This is a really fabulous deal since its applicable to all destinations and also on Fun Tours Packages and Hotel Plus bookings.

Cebu Pacific flies to 14 international destinations – Hong Kong and Singapore , Osaka, Incheon, Pusan (via Cebu), Taipei, Macau, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Jakarta. It also flies to over 30 domestic destinations.

Hurry and book now! Bookings can be done online, through www.cebupacificair.com or call the reservation hotlines at (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888.

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Everyday from my hometown in Bacacay I would travel to my school in Legazpi City and Mayon Volcano is always in the background, a familiar scenery.  It’s just there, and there are times it gets easy for me to ignore it, but there’s no denying its beauty. And awesome power.

My father used to tell me stories about eruptions in the past when residents near the base of Mayon would know when eruptions are imminent. In times where volcanology is a science at its infancy, warnings and safety products almost unheard of, these residents relied on warnings given by nature. Wells would dry up, the smell of sulfur getting stronger, wild animals coming down from the slopes, all signaling for residents to relocate – the ever subtle Mayon is getting ready to unleash its fury.

Oftentimes Mayon Volcano would erupt subtly. Perhaps that is why its name was taken from the Bicol phrase – “Daragang Magayon” meaning beautiful maiden. It seldom erupts with strong and violent explosions. Just recently, Mayon Volcano woke up again and  went on to display some really subtle, picturesque but dangerous eruption. Now that I’m living in Phnom Penh, I could just content myself with watching this on the news and checking out videos on the net.

Found this clips really so awesome ..

A video shot along Padang, Sto. Domingo, Albay. A small where previous lahar flows from the volcano has totally leveled and left almost like a ghost town..

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Check out the article about this on the Phnom Penh Post..

Philippine budget carrier Cebu Pacific has been given the go ahead to fly direct routes to and from Manila to Phnom Penh to start on the spring of 2010 (no specific launch date yet) . This was announced by the Minister of Tourism Thong Khon.

“Cebu Air is authorised to start flying to our country in March or April next year,” he said, citing a memorandum of understanding signed by Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on September 16 to open the airways between the two countries.

SSCA Cabinet Chief Long Chheng said the two sides were currently working on ironing out the details of the flights. “I am not sure of the exact date the flights will commence because I have received no confirmation,” he said, adding that an Air Service Agreement (ASA) still must to be signed by both parties.

Now at least there is some developments…Hopefully, these the direct flights between Manila and Phnom Penh will be a reality soon.. Spring months are March, April and May, right? I’m still crossing my fingers. Obviously I hate the stopovers and connecting flights, well its a big waste of time =)

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Cebu Pacific is offering ‘Go Lite’ P1 seat sale to all international and domestic destinations starting now until November 2, 2009, or until the allotted 100,000 seats are sold out. Travel period is June 15 to September 30, 2010. For online bookings only. Hurry!! Book Now.

The promotion covers all domestic routes as well as its international destinations – Kota Kinabalu, Taipei, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Busan, Shanghai, Incheon and Osaka.

‘Go Lite’ means no check-in luggage but if you go heavy on shopping, you simply need to add in P100 for check-in luggage.

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Shopping for gifts is no small feat for anyone. Specially if you’re shopping for a number close to hundreds. Well it all starts with careful planning and the three most important things – a list, of course – money, and the sincere thought of giving.  Going to bargain places, and shopping malls is surely enjoyable for  any shop o’holic  like me but there’s really a limit to how much you can take. It would eat up a lot of time and just squeezing through those crowded places would be enough to drain you of energy.

What I would usually do then is to combine shopping the traditional way with online shopping. I pick things I can get from the malls and I have things listed I could buy online.

When I was in Manila I was a big fan of Ebay.ph, Auction.ph as well as Multiply sites. Though at first I was wary but  I only had one bad experience with online shopping when I bought a web camera and when it arrived it wasn’t working but the seller was still very helpful and replaced it as soon as I contacted him.

Shopping online of course has its cons. You can’t see the product physically before making the purchase but more often than not online sellers have a return policy. There is also the possibility of it having defects etc.

The best advantage I could think of is the convenience. Simpy choose from the products online, pay for it, then wait for it to be delivered which usually happens within 2-3 days tops. You also get bigger deals and discounts from shopping online. Online sellers don’t have the added burden of paying for store rentals so they could pass on the savings for customers. I also got a lot of freebies from online sellers. I remember I bought 2 dresses from a Filipina Multiply seller and with it she sent me a set of grooming items and a pricey face cream as bonus.

Another advantage is that you can get really unique items online. Wether you’re looking for a one of kind dress, a last season designer dress, a comfy Naot shoes, accessories, bags etc. you can easily find these online. If you’re looking for a different outfit, online shops are one of your best bets.

Here’s some tips on how to clinch a good online deal:

• Have an idea of what to buy. Make a list. If its your first foray into online shopping buy items whose prices are not so astronomical, I mean I don’t think you’d want to buy an LCD TV for  your first item would you?
• Research well and compare prices. Once you know which vendors you want to deal with, then read more reviews about them, check out testimonials from their previous clients. If you have friends who frequently shops online, get their recommendations.
• Make sure you understand the terms and conditions, payment options, return policies.
• Factor in the shipping charges as well as shipping locations. Some vendors does not ship to provinces while others agree to meet-ups.
• If you have questions about the product or any pre-sales questions more often than not, sellers can easily be reached via mobile or private messages and they would most certainly welcome your questions so don’t hesitate from contacting them.

