VIPs toast ultra-slick new car showroom

QUINITO Henson, moi, BCDA chair Felicito Payumo, Mariter J. Macapagal and Cesar Gabaldon

Adding to its dealer network, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. opened its awesome world-class showroom, Toyota Global City (TGC), at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Located at the corner of University Parkway (38th Street) and 11th Avenue, TGC formally opened its ultramodern doors to the public with namedroppable invitees from the public and private sectors.

On hand to welcome the 600 or so invitees, dahlings, were my pal Arturo R. Macapagal and Alex J. Macapagal, chair and president of Toyota Global City, respectively, palanggas.

PLDT PRESIDENT Napoleon Nazareno, Arturo Macapagal, Alfred Ty and Michinobu Sugata

Helping father and son in entertaining the guests were Arthur’s wife, Mariter Jalandoni M., and daughter, Toyota Pasong Tamo’s assistant treasurer and Toyota Global City’s treasurer Melissa Mercado.

Witnessing the opening were Vice President Jejomar Binay and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Because Toyota is a global Japanese brand, the Japanese presence was evident, with Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe, and Masaaki Furukawa and Hiroyuki Niwa of the Toyota Tsusho Corp. of Japan.

ERNESTO Oppen, Antonio Oppen, Cora Ebdalin and Cecille Oppen

Guests enjoyed the extra-heavy bar chow and excellent dinner buffet table by Via Mare.

The hotshot executives of Toyota Motor Philippines led by Alfred Ty and Michinobu Sugata, vice chair and president of Toyota Motor Philippines, respectively, came in full force.

WELCOMING guests to the opening of the new Toyota Global City showroom in Taguig are Mariter Jalandoni, Alex J. Macapagal, Arturo R. Macapagal and Melissa M. Mercado.

“With the formal opening of our new Toyota outlet here at Toyota Global City, we are more than ready to render its brand of service,” said Macapagal. “Total customer satisfaction is its foremost goal to set a lifetime relationship with our customers.”

For more info, call Toyota Pasong Tamo, 8938084, and Toyota Global City, 8467777, palanggas.

Cova, new tapas resto

Some of my close pals rushed to the soft opening of the newest “IN” place in town, Cova, a tapas and sangria bar at 22 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati.

EVIE Guevara, Kaye Madrigal, Joey Monfort, Hench Tobias, Donald Deveza, Tatyana Guevara, Abi Al Hassan, PamEstacio, Mario Barrientos and Basil Leomo

The new place had been recommended by culinary expert Carla Reyes Tengco. As expected, it was a true discovery! It offers awesome tapas and jugs of ice-cold Sangria to drown it all with, dahlings.

The place was conceptualized by young and talented entrepreneurs Tatyana Guevara and Patrick Hesse. They had just come from Barcelona, Spain, where they did their culinary training in a Ritz-Carlton property called Hotel Arts.

“Since we are both food lovers, we decided to bring the Spanish experience of great tapas and refreshing Sangria back to Manila,” Tatyana told moi while we munched on the excellent choices of tapas.

Cova’s gorgeous cave-like interiors are created by Luigi Tabuena. Cova is Catalan for cave. Naturellement!

MAYO Rocha, John and Pilina Rocha

These two young entrepreneurs used their travels in different regions in Spain to conceptualize the menu, which feature the excellent Lengua con Setas in Mushroom Cream sauce; the to-die-for Ravioli de Rabo de Toro; dumplings with foie gras; and shiitake mushrooms and oxtail drizzled with a balsamic reduction and jus. Also check out the Huevos Cabreados, dahlings.

Cova’s variety of Sangrias include such bestsellers as the Signature Red Sangria and Summer Peachy White Wine Sangria, both made with freshly cut fruits no less.

Tatyana and Patrick said they are totally passionate about one thing—to bring the whole Spanish tapas bar experience to Cosmo Manille.

AT TOWNS reunion: Dr. June Lopez, Sen. Letty Shahani, Evelyn Singson, Dr. Espie Cabral and Dr. Lilian Patena

Cova is open Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-12 midnight; and Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Call 4789700.

Towns at Dusit Thani

It was women’s power day at Dusit Thani Manila’s Italian restaurant, Tosca, when the reunion of recipients of the The Outstanding Women of the Nations Service (TOWNS) was held.

TOWNS director Evelyn Singson welcomed the high-profile women achievers.

MEL TIANGCO, Bing Carrion and Elsa Payumo

Dusit Thani Manila’s executive chef Christian Werdenberg then rolled out his lavish buffet spread.

Later, the women applauded the chef when he was introduced après the filling but excellent dinner, dahlings.

TOWNS Foundation is a nationally recognized organization of women. “They empower its members to reach out to marginalized groups to become productive members of the society,” said Singson no less, palanggas.

Bravo all you gals! Take that well-deserved bow, dahlings.

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