13 things about Bentley College alum Paolo Tantoco

Juan Paolo “Paowee” Vargas Tantoco was a Filipino businessman. In the Philippines, he served as a Rustan Commercial Corporation executive, the Pacific Links Golf Development Inc. chief operating officer and the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Estate chief security and procurement officer.

In 1952, Tantoco’s grandparents Bienvenido “Benny” Tantoco Sr. and Gliceria “Glecy” Dimaano Rustia Tantoco founded Rustan’s in their residence on San Marcelino Street in Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. The name of the department store is a combination of Rustia and Tantoco.

Benny is Luis Tantoco and Carmen Fabella Rufino‘s son while Glecy is Juan Sison Rustia and Filomena Macasaet Dimaano Rustia‘s daughter. Benny and Glecy have seven children namely Rico Tantoco, Bienvenido Rustia Tantoco Jr., Zenaida “Nedy” Rustia Tantoco, Maria Carmencita “Menchu” Tantoco Lopez, Marilen Rustia Tantoco, Marilou “Merl” Tantoco Pineda and Maritess “Tokie” Tantoco Enriquez.

Rico and Nena Vargas Tantoco have seven children together. Paolo’s siblings are Donnie Tantoco, Joel Tantoco, Gippy Tantoco, Robbie Tantoco, Katrina Tantoco and Bea Tantoco.

BIOGRAPHY

Paolo and Bernardina “Dina” Arroyo Tantoco have three children namely Alana Arroyo Tantoco, Bella Arroyo Tantoco and Zach Arroyo Tantoco. Dina is Ignacio “Iggy” Tuason Arroyo and Marilene Jacinto‘s daughter.

After graduating from International School Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Paolo earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bentley College in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and a master’s degree from the Asian Institute of Management in Makati, Metro Manila. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. In 1993, he and his cousin Eman Pineda visited their grandmother Glecy in Morocco.
2. In June 1994, his grandmother Glecy died in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, USA at age 70.
3. In 2004, he and Dina started dating in the U.S.
4. On August 15, 2006, Dina gave birth to their daughter Alana in the U.S.
5. On September 21, 2006, he and Dina had a civil wedding in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
6. In 2007, he and Dina moved back from the U.S. to the Philippines.
7. On April 23, 2010, Dina gave birth to their daughter Bella.
8. On January 22, 2012, Dina gave birth to their son Zach.
9. On January 26, 2012, his father-in-law Iggy died in London, England, United Kingdom at age 61.
10. On September 17, 2016, he and Dina got married at the Montecito Chapel in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines.
11. In 2017, he graduated from the AIM.
12. On July 6, 2021, his grandfather Benny died at age 100.
13. On March 8, 2025, he died at age 44.

TIMELINE

Paolo and Dina first met as students at ISM. He is Rico and Nina’s sixth child.

2022

• His wife Dina became the deputy social secretary of the Malacañang Palace after Bongbong Marcos assumed office on June 30, 2022 as the 17th president of the Philippines.

2023

• On October 20, 2023, he attended the MassKarade Ball at the grand ballroom of Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

2024

• On February 8, 2024, his aunt Nedy died at age 77.

2025

• On January 6, 2025, he turned 44.
• At 12:05 p.m. on March 8, 2025, he was pronounced dead at a hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA.