in Rustan’s. My heart is broken. We love you, Tita. Rest in paradise.”</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpuey.quinonesnew%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0fSqAUvHU3esYScCbhBrTQUr5w2erX9HaEkL7VYWSJ8T38oEFUaXad3fzgFqKVSeZl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="664" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco was Chairman and CEO of <strong>Rustan Commercial Corporation</strong>, <strong>SSI Group, Inc.</strong>, and <strong>Rustan Marketing Corporation</strong>. Lauded for her drive as a businesswoman, Nedy was the daughter of the late <strong><a href="https://metro.style/people/digital-covers/bienvenido-benny-tantoco-metro-society-cover/29768" target="_blank">Bienvenido “Benny” Tantoco, Sr.</a></strong>, <strong>Rustan’s</strong> founding leader.<br/></p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photos from <strong>news.abs-cbn.com</strong></p><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/society-personalities/art-fair-philippines-2024-rom-villaseran-x-mono8/37551" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Art Fair PH 2024: Rom Villaseran Mounts A Solo Exhibition With MONO8</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/society-personalities/sandra-palomar-fotomotoph-art-fair-ph-2024/37543" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sandra Palomar on Curating Art Fair PH 2024&#x27;s Photo Section</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/society-personalities/phyllis-zaballero-art-fair-philippines-pambabae/37536" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Artist Phyllis Zaballero Joins Art Fair Philippines 2024&#x27;s &#x27;Pambabae&#x27; Exhibit</a></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>