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Anyway, its finally confirmed that the much anticipated (it’s probably just me haha!) signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and the Philippines allowing direct flights between the two countries happened last September 16, 2009. I got this update from my fave Cambodian news portal – Phnom Penh Post. Yahoo! So that’s one step along the way.

The Philippines’ proposal to open seven weekly flights from Manila to Phnom Penh, 14 flights a week from Clark to Phnom Penh, plus 14 weekly flights to the capital from elsewhere in the Philippines is currently being reviewed by the Cambodian government.

SSCA Cabinet Chief Long Chheng is optimistic that both the Philippines and Cambodia will reach an Air Service Agreement by the end of this year.

Great news right?  The number of Pinoys working here and vacationing here in Cambodia are increasing in numbers so this would definitely be a big help for us. Shorter travel time and cheaper air fares. Now, hubby is worried if this pushes through I might decide to go on a weekly Phnom Penh-Manila jaunts Haha come to think of it, isn’t that a fab idea?

Latest Update here – Update to Direct Flights: Manila – Phnom Penh

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Proceeds from the ChipIn widget above goes directly to Philippine National Red Cross PayPal account: give@redcross.org.ph

I feel awful and nauseous as I wait for the news about the flooding in Manila. I searched the net for several hours last night just to see the photos and any news about the flooding.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Mike Alquinto

Image Credit: Reuters/Erik de Castro

Image Credits: Reuters/Erik de Castro

Image credits: Reuters/Erik de Castro

For more photos  check out Yahoo News, CNN.

I had trouble contacting my parents who live in Bicol region, been trying to reach then via mobile phone   but for some reason I can’t just reach them but I feel quite relieved though that Bicol has not been flooded. I am still very concerned though because my brother and some close relatives are all in Manila and I haven’t been able to contact them.

It’s unbearable for me to watch the videos and the photos but I can’t help but keep looking. This is definitely the worst flood in Metro Manila for as long as I can remember. I lived there for several years and though we experienced heavy rains at times but never had flooding to this extent.

Take a  look at this slideshow submitted by jpdperez @ CNN’s iReport.

More user submitted videos and photos @ CNN’s iReport

As of is this time Tropical storm Ketsana/Typhoon Ondoy has left 106 dead while others still missing.

The victims of the flood is in dire need of our help. Food, medicine, clothing are much needed. You may send donations to Philippine Red Cross.

1.  CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross.  We can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2.  BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name:  The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

METROBANK
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
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BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
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Peso Acct.:  4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT

BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code:  BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.

Other donations, please visit www.redcross.org.ph

Other institutions as well as private citizens have also organized relief aid, donations and volunteer networks. BuryMeinThisDress blog has a comprehensive list of where you can send your donations. SourPolitics also has a good list of emergency hotlines and relief operations.

For those online, you may also send donations via Paypal using ChipIn set up by PhilippineAid.com. I’ve embedded the widget above. Proceeds will go to Philippine Red Cross.

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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**Update 9/29/09: Cambodia-Philippines signs air flight deal. Just click the link to read the post. At least now its official!

This news definitely is making my day. I was browsing the Phnom Penh Post (one of my daily morning rituals) and I was reading the article about the national airline (Cambodia Angkor Air), and a short include caught my attention. The article quoted Minister of Tourism Thong Khon and mentioned that,

“He added that direct flights to Manila on Philippine Airlines would start later this year following an agreement due to be signed Wednesday.”

Check out the entire article at the Phnom Penh Post.

Now, isn’t that a terrific news? We’ve been waiting for this for sometime since there has been rumors a few years back that the Philippine flag carrier as well as the budget airline Cebu Pacific has been applying for adding direct flights to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. There is a sizeable Filipino community here in Cambodia and at the same time there are a lot of tourists here in Cambodia so hopefully this could also encourage them to include the Philippines in their iteneraries.

Before we used to come to Phnom Penh via Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong or Ho Chi Minh and the trip would usually take around a day to complete because of the stop overs and its such a hassle too especially if you’re traveling with kids so direct flights would really cut short the travel time plus a big savings on the airfare.

That means Manila will just be less than a four-hour trip away from Phnom Penh!!! Hubby is now kidding me that he bets I’ll probably be booking the first ever seat on the first-ever flight! Can you blame me? I’m just too excited as it is..

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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She was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year and confined to a Manila hospital for more than a month. Her son said the cancer had spread to other organs and she was too weak to continue chemotherapy.

I would always recall Cory as the smiling, bespectacled woman wearing yellow dresses. She may have faced a lot of coups, challenges and criticisms during and after her term as president, but it remains that she is so much a part of Philippine history, of Filipino culture and pride. The Philippine’s first lady president. That in itself, inspires people, women in particular.

May she rest in peace and condolonces to the Aquino family and the rest of the Filipinos. And here’s to hoping that democracy which Cory has helped fight for would remain.

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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What is it about Goldilocks that always evokes wistful thoughts and happy memories for me? Luscious cakes, tasty breads and pastries, halo-halo, mais con yelo, crema de fruta, yes, they are all delectable, but there is one Goldilocks product I hold special in my heart – the Goldilocks classic polvoron.

When I was a child, my parents were both busy with their careers. Papa was working for the police force and was mostly away during night time while Mama was a busy career woman too. She frequently travels and would be away for days, sometimes weeks.

My sister and I was usually left to the care of baby sitters. That doesn’t mean we were unhappy, in fact, our childhood years was a joyful one for me. For all their hectic schedules, Papa and Mama would always find time to spend with us and I never felt deprived of “bonding moments” with them. When they are away, we would always look forward to them coming back. All the more so because Papa and Mama would always have a big pack of Goldilocks Classic Polvoron as our “pasalubong”. For a child like me then, this means that somehow, even if they are busy somewhere else, Papa and Mama are always thinking of us.

