MANILA, Philippines - Donnie Tantaco has got everything — he’s got the looks, brains, and he’s heir to a retail empire. You can say he’s just the kind of guy any girl would want to bring home to her mother. But sorry, girls, the guy has a lovely wife (Crickette Yu-Tantoco) and three good-looking children (twin daughters Camille and Nicole, and son Christian).
At the relaunch of Rustan’s Supermarket in Makati, I get the chance to sit down with DVT (as he’s referred to by his employees — that’s Donnie Vargas Tantoco) for coffee at Benny’s, a resto named after his grandfather, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco. He offers me hot chocolate with espresso, his own concoction which he says has helped him a lot with his nagging gastritis he doesn’t have to take his medication anymore.
Donnie may have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he cut his teeth in the retail business working after school, every summer, in his grandparents’ store. “I don’t know why, but my Lolo and Lola (Glecy Tantoco) thought I would probably fit best in a supermarket so they made me work here every summer,” Donnie recalls. “My sweldo was a cheeseburger from our Blast-Off coffeeshop. It was the only cheeseburger then, before Jollibee came, and our coffeeshop was the only place where you could get hamburger in a square burger bun like what you’d see in the US. It was delicious! My Ninay Menchu and Ninoy Jun are very good with food.”
Donnie fondly remembers his first boss, Mr. Jaka, who was supervisor of customer service and all the cash registers. “When I was a kid, he taught me how to wrap, how to go around and look at the products and make sure everything is presented properly. He taught me how to do a little bit of receiving, how to handle the stockroom, how to be a cashier, he taught me a lot of things. And then I heard he retired. After a few months, I saw him back at the store. He was working here for free. That’s how much he loved the company. So you know what I did? I hired him, he was one of the first people I hired after we took over Rustan’s Supermarket and Shopwise.”
Donnie’s best teacher is, of course, his Lolo Benny whom he considers his soulmate in many ways. “He taught me leadership. He told me that my job as a leader is to help people discover the goodness and the greatest that exist in everyone and give purpose to God and let them do great things, by being part of a company where ordinary people can collectively do extraordinary things. We have 5,000 people right now at RSCI (Rustan Supercenters Inc.) and they’re all regular employees. Our big goal, our dream, our vision is we want to be 100,000.”
Donnie has a lot of passion for work and a deep love for all the employees who work in the various companies he heads. He has dedicated his whole life to trying to uplift the standards of living of the regular Filipino through employment, by instilling moral and wholesome values, and purpose in the lives of those who work under him.
But of course, Donnie keeps himself fit for the physical demands of running a 5,000-strong company. He’s been jogging every day (for 30 minutes to one hour) since he was 16. He runs even when he’s sick. And even if he’s had only five hours of sleep the night before (he’s an insomniac).
Donnie is a morning person. He has a difficult time staying out late at night. He has to be home before 10 p.m.
Donnie has a deep love for God and Mama Mary. He goes to Mass every day (even when he’s abroad). He’s deeply religious and spiritual. He is even a Eucharistic minister.
He’s a carnivore, but because of his gastritis, he can now only eat bland food like boiled chicken, fish, and potatoes every day. He drinks his medicine, his hot chocolate, of course!
He doesn’t eat shellfish. Not that he’s allergic, he just doesn’t like any form of shellfish.
He doesn’t drink, smoke, gamble, or womanize. One of his biggest vices is drinking too much orange juice. And he loves ice cream.
He loves horses. He went horseback riding until he had a bad fall and his mom didn’t allow him to ride again.
Donnie is not only a true-blue retailer, he is also a certified shopaholic. He loves shopping for clothes. “When we go abroad, he’s the only man we know who can actually match the women in terms of hours spent shopping. Sometimes, he even asks for an extension,” his sister-in-law Frances Yu shares.
Frances adds, “He’s one of the most thoughtful guys I know. When he travels, he has pasalubong for so many people. When it’s Valentine’s Day, he has gifts for all the women in his life.”
Like his grandfather, Donnie prefers the company of women to men.
He loves music. “He is the only person I know who pays to download music to this day (aside from me),” says Frances. “He actually pays around $1.29 per song downloaded on iTunes.”
In the ’80s, Donnie hoarded a most impressive collection of records, particularly those by the Motown.
“And he loves Gary V,” says wife Crickette.
He watches the same movies over and over again. Among his favorites are The Gladiator and The Last Samurai.
He’s an incurable romantic. Since they’re both busy with their corporate lives, he writes his wife notes and leaves it where she can find it. He sends his wife postcards from every trip he goes without her. He texts his wife something sweet every day. He kisses his wife good morning every day. He puts his wife’s pictures in places he spends a lot of time in.
The truth is, according to Frances, “Donnie cannot willingly lie because he has such a bad memory. If he ever tried to lie, he wouldn’t be able to remember his lie so his policy has always been complete honesty. One of his biggest pet peeves is people who lie.”
Donnie may look kind and gentle, but watch out, because he’s really tough and is no pushover. “When he makes up his mind, you cannot move him. You cannot bully him to getting your way. You cannot initimidate him,” says Frances who knows whereof she speaks, having worked with her brother-in-law for a long time.
He’s not such a good driver (though he’s certainly a driven person). Which is probably why the only time he gets masungit is when he has to drive.
Donnie has an insatiable thirst for learning. “I love to read and learn,” he says. He travels the world to attend seminars and conferences about his industry. And he’s always talking to people from all walks of life in order to learn.
He’s a serial hobbyist. One time it could be camping. Another time, it’s boxing. Then he’s diving or taking singing (his wife says he sings very well) and dancing lessons. He always has a new hobby.
He’s not a handyman, so never trust him when it comes to fixing a leaking faucet. He doesn’t know anything about fixing things around the house or tinkering with mechanical things like most guys. He doesn’t know anything about cars.
He’s a gadget freak though. He always has the latest gadgets. He’s always trying to find the most high-tech way to organize himself. But that technology (that will help him to get organized) has yet to be invented.
Donnie is the whole package — he’s the most caring boss, the most loving husband, doting father, reliable grandson, son, and brother.