WATCH: Rustan's Patriarch Lolo Benny Turns 97
Lolo Benny is 97.
Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco,
"Happy 97th birthday to our dearest, our beloved Lolo Benny," said Donnie Tantoco, his eldest grandchild, in a Facebook post. "He never ceases to amaze, fascinate, and enlighten us with his strength and wisdom. His goodness, compassion, and the way he loves and forgives
The family presented Lolo Benny with a black-and-white video with a script written by Donnie, starting off with clips from the Roaring Twenties and the Dirty Thirties, before the Second World War.
"Lolo, you are 97, but we'd like to bring you back in time to when you were in your 20s," narrated Christian Tantoco, who sent the recording from Boston, so he could somehow be part of the family affair.
“Think back to the late 30s, pre-war Manila. Manila was arguably the best city in Asia to live in, to visit, to be successful, and to have fascinating experiences,” read Christian. "It was a time that was one of the most creative periods of our history.”
“During one of our talks you mentioned a place you used to visit before you got married,” read Christian. “It was a place of theater, of dance, a place where single men and women could meet and dance the rhumba, the swing, the jitterbug, the conga, and the mambo. It was called the Sta. Ana Cabaret. Lolo, ladies
Members from different generations then performed song and dance numbers evoking the pre-war era to bring back memories of Lolo Benny’s youth.
Vargas-Tantoco (3 generations) performance for Lolo Benny’s 97th Birthday. Part 1. We tried to bring him back to his 20s when he used to visit and dance in the Sta Ana cabaret. Thank you Zyda Marie Baaya for directing it and Jill Alyanna Fernando Tanig, Tolenz, & Stan for the video.
Posted by Donnie Tantoco on Saturday, April 7, 2018
Vargas-Tantoco (3 generations) performance for Lolo’s Birthday, part 2. We tried to bring our 97-year-old Lolo back to his 20s when he used to dance at the Sta Ana Cabaret.
Posted by Donnie Tantoco on Saturday, April 7, 2018
All for the love of their 97-year-young great grandfather!???????????? So proud of your hardwork kiddos, thank you!
Posted by Margs Hernandez Lopez on Saturday, April 7, 2018
Donnie and Rico Tantoco
Crickette Yu Tantoco, Nicole Tantoco, Bea Tantoco Reyes, Camille Tantoco, Katrina Tantoco Lobregat
Donnie Tantoco, Dino Pineda, and Anton Huang
Nina Herrera Huang, Donnie Tantoco, Krie Reyes Lopez
Kathy Yap-Huang, Dina Arroyo Tantoco, Ricardo Preto, Crickette Yu Tantoco, Katrina Tantoco Lobregat, Bea Tantoco Reyes
Nicole Tantoco and Camille Tantoco
Paolo and Dina Tantoco
Margs and Junjun Lopez
Nina Herrera Huang, Crickette Yu, Krie Reyes Lopez, Nicole Tantoco, Bea Tantoco Reyes, Camille Tantoco, Katrina Tantoco Lobregat
Noey Tantoco Lopez and Donnie Tantoco
Crickette Yu Tantoco and Lolo Benny
Bea Tantoco Reyes and Katrina Tantoco Lobregat
Ricardo Preto, Donnie Tantoco, Robbie Tantoco
Katrina Tantoco Lobregat and Catherine Huang
Happy Birthday, Lolo Benny!
