Lexus unleashed in historic glory

So huge was the guest list that visitors were evenly distributed—almost—over three days at the state-of-the-art Lexus Manila HQ along 34th and 8th streets at the Global City in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

There were no less than 800 invited guests, coming from the broadest spectrum of the country’s elite, high-heeled and Parisian-perfumed socialites.

They mingled freely with several topnotch members of the diplomatic corps headed by the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Makoto Katsura; car-loving Cabinet officials like Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, Jesli Lapus and Trade Secretary Peter Favila; and, some of the so-called industry captains like PLDT’s Manny V. Pangilinan, the Zobel-Ayalas and young taipan Lance Gokongwei and her sister, Lisa the magazine queen.

Basketball star James Yap was also there. According to the grapevine, James was sent by his wife, the TV-movie star Kris Aquino, to the launch “to scout the best model” from the five Lexus variants launched on January 14 to 16. It is no secret that Kris, the daughter of former President Cory Aquino, is a fierce car buff.

Lani Misalucha, the Filipina superstar now based in Las Vegas, was brought in for a two-night performance.

Contracted to dish out at least eight songs for a reported hefty sum of P1 million, Misalucha relented and sang more, including the Pavarotti staple, “Nessun Dorma.” With her wineglass-shattering pitch, Misalucha literally brought the house down with her rendition of “Nessun Dorma.”

ONE dealer in the South, who spoke on condition of anonymity “lest I be judged guilty of grandstanding,” said that he has gotten four orders already of the LX570 SUV “months before the Lexus launch.”

He said Lexus may be expensive, but yacht-owners would consider every Lexus buy a mere drop in the bucket.

“And how many of our wealthy families here own yachts?” he said. “One yacht costs roughly P20 million.”

In the first two nights alone of the three-night binge, Lexus cornered eight buys.

“One person alone, I was completely stunned, bought four different units tonight,” said Isla on the second night of the launch.

One youngish lad clad in a well-pressed, dark suit—joy etched all over his face—approached Isla to break the biggest breakthrough in his infant career as a car salesman: “Sir, I just clinched my first-ever sale,” Carlo Chungunco told Isla. “The buyer, though, has requested that his receipt be numbered ‘001’, indicating he is Buyer No. 1.”

Smiling broadly at his ward’s historic accomplishment, Isla said, “Done.”

The kid walked away quietly—grinning from ear to ear.