Regarding your filter choices, definately stick with the Toyota item or the Ryco brand - these both have anti bleed devices in them, and given that your filter will be mounted upside down, any oil you can keep in the filter while letting the car sit, is a good thing. You can also soak the filter in a bit of oil to reduce knocking on initial oil change start up, though this is hard to do when you consider the mounting angle (personally, I fill every oil filter with enough oil before I install - some I can fill to the top, other only half way).
Regarding oil, i'm not prissy enough to sprout the virtues of synthetic oil or natural oil, or vice versa. Ideally, disregarding your preference for either, you need to pick an oil to suit your driving style - if it's basically daily driving the lightest oil you can comfortable use, will aid in economy, and provide suitable protection. if you'rea more spirited driver a higher viscosity oil will perform better at the warmer temperature of driving such a way - you need to decide what you're happy with?!
Personally, for all my daily drivers, I simply use Shell Helix, I can get 5L for $15, and considering I change my oil every 5000-8000Kms in those cars, it's fine for plodding round the streets. The better cars in my collection get anything from better mineral oils to synthetic oils too, and are changed much more regularly - I've even been known to change oil per event and sometimes even simply move the "good oil" onto the daily drivers.
Remember, oils are all brewed to a standard - the infomation will be on their packaging, and is a good indicator of their potential. Over time you'll develop an understanding of these ratings, if you can't - ask the sales staff - if they can't tell you, walk out (of Supercrap where you're being served by a 15 y/o), and find a decent parts store (Can I mention that I use and recommend Midland Auto One here?!!!).
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