A fictional café from a children’s storybook has become very much real — and it’s serving tea in the heart of Quezon City.
Ato Gaido, a Filipino IP-licensing brand rooted in original characters and storytelling, recently opened its first franchise tea shop at City Walk 2, Eastwood City, bringing with it a menu of artisan, health-forward beverages drawn from the lore of an imaginative world called Gaidopia. Behind this particular outpost are franchise owners Rhonda and Jess Salvani, who sat down for an interview on opening day to share how this unlikely venture came to be.
“Ato Gaido came from a storybook,” Rhonda explained. “It’s a fictional café in Gaidopia — a world from one of the children’s books, which is part of the IP.” The brand was founded by three Gen Z sisters: Guia Landicho, the CEO and eldest; Gail Landicho, the author; and Guen Landicho, the illustrator. Together, they built a fantasy universe populated by anthropomorphic tea characters called Gaidos — each one designed around a specific type of tea and its personality. Matchan, for instance, represents matcha: trendy, cool, and sporting a little green bob haircut.
The Salvanis’ connection to the Landichos is personal. “Their mom is my classmate from high school,” Rhonda said, laughing. And Jess added his own link: “Pinsang buo pala nya!” What began as years of open communication and spirited chats about tea eventually turned into a formal franchise partnership. The idea itself, however, had been brewing since 2021. “Nagsalita na kami about the idea ng Ato Gaido — at ngayon lang sya nag-umpisa nang 2026,” Rhonda noted. “That’s how long we have been trying.”
The Landicho sisters had long been tea drinkers — their mother runs The White Tea Shop in Dubai — and when they tested the concept abroad, the message came back clear: people want tea. Jess and Rhonda were persuaded. “When they brought up this idea, kami naman parang, ‘yeah, that sounds right! Let’s go for it!'” Rhonda recalled.
What sets Ato Gaido apart in a market saturated with sugar-heavy milk teas is its deliberate health philosophy. Every item on the menu is tea-infused — even the taho. “Lahat ng products namin, tea-infused sya,” Jess said. “Akala mo hindi ka umiinom ng tsaa, pero may tsaa yun.” Sweeteners are limited to muscovado sugar and fermented tea, and cow’s milk is swapped for soy. “Sugar-wise, siguro na-cut na ‘yung sugar mo nun by 75%,” Rhonda estimated.
Central to the menu is white tea — and the science behind it is compelling. White tea is the least processed of all tea varieties, undergoing only withering and drying, which allows it to retain the highest concentration of antioxidants among true teas. Research published in peer-reviewed literature confirms that white tea contains high levels of catechins and polyphenols — compounds linked to reduced risk of heart disease, improved skin health, and anti-inflammatory effects. “White tea is the most natural tea type,” Rhonda said, echoing what nutritionists have long noted. “It only goes through two steps: withering and drying, and is known for its high antioxidant content.”
The shop’s standout offering is the Skin Glow White Tea Latte — a collagen-infused drink made with 100% pure white tea, lavender, and plant-based milk. Also on the menu: imperial-grade matcha lattes (non-bitter, Rhonda promises), date-infused drinks using dates sourced directly from Dubai (“Pag gutom ka, at ayaw mo nang kumain ng iba, dates lang busog ka na!”), tofu drinks, lavender beverages, and fermented tea lattes. Glassware at the shop is generously sized. “We don’t shortchange our customers,” Rhonda said, holding up one of their tall glasses with a grin.
And while the wellness angle might seem at odds with popular taste, the Salvanis are unafraid to push back against convention. “We’re actually swimming against the tide,” Rhonda admitted. “Everytime they come here, we try to educate about it.” That education, they say, is the whole point. “Gusto naming i-educate ang mga Pilipino: masarap po ang tsaa!”
Each drink at Ato Gaido comes with a free character sticker, and a book series expanding the Gaidopian universe is in the works — keeping the brand’s roots in storytelling very much alive, one cup at a time.
Ato Gaido Eastwood is located at City Walk 2, Eastwood City, Quezon City.
