MANILA, Philippines - Although she?s one of the most composed women we know?easily the quintessential manager?Zenaida ?Nedy? Tantoco couldn?t mask her emotion as she recalled her first day on the job last July as Rustan?s Commercial Corp. president. It marked her return to the helm of department store after 20 years.

?What I realized when I went through each store as I started my ?tour of duty? was simply that I have to ensure that all of Mommy?s ways are put in place and to remind the staff to practice them daily,? she told Inquirer last Thursday.

?Then make the store the most exciting place to be in this Christmas.?

?Mommy? is Glecy Tantoco, the dynamic, feisty woman who introduced high-end and luxury retail in the country in the ?70s and built Rustan?s into a brand that had ties to international fashion houses in the ?80s and ?90s. She passed away in 1994, only 70 years old.

Yet last week, as Nedy Tantoco hosted a media lunch in the store?s boardroom, it became apparent that no effort has been spared to make the spirit of Glecy Tantoco alive and palpable.

The luncheon table styled festively for Christmas decor, with piña tablecloth and piña chair drapes, faced the life-size Galicano portraits of Glecy Tantoco and her husband, Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco. Hanging on the walls of the corridor leading to the boardroom were drawings of Philippine flora made by Filipino artists?the harvest from a contest staged by Glecy Tantoco in the ?70s.

However, the Glecy touch didn?t end there. It was in the details that defined the merchandise display all over the store?flowers here and there, accessories such as bags hanging on each clothes? rack to cue in shoppers about accessorizing.

Her priority since she assumed her role was, Nedy said, ?enhancing the merchandise display, everything. As Mommy did, there must be flowers at the cosmetics counter to remind the shopper about beauty. Clear up the aisles to define the merchandise better.?

She recalled how her mother was strict about the most subtle details. ?The store must smell nice, she insisted. The scent must greet you as you walked to the cosmetics counter,? Nedy said.

Nedy was elected president last July by the RCC board composed of her father and siblings, with her brother, Bienvenido Jr. as chairman.

Easily the most awesome transformation is the store?s Christmas Shoppe a visual feast of theme decor, stuffed polar bear toys, Christmas tree trimmings, a play of happy colors and glitter.

Rustan?s hopes to lure holiday shoppers with its theme, ?Come home to Rustan?s this Christmas.? Even the trademark gift wrapper has been changed from the classic silver, red, to a hip orange.

?We?ll go for more creative merchandise that will be the talk of the town,? Nedy said. As she gave media a tour of the store, she introduced those working with her, starting with her sister Marilen Valbuena who prepared the sumptuous lunch; Inno Sotto as creative director who focuses on fashion; the third-generation Tantoco led by Nedy?s son, Anton Huang who is Executive Vice President; Katrina Tantoco Lobregat and her husband Paolo (the former handling fashion and the latter, the Discovery men?s section); Hindy Tantoco; Dina and Paolo Tantoco.

In the late ?80s, after close mentoring by her parents, Nedy made her mark as Philippine retail?s well-rounded manager known for her marketing savvy, strong pulse of market?and a martinet?s skill for organization.

?Retailing is detail,? she told us now, adding that she must summon the energy to attend to the nitty gritty.

She now easily ticks off the measures to be done to make 56-year-old Rustan?s prevail in the 21st century competitive retail: ?Exclusive merchandise. Our customer-first policy. Creative ambiance throughout the store. Purchase assembly counters, Even valet parking. Easier credit installment plan tie-up with Citibank, and generous rewards program for Citi-Rustan?s credit card holders.?

Brisk Christmas sales will be, Nedy said, her ?baptism of fire. That, or I don?t want to get fired.?

We could only laugh at that unlikely prospect as we ended lunch and walked into the elevator. The elevator girl, we noticed, in white barong uniform, was fully made-up. Detail. TSS