I remember one time, Mama went for a conference in Davao and she was gone for more than a week. When she came back, there was an airline mixup and her luggage ended up being left in Davao. She didn’t bother waiting for her things to arrive but rushed home, leaving her luggage with only her Goldilocks “pasalubong” for us. I was so moved and I suddenly knew how precious we are to her.

Over the years, bringing home a Goldilocks Classic Polvoron has become some sort of tradition for us. When we finished school and were holding jobs of our own, it was our turn to bring home a Goldilocks pasalubong. It’s just our simple way of showing our gratitude to our parents, for their love and affection, for raising us well, for being there for us then and now..

You’re the 1 Goldilocks because you’re always there to turn life’s simple moments into memorable ones..

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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When we flew in last October 2008, we just brought along some essentials as we were were traveling with our daughter and our priority was her comfort and I preferred bringing more of her stuff than all our other things. We still have a lot of things we have accumulated for the past four years in the Philippines. I just packed it up in shipping boxes and I was intending to ship it all to my parent house in Bicol for storing until we go back next year so I could sort it out.

I didn’t have the time though to send it out to Bicol so it’s now in storage at my brother’s place in Cavite. We still have a lot of clothes, a lot of books, my “precious” DVD collection (which I regret leaving behind when during bouts of boredom here..), some gadgets and accessories. I’m planning to have it shipped here but let’s wait and see coz I still want to sort it out and give out what we could purchase here.

Moving around could be really tough be I guess I’m getting used to it now. For now though, were staying put here and will just fly over to visit my parents and siblings every now and then..

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Growing up with parents who are avid gardeners and with a big lot where we could all plant all we want, gardening has been part of my life. I remember my childhood days when after school we’d be doing our assigned chores around the garden.

My mom loves ornamentals and flowering plants while my father is all hooked into his tree nursery. A lot of people ask why we find gardening so gratifying, and we really can’t exactly say what makes it so pleasurable. Sometimes its like taking care of a child, and when it bears fruit or it flowers just looking at it is just heavenly. It also a plus that our yard looks great.

I am thankful for gardening for helping keep my parents fit and healthy. My dad has survived diabetes and cancer and he’s now a year from turning 80 yet he’s fit and healthy. A big factor is the time he spends exercising tending to his garden. It also keeps them from being so stressed and with a beautiful garden to look at,well worrisome thoughts would definitely be far from your mind.

This time though, our place in Phnom Penh is right at the city and doesn’t have much space for gardening, so I miss it terribly. Watering plants, fertilizing, weeding, even talking to plants I really miss. We plan on getting another place where we could have a garden in the next five years but for now I have to content myself with some small potted ornamentals and orchids..

Here’s some more photos of our garden back home in the Philippines..

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Instructions

This is a prayer tag and link for the Philippines and the Filipinos. You are enjoined to utter this prayer for nine (9) consecutive days and to tag as many bloggers as you can with preference for Filipinos. But only bona fide Filipinos shall be included in the official registry of Filipino bloggers in this blog. Each time a new blogger makes a link, be sure to send me an email of the entire link through melalarilla@gmail.com so that the official list will be consolidated in a master list in this blog. For our Muslim brothers, you may make your own special prayer formula but you must never deviate from the formula of this entire post.

Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, we consecrate to you our beloved country- the Philippines and all the Filipinos around the world. We acknowledge Father that apart from You, we can do nothing and it is only your divine providence and grace that can unite all Filipinos as one nation. We therefore humble ourselves before your throne. We confess all our sins to you individually and collectively as a nation. Forgive us our sins Father and wash us clean by the precious blood of Your beloved Son- Jesus Christ. Mend our wicked ways and let us experience a strong and genuine spiritual revival for ourselves and for our country. Let the Holy Spirit imbibe us with power, love and wisdom to return to Your path of holiness and righteousness. Bless our country, heavenly father. Bless all Filipinos wherever they maybe. Let progress, unity, harmony, stability, justice, peace and prosperity reign in our country.

Bless our leaders, from the President down to the lowest Barangay official. Touch their hearts that they may serve our country with all honesty and with love and integrity. Bless our children and our future generation. And bless us all Father in all aspects of our lives. This we pray to You heavenly Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Name Address Name of Blog URL

