Executive dads respond to the call of Dutti

MANILA, Philippines - As powerful individuals in their respective companies, Metrobank Foundation president Chito Sobrepeña and Rustan’s Supercenters Inc. president Donnie Tantoco seamlessly lead their companies and at the same time share unfathomable closeness with their sons and daughters. This time, Massimo Dutti celebrates dads and their immeasurable care as they continue to cope with their busy schedules and still have a great time with their children. 

 “One Father’s Day celebration, I made him a video saying the 10 reasons why he’s the best dad,” shares Gab Sobrepena, Chito’s eldest son and now a sales consultant at Lexus Manila Inc. “And on the last slide I placed: ‘We’re best friends but we just don’t know it.’” With that, Chito confirms the close relationship he has with his sons Gab and Raf and the rest of his family.

Given the big responsibilities in his hands as one of the Metrobank Foundation’s leaders, he made it a point to be involved while his sons were growing up. They would have what they call a “one-on-one” wherein the boys spent individual time with their dad over and above the time they spend altogether as a family. “So during this time that’s when I would find out what’s new with them, and they also got to share their concerns,” continues Chito. Gab still enthuses that his dad remains his idol. “I think I have big shoes to fill. He is someone I can look up to. And I picked a formal ensemble for him because I see him as a leader as he manages his people and his family well.”

Raf in the same way looks up to his dad. As a business management student at the Ateneo and currently an intern at HSBC he says, “I look at him like a friend. But I still respect the hierarchy in the family and that he is my father. He is just really very lively and fun when with me.” He chose to dress his dad in a very casual style to show how we wants his dad to be, “very relaxed, very calm, nothing work related, everything’s very comfortable so I went for that look.” Thus he summarizes what his dad truly is for him: awesome.

Nicole Tantoco on the other hand proudly shares, “My dad is superman!” and in the same way, her twin sister Camille Tantoco is also happy to say how his dad Donnie leads by example. “Even as the president of the company, he goes to work before anyone else to encourage his employees to be punctual.” As they put it, no matter how swamped their dad is with work, he still makes sure to spend as much time with them as possible. Nicole continues, “We’re really tight with our dad and we often go to him for advice.”

During Father’s Day, Nicole and Camille together with their brother prepare songs “or sometimes, we just draw something for him to keep it simple yet very meaningful,” says Camille. The twins also share the same sentiments when it comes to choosing outfits for their dad. Nicole shares, “Dad always prefers to be in basic colors and styles. But sometimes it would be nice to see him with pops of color!”

All in all, they both agree, “He’s a really good dad… and he would always say that his barkada is his family.”

Truly one can say that what Chito and Donnie share with their kids is beyond hierarchy within the family — most importantly, they also share friendship.

Massimo Dutti has created for men this season a vintage feel for a classic look tweaked with a touch of modernity. Bold colors such as sea green, blue, vibrant orange, red and deep purples coexist with earth tones and shades of asphalt. Over the basic pieces are the cotton cardigans and nylon jackets teamed with trousers and jeans. To match there’s footwear such as loafers in suede and leather, boat shoes, and casual sneakers finished off with either casual accessories or contemporary designed cufflinks to give that distinct style.

Being a dad may just be one of the most fulfilling professions. And with Massimo Dutti’s great attention to style and detail, every pillar of the family comes out sleek and in-style any time of the day.

In the Philippines, Massimo Dutti is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 5 and Power Plant Mall.