NOW YOU CAN PLAN, SHOP, AND ORDER IKEA'S FULL RANGE IN A 500-SQM STORE AT TRINOMA

Have you ever wanted to design your dream Ikea kitchen or bedroom but dreaded the long drive all the way to Pasay City? You're not alone.

- LAI S. REYES

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte even joked that it's faster to visit Ikea's store in Hong Kong than to brave Metro Manila traffic.

As it turns out, the mayor has long been an Ikea fan. "Back when I was a postgraduate student abroad, most of my furniture pieces came from Ikea," she shared, recalling how she wondered why the brand hadn't opened in the Philippines when she returned home to work.

"Now, it's finally here — and right in Quezon City!" she said, beaming. For Mayor Belmonte, having an Ikea store in QC feels like things have come full circle.

At the launch of Ikea's Plan and Order Shop at TriNoma, Mayor Belmonte was joined by Swedish Ambassador Anna Ferry, Ayala Land senior vice president and head of leasing and hospitality Mariana Zobel de Ayala, and Ikea executives led by country retail manager Ricardo Pinheiro.

"I thank Ikea for their faith in our city," Mayor Belmonte said. "Hindi kayo nagkamali! (You made the right decision!) Quezon City is the largest city in the Philippines, with a total population of 3.2 million. As Ricardo said earlier, many of the customers who come to your Pasay store are actually from QC."

Bragging aside, the mayor noted that just a few days ago, Quezon City received the Hall of Fame Award for being the Most Business-Friendly City in the country. "And I want to make sure that it's easy doing business here — if and when you decide to put up Ikea's warehouse here," she enthused.