3. Lavern Tan Las Pinas City, Philippines Pinoy Ambisyoso url- http://pinoyambisyoso.com

6. Bloggista – Marikina, Philippines – Bloggista – url- http://www.bloggista.com/
7. Chris A. – Cavite, Philippines – CMAQuest – url- http://cmaquest.blogspot.com/
8. Aisha – Eugene, Oregon, USA – The Holley Herald – url – http://www.theholleyherald.com/
9. Rowena – Davao City, Philippines – All Out My Naked Truth- Rowena – url – http://rowenabongabong.blogspot.com/
10. Icymar Tagimacruz – Cebu, Philippines – Kreative Myndz – url- http://www.icymartagimacruz.blogspot.com/
11. Pat Mangubat – Philippines – New Philippine Revolution – url- http://newphilrevolution.blogspot.com/
12. Empress – Cebu, Philippines – Empress of Drac.Com – url- http://www.empressofdrac.com/
13. Marilou Domingo – Philippines – Ibanag in the City – url- http://ibanaginthecity.blogspot.com/
14. Ester Besmonde – Canada – Walk Through Money Online Journal – url- http://www.teyonlinejournal.com/
15. Ramon Paulino – Quezon City, Philippines – FatherlYours.com – u rl- http://www.fatherlyours.com/
16. Mindanaoan – Mindanao, Philippines – Mindanaoan – url- http://www.maindaoan.com/
17. Bloggie – Davao City, Philippines – Davao Bloggers Network – url- http://www.davaoblogs.net/
18. Xerendipity – Dumaguete City, Philippines – Obnoxious Queer – url- http://obnoxiousqueer.com/
19. Viviene C. (Bingkee) – Connecticut, USA – I Love/Hate America – url- http://www.fliploveusa.typepad.com/
20. Roy – Angeles City, Philippines – The Struggling Blogger – url- http://thestrugglingblogger.168center.com/
21. Janette Toral (Ada) – Marikina City, Philippines – Blogging From Home – url- http://www.bloggingfromhome.com/
22. Milton Coyne III (Bluedreamer27) – Cavite City, Philippines – Bluedreamer’s Top Five – url- http://bluedreamer27.blogspot.com/
23. Marites dlR – Davao City, Philippines – Me, the islands and the world – url- http://www.pinaylighterside.com/
24. Mauie Flores – Cainta, Rizal, Philippines – Living a Sugar-free Sweet Life! – url- http://www.maureenflores.com/
25. MsRay – Bacolod City, Philippines – Woman on a Journey – url- http://www.msray2008.com/
26. Pia Go Olano – Philippines – My Life’s Journey – url- http://myblog2002.blogspot.com/
27. Jena Isle – Pampanga, Philippines – Random Thoughts – url- http://jenaisle-candidthoughts.blogspot.com/
28. Caca – Mindanao, Philippines – Mood Swings – url- http://blogecca.blogspot.com/
29. Pinoy Apache – Cebu City, Philippines – Pinoy Apache – url- http://pinoyapache.blogspot.com/
30. Jessie Simbulan – Philippines – The Reporter – url- http://www.jessie-simbulan.com/
31. Tony Roda – Manila, Philippines – MENstream – url- http://www.menstream.blogspot.com/
32. Fingertalks – Philippines – Fingertalks – url- http://www.fingetalks.com/
33. Wendy Lopez-Redaon – Quezon City, Philippines – From The Eyes of My Heart – url – http://wenlopred.blogspot.com/
34. Marlene – Davao City, Philippines – Potpourri of Ramblings – url – http://www.lemback.com/
35. Liza Cochico – Quezon City, Philippines – A Simple Life – url – http://mlizcochico.com/
36. Tricia Mazo-Galvez – Las Pinas City, Philippines – Proud Mommy – url- http://monliam.blogspot.com/
37. Wayne – New Zealand – Affiliate Crunch – url- http://www.affiliatecrunch.com/
38. Shiera Delusa – Osaka, Japan – Bisdak Babbles – url – http://bisdakbabbles.com/
39. Madz – Lunda Norte, Angola – Things I Did Not Know Before – url – http://madzlifesknowledge.blogspot.com/
40. Kcee – Makati City, Philippines – Barefooted Me – url – http://www.barefootedme.com/
41. Yani – Davao City, Philippines – Banicmanic – url- http://www.banicmanic.blogspot.com/
42. Rodaflip – Ontario, Canada – FlipAntasticWeb – url- http://flipantasticweb.blogspot.com/
43. Ramvie Santiago – Philippines – Philippine Blog For All – url – http://pinoyblogko.wordpress.com/
44. Russell Bravo – Caloocan City, Philippines – Russell Dot Com – url – http://www.russelldotcom.com/
45. Michelle Valenzuela – San Francisco, California, USA – Tumawa K Kabayan – url – http://twangpinoy.blogspot.com/
46. Pinay Wife – Cambodia – Pinay Wife Speaks – url – http://pinaywifespeaks.com/
47. Lei – Pasig City, Philippines – Moon Goddess Lae – url – http://moongoddesslae.com/
48. Shawie Gick – Orange County, California, USA – A Grateful Heart – url – http://anemptycup.blogspot.com/
49. Hariette Wendam – Iloilo City, Philippines – Praning’s Shoutout – url – http://www.praningshoutout.com/
50. Joan Joyce Absalon – Navotas City, Philippines – Joan Joyce dot com – url – http://joanjoyce.com/blog/
51. Rashieka Estelle Absalon – Navotas City, Philippines – My Name Is Rashieka – url – http://rashieka.com/
52. Darlyn – Gen. Santos City, Philippines – Touched By An Angel With Love – url – http://darlyngemwords.blogs.com/
53. Kate Cancio – Marikina City, Philippines – Becoming Kate Cancio – url – http://katecancio.blogspot.com/
54. Ria – United Kingdom – Continental Fairy – url – http://www.continentalfairy.com/
55. Ginoray – Cainta, Rizal, Philippines – Profound Matters – url – http://profoundmatters.wordpress.com/
56. Penlighted – New York, USA – Light It Up (Blogging for Jesus) – url – http://lightedpen.blogspot.com/
57. Lyn (Moccalyn) – Manila, Philippines – Life Spices – url – http//moccalyn.blogspot.com/
58. Ana Lindenhann – Denmark – The Filipina Mom in Denmark – url – http://www.filipinamom.com/
