Manila’s new sole-mate

Bata, a pioneer of innovative footwear for more than 120 years, launched its first store in the Philippines at SM Megamall. 

The shoe company’s chief marketing officer and the founder’s great grandson Thomas Bata graced the occasion. “We’re very happy to be here. Bata is a fantastic company that is very value-oriented with very strong ethics and values,” said Thomas.

He was likewise excited about opening a store in the Philippines, which he described as a “very modern market.”

“I think our message of style, comfort and great price is a perfect fit,” he said.

In fact, he has quite an “ambitious vision” for the footwear company in the country, seeing a “national presence with many excited consumers who buy our products and enjoy them so they keep coming back.”

The T.&A. Bata Shoe Company was registered in Zin, Czechoslovakia by the siblings Tomas, Anna and Antonin Bata in 1894. (Almost one century after the company was formed, Czechoslovakia dissolved into Czech Republic and Slovak Republic in 1993.)

Innovative from the beginning, Bata is all about century-old traditions of a one-man cobbler’s workshop. Known for its contemporary styles and quality and affordable products, the shoe company enjoys a long history as a leading manufacturer and retailer of quality footwear. It proudly serves some one million customers from its 5,000 international retail stores in over 70 countries each day.

The bright, friendly and inviting interiors of Bata at SM Megamall give customers an exciting and convenient shopping experience. The store also highlights different brands like Ambassador, which offers a wide range of footwear for men in lace-up and slip-ons for formal occasions; Power, a brand designed in Canada, with style, technological features, comfort and durability for athletic and sports enthusiasts; and Weinbrenner, “strong shoes” built to suit the true outdoor personalities.

Bata also has brands for the younger market like North Star, a sports casual footwear and accessories brand inspired by world trends and young people’s versatility; and Bubblegummers for kids.

(Bata Store is located at 3/L, SM Megamall Building B.)

Time for Summer

Summer has arrived early at EDSA Shangri-La Manila as its well-loved Cantonese restaurant Summer Palace recently re-opened its doors after months of remodelling and transformation. 

The restaurant’s fresh and contemporary interiors, done by Hong Kong-based designer BTR Workshop Limited, are a unique blend of East and West, and inspired by the history and richness of the Manila Galleon Trade of centuries past. Its walls are dressed in blue and white porcelain and punctuated by bold shades of red, with modern lines, plush fabrics and handpicked art pieces.

The main dining hall can accommodate up to 250 people and has abundant natural light pouring through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to a view of the hotel’s lush landscaped gardens. There are three spacious private rooms: Dragon, Phoenix, with its own private entrance, and Peony, with the ability to convert to three smaller rooms.

Executive Chinese chef Tony Sum, dim sum chef Andy Liew and director of Chinese operations Nancy Farm have prepared a line-up of new dishes for guests to enjoy. The 8 Treasures special, a collection of signature creations, includes Summer Palace’s special thousand-layer radish rolls, sautéed fresh peeled crab meat and scallops with egg, and the grilled lamb rack with cumin in “Mongolian style.”

Guests may continue to enjoy the restaurant’s sumptuous array of signature classics like hot prawn salad with fresh fruits, braised fish fillet with eggplant in hot pot, sweet and sour pork, braised pumpkin and taro in coconut milk and birthday noodles. There is also a selection of all-time-favorite dim sum such as steamed baby abalone dumplings, fried lobster rolls, deep-fried two kinds of eggs with almond seeds and baked charcoal buns with seafood. The restaurant’s wine cellar boasts a selection of wines to pair with Summer Palace’s wide range of creative cuisine.

Amit Oberoi, EDSA Shangri-La Manila general manager, said, “This is not a ‘new’ Summer Palace, rather, a re-invention of a timeless classic. The brand of service and culinary excellence that our guests know and love so well remain the same. These spaces have seen countless milestones celebrated through the years and we look forward to celebrating many more, even unto the next generation, that will find Summer Palace to be a refreshing and fun place to enjoy a special meal with friends.”

Summer Palace has been touted for its extraordinary Cantonese cuisine since it began its operations in 1992. This place is definitely in my Top 3 Chinese restaurants in Manila, especially with the special attention guests get from Summer Palace’s asset, Nancy Farm. *

(For inquiries and reservations, call 633-8888 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com/manila/edsashangrila or EDSA Shangri-La, Manila on Facebook.)

(Follow me on Instagram@pepperteehankee.)