Sunday Lifestyle

Rico Tantoco gets award from the King of Morocco

June 19, 2011 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Last June 13, the Consulate of Morocco hosted a cocktail reception at South Forbes Park for the decoration ceremony of the Order of Quissam Alaouite in honor of Bienvenido “Rico” Rustia Tantoco, Jr. for his loyal and dedicated work as Consul General ad honorem of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of the Philippines.

Established in 1913, the Order of Quissam Alaouite or The Royal Order of Al-Alouie was given by the command of the King of Morocco to civilians and military officers who have either displayed the spirit of true heroism in combat or have provided exemplary and meritorious service to the country.

In behalf of King Mohammed VI, Dr. Samir Arrour - Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco - conferred to Bienvenido R. Tantoco, Jr. the military decoration for Quissam Alaouite Grand Officer in appreciation and esteem from the King of Morocco for his meritorious service to the Moroccan state.

Guest of honor for the evening was Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who came with his wife Cristina Ponce Enrile and their daughter Katrina Ponce Enrile.

Heading the Tantoco family that evening were Rico’s father Ambassador Bienvenido R. Tantoco, Sr., Rico’s wife Nena, eldest son Donnie and wife Crickette, sons Gippy and Paolo with wife Hindy and Dina respectively, daughters Bea and Katrina with husband Paolo Lobregat.

Philippine STAR EVP Grace Glory Go, Ambassador Tantoco Sr., and Maritess Pineda

Other guests that evening are Ambassador Moosa Abdulwahid Alkhajah of United Arab Emirates, Ambassador Adbullah Ahmed Yousif Al-Mutawaa of Qatar, Ambassador Waleed Ahmad Alkandari of Kuwait, Ambassador Malai Halimah Yusoff of Brunei, Ambassador Luca Fornari of Italy and his wife Silvana, Ambassador Wadee Batti Hanna Al-Batti of Iraq, Ambassador Roberto Mayorga Lorca of Chile, Consul General of Australia and Dean of the Consular Corps of the Philippines Hugh Wilson, Armenia Consul General Jun Periquet, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Domingo Albert, and Assistant Secretary Ambassador Virgilio Reyes, Instituto Cervantes director Pepe Rodriguez, and Novartis CEO Eric Van Oppens with his Moroccan wife Nawal Bendafa.