59. Chris Red – Philippines – Christinchen’s Soapbox – url – http://christinchen184.blogspot.com/
60. Richies 2Ts Inspires – Stockholm, Sweden – Richies Inspirational Designs – url – http://simchieinspires.blogspot.com/
61. Island Angel – Davao City, Philippines – Seashells Of Island Angel – url – http://seashellsofislandangel.blogspot.com/
62. Manilyn Tingcang – Iligan City, Philippines – LinGZ.spot – url – http://lingzspot.blogspot.com/
63. Joyoz Obsioma – Melbourne, Australia – Everyday Life…Generally Speaking – url – http://www.joydob.com/
64. Gladita – Bacolod City, Philippines – PromdiLiving – url – http://promdiliving.com/
65. Lesley Cucal – Tarlac City, Philippines – Bottomless Coffee – url – http://men-tality.blogspot.com/
66. Rose Cottrill – West Virginia, USA – Rose’s Obstacles and Glory – url – http://www.obstaclesandglories.com/
67. Mys Lyke Meeh – Toronto, Canada – Mys Lyke Meeh – url – http://myslykemeeh.blogspot.com/
68. Gloria (Goyz) – Calamba City, Philippines – Good Health – url – http://goyz-greenapple.blogspot.com/
69. Mitch (Annay Butakal) – Cebu, Philippines – Ramble Baboy – url – http://annaybutakal.blogspot.com/
70. Ria Coleto – Cervantes – Dubai, UAE – It’s My Party – url – http://www.riablahgs.com/
71. Luna Miranda – Makati City, Philippines – Miranda – url – http://bilogangbuwanniluna.blogspot.com/
72. Kit (Suplado) – Makati City, Philippines – Suplado Reviews – url – http://supladoonline.blogspot.com/
73. Rachel – Philippines – Heart of Rachel – url – http://mysoulfulthoughts.blogspot.com/
74. Josie Santos – Sydney, Australia – Fragments of My Soul – url – http://josie-santos.blogspot.com/
75. Wella Jane – Misamis Occidental, Philippines – Thinking Pen- Blogging For A Cause – url – http://thinkingpen.freeo.net/
76. Kelvin Requiroso (Kebelle) – Quezon City, Philippines – Spirituality Page – url – http://spirituality-page.blogspot.com/
77. Pusang Gala – Mandaluyong City, Philippines – Pusang – Gala – url – http://pakaleklalawak.blogspot.com/
78. Jason – Paranaque, Philippines – Pinoy Updates – url – http://www.pinoyupdates.com/
79. Onatdonuts – Taguig City, Philippines – OnatDonuts – url – http://www.onatdonuts.blogspot.com/
80. Ibyang – NSW, Australia – A Wife’s Charmed Life – url – http://awifescharmedlife.blogspot.com/
81. Mike Avenue – Philippines – Mga Tagalog Na Tula Sa Filipinas – url – http://tagalog-tula-pilipinas.blogspot.com/
82.Jhay Gamba – Cainta, Rizal, Philippines – I Blog Mo! – url -http://jdesignzwww.jdesignz.blogspot.com/
83. Carla Farnesyl Fundales Idago – Malabon City, Philippines – Heterotripper: Anong Maskara Mo Today – url – http://lacarotica.blogspot.com/
84. Tet Garchitorena – Naga City, Philippines – The Life Of An Oregano Addict – url – http://www.piebuko.blogspot.com/
85. Rael Denoman – Imus, Cavite, Philippines – Manikang Papel – url – http://myblogjazzryl.blogspot.com/
86. Liezl F. – Valenzuela City, Philippines – Breezing My Confined Emotions – url – http://microporetape.blogspot.com/
87. Kengkay – Germany – Kwentong Kengkay – url – http://kengkay.wordpress.com/
88. Earthlingorgeous – Manila, Philippines – Earthlingorgeous.com – url – http://www.earthlingorgeous.com/
89. Pinay Key Point – Tarlac City, Philippines – PinayKeyPoint – url – http://pinaykeypoint.wordpress.com/
90. Ria Stevenson – Texas, USA – Live Love Laugh – url – http://www.riastevenson.com/
91. Pajay – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Klasrum Ni Pajay – url – http://propesorpa-jay.blogspot.com/
92. Texas Sweetie – Texas, USA – My Virtual Diary – url – http://www.texas-sweetie.blogspot.com/
93. Aquamarine – Hongkong – Aquamarine – url – http://jhole22.blogspot.com/
94. Shemistry – Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines – Foolishly Overacting – url- http://shemshemistry.blogspot.com/
95. Dines – Winona, Minnesotta, USA – Kalei Dines Scope – url – http://paul-dina-kaleidoscope.blogspot.com/
96. Che (Chorva) – Philippines – Chorva Entertainment Blog – url – http://www.chorva.net/
97. Arnel Gara Artes – Cebu City, Philippines – A Hunter – url – http://www.arnelgaraartes.blogspot.com/
98. Donald Pal (Dhon) – Cebu, Philippines – Life Love Lust – url – http://dhonpal.blogspot.com/
99. Fermin Absalon – Navotas, Metro Manila, Philippines – Beyond Feron Dot Com – url – http://www.beyondferon.com/
100. Dzerom – Calamba, Laguna, Philippines – Blogging Without A Cause – url – http://blogging-without-a-cause.blogspot.com/
101. K (Knoizki) – Hongkong – A Dialogue With K – url – http://www.knoizki.net/
102 Orville Hitadle – Cebu City, Philippines – Downloader’s Stuffs and Freebies for All – url – http://www.iamdownloader.com/
103. Cindyrella – Hongkong – Cindyrella From Hongkong – url – http://cindyrella-stories.blogspot.com/
104. Rimewire – Cavite, Philippines – Disproving the Genius – url – http://rimewire.wordpress.com/
105. Edelweiza Mabalay – Manila, Philippines – The Life of a Breadwinner – url – http://www.edelweiza.com/
106. Manolito Montala – Philippines – The Filipino Enterpreneur – url – http://www.thefilipinoenterpreneur.com/
107. Leona Khan – Pasig City, Philippines – Vanidosang Panda – url – http://ms-panda.blogspot.com/
108. Pepe Mckunat – Philippines – Life is Tough, but prove You are Tougher – url – http://katchupoy.wordpress.com/
