MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Cultural Center of the Philippines, with its Board of Trustees, Management, and employees, has extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of its former Trustee Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco, who passed away last February 08.
A top honcho in the luxury retail industry and a philanthropist, the late Nedy has been part of the CCP Board of Trustees from 2002 until her resignation in 2021.
During her 19 years as 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 indefatigable chairman and CEO of the Rustan Commercial Corporation and Stores Specialists masterminded numerous fundraising efforts, putting her boundless energy to benefit the CCP, its resident companies, and its employees.
She raised funds for new musical instruments and regular repairs of musical instruments of the PPO musicians, and she was instrumental in bringing the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) to the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York.
An impresario of opera in the Philippines, Nedy also underwrote several CCP productions, including opera productions in recent years, such as Gaetano Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore (The Elixir of Love) in 2017, Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor in 2020, and Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot in 2022, among others.
A staunch supporter of the arts, Nedy’s legacy will persist at the Cultural Center of the Philippines long into the future.
The CCP and the art community, in general, grieve the loss of a strong ally in pursuing cultural endeavors and promoting artistic excellence. May her soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