109. Batopik – Taguig City, Philippines – Batopik – url – http://batopik.wordpress.com/
110. Gin E – Manila, Philippines – Mommy in Manila – url – http://mommyinmanila.blogspot.com/
111. B’ley Villones (Dyosa) – Paranaque City, Philippines – Blagalag – url – http://www.bl;agalag.com/
112. Donald Serrano (don_ser) – Philippines – don_ser The Feeling ProBlogger – url – http://www.doanldserrano.com/donser/
113. Love Lot – San Francisco, California, USA – Lov-A-Lot – url – http://lov-a-lot.blogspot.com/
114. Enchie – Manila, Philippines – Sweet Nothings – url – http//xtraordinarymom.blogspot.com/
115. Iceah Marie – Gen. Santos City, Philippines – Chicken Heart – url – http://www.pinay-chicken-heart.com/
116. Mee*I Velasco – Antipolo City, Rizal, Philippines – Waiting On The World To Change – url – http://mekinudolsoup.blogspot.com/
117. Kuyanin – Philippines – Kuyanin: Starting Afresh – url – http://www.kuyanin.com/
118. Chyng Reyes – Manila, Philippines – No Spam, No Virus, No Kiddin’! – url – http://riandrew.blogspot.com/
119. JuanDerPul – Philippines – JuanDerPul Pinoy – url – http://juanderpulpinoy.com/
120. Kenneth Mendoza – Laguna, Philippines – Kenneth Mendoza- Speaking Out, Blogging, Ranting and Fooling Around – url – http://www.kmendoza.net/
121. Grace – Michigan, USA – We Live To Tell God’s “Amazing Grace” – url – http://grace1331.blogspot.com/
122. Carnation – Antique, Philippines – Carnation – url – http://sweetcarnation.blogspot.com/
123. Jed Chua – Mandaluyong City, Philippines – Reel Advice – url – http://reeladvice.blogspot.com/
124. Pammyboo83 – Dumaguete City, Philippines – Filipino Lifestyle – url – http://filipinotaste.blogspot.com/
125. Sagada- Igorot – Mountain Province, Philippines/Chicago, USA – Blog of The Sagada- Igorot – url – http://blog.sagada-igorot.com/
126. Bai Maleiha Candao – Cotabato City, Philippines – Soulful Images – url – http://princessmaleiha.blogspot.com/
127. Jehzeel Laurente – Philippines – Jehzlau Concepts – url – Http://www.jehzlau-concepts.com/]
128. Poohgahk – Philippines – Shout Out – Url – http://poohgahk.blogspot.com/
129. Norman Novio – Occidental Mindoro, Philippines – Pamatok – url – http:///nanovio.blogspot.com/
130. Bien Nillos – Negros Occidental, Philippines – The Freudian Slip – url – http://bayenn.blogspot.com/
131. Madelyn Basalo-Sells – Cafunfo, Lunda Norte, Angola – “The Pride of Hingotanan, Bohol”- My Life’s Journey To Success – url – http://madzlifesdiary.blogspot.com/
132. Jannesse – Las Pinas City, Philippines – The Wifey Diaries – url – http://thewifeydiaries.blogspot.com/
133. Willa Stock – Ontario, Canada – Fickle Minded- A Life That Is Less Ordinary – url – http://fickleminded.net/
134. Aihara (Tessah) Ramintessah Sanchez – Japan – The Economics of Life – url – http://lifesmatterandeconomics.blogspot.com/
135. Ron Albert – Quezon City, Philippines – A Slice of Turon – url – http://ron-turon.blogspot.com/
136. Elyong – Davao City, Philippines – Elyong – url – http://elyong.blogspot.com/
137. Kokoi – Baguio City, Philippines – Blog ni Kokoi – url – http://blognikokoi.blogspot.com/
138. Fat – Japan – Anything Goes – url – http://247diary.blogspot.com/
139. Mye De Leon – Rizal, Philippines – Blog Appetite – url – http://blogappetite.blogspot.com/
140. Jan Geronimo – Oriental Mindoro, Philippines – salabasngmandaluyong (Rx For A Better Life) – url – http://salabasngmandaluyong.blogspot.com/
141. Chuva – Philippines – Chizmizan With Chuva – url – http://chuvachienes.com/
142. E. J. Bautista – Quezon City, Philippines – Bogcess – url – http://bogcess.blogspot.com/
143. Maree Tee – Philippines – I Am Mrs. Tee – url – http://mareetee.blogspot.com/
144. Alma Cafe – Davao oriental, Philippines – Reach Beyond Your Limits – url – http://luponfirehouse.blogspot.com/
145. Arlene Collado – Philippines – Joys in Life – url – http://sunshineleneforlife.com/
146. Juvy – Philippines – Pinoy Portals – url – http://pinoyportals.blogspot.com/
147. Jan Mckingley Hilado – Cebu City, Philippines – The Ultralife of Student Nurses – url – http://nursester.blogspot.com/
148. Carlos – Davao City, Philippines – Carlos Ideas – url – http://carlos-ideas.blogspot.com/
149. Mentor – Cebu, Philippines – The Image of Cebu – url – http://cebuimage.blogspot.com/
150. Emma Ballada – Laguna, Philippines – Life Momento – url – http://lifemomento.blogspot.com/
151. Darkspark – Philippines – Papermills – url – http://papermills.blogspot.com/
152. Jes – Philippines – My Little Angels – url – http://ishiethan.blogspot.com/
153. Mike Pamero – Laguna, Philippines – Such were some of you – url – http://www.mikepamero.blogspot.com/
154. Jerome – Calamba, Laguna, Philippines – Pinoy Blogger Online – url – http://blogging-without-a-cause.blogspot.com/
155. Mary Grace – Tennessee, USA – My World is My Family – url – http://graceodraper.blogspot.com/
156. Luzviminda Gadon (Vhing F) – Israel – Survivor: the Reality of my Life – url – http://vhing4all-il-ph.blogspot.com/
157. Marlon Celso – Manila, Philippines – Marlon of Manila – url – http://marlonofmanila.blogspot.com/
158. Richard Roxas – Valenzuela City, Philippines – Dreamworks – url – http://dreamworksorg.blogspot.com/
159. Political Jaywalker – USA – Pedestrian Observer – url – http://pedestrianobserver.blogspot.com/
160. Your name, address, name of blog and its url.

*** end of copy***

I won’t  be specifically tagging blogs, but please feel free to grab the tag and post it on your own site, join Filipino’s Unite and to say the prayers in 9 consecutive days.E

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Thinking about it, there is not much difference in visiting a Filipino home from a Khmer home. Here’s some tips on being a proper guest of a Filipino family.

- Always pay your respects to the elders in the family by greeting them. It’s an additional point in your favor if you can do the “mano” where you lift the elder’s hand and touch it to your forehead. For Filipinos, this is a sign of regard and respect to the elder.

- Remove your shoes or slippers before entering a Filipino house. Your host would most probably tell you to keep it on, but at least make a motion of removing them.

- Filipinos are very food-oriented and most visits and gatherings includes food. If you are visiting a Filipino home, expect to be offered something to eat. Don’t decline the invitation to eat otherwise you may be considered impolite.There are times like fiestas where you have already eaten in another house, but its still better to accept or you may just request to eat dessert or light snacks.

- Always offer to help clear the dishes. Your host would probably decline your offer of help but the gesture would be appreciated.

- When your visit is over, give your good wishes to the elders and thank everyone for their hospitality. If you have stayed in the house for a couple of days, a thank you gift would be a nice gesture.

Whatever they are rich or poor, Filipinos would really go out of their way to be welcoming and friendly to their guests, that’s why for most people, visiting a Filipino home is a delightful experience.

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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I’ve really been looking forward to watching the match. I had the showtimes on local Cambodian channel as well as the cable timeslot memorized but when the day came I’ve been so busy that it literally slipped my mind. When I was about to sleep last night I just suddenly remembered I was supposed to watch it.

Lol! Memory gap? It was already late but I lost no time texting my sister in the Philippines just to know who actually won. Gladly it was the Filipino champion, Mannny Pacquiao who won. Though I kinda feel sad about De la Hoya (I had a huge crush on him when I was a bit younger ).

So I did my digging on Youtube to see if there are clips of the fight. I got pretty much irritated coz there are piles of videos there promising full fight etc and you get zilch! What is up with those people? Grrr! Anyway,I hope I could find a decent replay to watch. If you have a link, please share..

Manny Pacquiao did a great job and made the Filipinos proud again. I imagine its like fiesta again in the Philippines, too bad I can’t enjoy it in person , Nevertheless, this really made my day. Congrats, Pacman!

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Nothing beats a hot chocolate drink during rainy Sundays. Or during Christmas season, that’s a thrice a week morning must have for us. Christmas mornings or rainy days seems so incomplete without it. My husband was curious about this family tradition as well as how make our own chocolate from cacao fruit.

My father has lots of cacao trees in our backyard in Bicol. Here’s a photo of one variety..See the fruits? I was happy to see the trees have recovered from recent typhoons and have a lot of fruits already which means we could have our home-made hot chocolate during rainy December days.

Curious about cacao and how to make cocoa and chocolate? Cocoa is the term usually used for the seeds of the tropical tree THEOBROMA CACAO. From these seeds we get sinfully delicious chocolate candies and drinks. Most people just buy chocolate drinks or powder to make their hot chocolate or ready made chocolates from supermarkets.

Here’s to give you an idea on how cacao seeds become the chocolate we crave for. Making chocolate is a bit of a lengthy process. From childhood, I’ve seen my father make dark chocolate from scratch and I’ve actually have the process memorized .

• Harvesting and choosing the beans/seeds.
• Roasting – my favorite part because I feel so heady with the fragrant aroma. It could really make you go so hungry. Cacao beans needs to be roasted just like coffee beans.
• Cracking open the cacao shells. – once roasting is done you need to crack open the shell to get the chocolate inside.
• Grinding the chocolate. – grind the chocolate as finely as possible and add the necessary flavorings like sugar. Adding a bit of sugar is recommended since ground chocolate is oily and would be hard to mold.
• Mold it and store it. You’re now ready to make hot chocolate whenever you’re craving for one.

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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My parents are both retired from work and they are now busy with something they both enjoy – gardening. I call our home in Albay my “green refuge”. When I’m there I don’t feel like going out, I just  moved around getting myself some sunshine and taking photos of my mother’s flowering plants and greens.

My mom is currently into tropical blooms like hibiscus, bougainvilleas, orchids and some cacti. We were quite lucky a lot of them had flowers so I had a grand time taking photos.

Visiting the place I grew up never fails to uplift me and renew my take on things. It’s a great way for me to relax, see how my parents and sister are doing, and generally be lazy.  I’ve been working non-stop for a couple of weeks already and I felt like a needed a break.  There I could laze around, wake up late, it’s also a “cooking vacation time” for me, where I could have my fill of Bicolano delicacies I miss so much, where I could take leisurely baths (water there is super cool!), see old neighbors, see relatives, see former classmates..

I was hoping to get nice photos of Mayon Volcano. I waited for days but the majestic Mayon seemed to be hiding.. Clouds were covering the top most days so I had to go back without a really good photo..:)

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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Divisoria is located right in the heart of Manila. It is considered the mecca of bargain shopping in  all of Metro Manila. If you are on the lookout for cheap items, then this is the place to go. Here you can find almost everything, school and office supplies, textiles, clothing, housewares, small appliances, accessories, home decors, toys..well practically everything. If you are also looking for crafting and packaging materials, Divisoria offers wide choices.

Divisoria is not just one street. It actually encompasses several streets and has several malls around the area. Be prepared to walk around. Before venturing there keep this in mind:

• It could get really crowded particularly during weekends, holidays, before school starts and during Christmas season. If you are claustrophobic, Divisoria street market is not the place for you. If you can’t stand the heat, smell and close proximity of other people, you may opt for the air-conditioned malls around the area.
• Dress down. Wear walking shoes or slippers. Don’t wear jewelry. I’d advice against bringing electronic gadgets and cellphones. (Hehe but I did brought my digi-cam to take this photos… believe me I was scared somebody might just grab it!).
• Bring cash and small bills. They don’t accept credit cards here . There are ATM’s around but better be ready with enough cash.
• Before deciding on a purchase, check for quality. Especially ready made clothes, check the insides.
• Haggle, haggle, haggle! Sellers actually expect you to haggle. If its your first time, go with an experienced Divi shopper. If you can speak Chinese, that’ll mean additional discounts .
• Be careful about your belongings. Bring a large shopping bag. That will keep your purchases organized.

There are several malls around Divisoria. Divisoria Mall, 168 Mall, Tutuban Mall, Meisic Mall and there is a new mall beside Tutuban..

• Divisoria Mall – located near Tabora St., it’s air-conditioned with stalls in grid-like position. This mall has a lot of stalls so the pathways are narrow so on crowded days be prepared to squeeze yourself. There are three floors selling a wide range of items at wholesale and retail prices. There a lot of toys, school and office supplies, party supplies, clothes, home items, accessories, footwear. The third floor also houses a small food court area and restrooms. This mall also has a lower ground floor with stalls selling party supplies and lots of native handicrafts.
  
  
  
  

• 168 Mall – located a few meters away from Tutuban Mall. 168 Mall is air-conditioned, well-lit, and have bigger passageways than Divisoria Mall. This one also has better security, restroom facilities, and has more stalls. Stalls here sell items almost the same as those in Divisoria mall but I noticed there are more quality home decor and electronic gadgets. Food court is also big with lots of restaurants from. McDonalds, Jollibee, Tokyo Tokyo, Chowking, Greenwich, Namit Gid, Reyes Barbeque, American Hotdog, Balot Express, plus a several stalls offering Chinese food.  ATM’s are also located on the thri168 Mall can be accessed via Soler, Felipe and Sta. Elena St.
  
  
  
  
  
• Tutuban Mall – located along Claro M. Recto Avenue. This mall is also air-conditioned and divided in 3 clusters. This is also popular place to buy wholesale. You can find a good variety of textiles, ready to wear clothes, bags, shoes, sewing materials, accessories, phones plus there are also some shops of popular brands. Food court is also good as well as restroom facilities.
• Meisic Mall – this is a newly opened mall near 168. Located at the corner of Reina Regente and Meisic Sts in Binondo. You can find same items here as the other malls although the last time I went there 2 weeks ago, the first floor is not yet fully occupied.

Shopping at the malls are convenient but if you are not averse to large crowds, the heat and strong smell check out the streets too for good finds.

• Tabora St – find crafting materials, costumes,  sewing materials, textiles, kitchen utensils, ready made curtains and seat covers.
• Juan Luna St. – textiles, ready to wear clothes, shoes, accessories, packing supplies, cheap stuff toys;
• Check out Azcarraga Building too. This is a few blocks from Tutuban Mall, you’ll find great choices of textiles here at cheap prices.
• The street across Tabora and fronting Divisoria Mall, you’ll find  cheap vegetables here, there are also stalls selling boxes, gift wrapping materials.
• The building behind Divisoria Mall, I call it “Toy Kingdom”. This is the best place to shop for toys and party supplies.

How to get there.. Finding parking spaces can be difficult during crowded days. Tutuban Mall and 168 Mall have ample parking spaces but if bring a car navigating the crowded streets can be a headache. Park somewhere safe but make sure you can still walk back with all your purchases. As for me, I prefer commuting to Divisoria.

• If you are from Taft Avenue, there are jeepneys and FX taxi plying the Divisoria route. It will pass by Binondo Church, Juan Luna St., from here you can explore the streets or go to the malls;
• Take LRT1 if you’re from Monumento or Baclaran and get down in Doroteo Jose. From there take a pedicab to Divisoria or if you’re up to walk a few blocks then take a hike.
• If you’re from Cubao, Katipunan, Santolan area, take LRT 2 and get down at the last station- Recto;
• From Espana, there are also jeepneys taking Divisoria route;

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So when Chinks and Lolo (her grandpa) went home to Bicol for a vacation, we tagged along so we could check out the new terminal. Well, the terminal has been open only for a month so there are still loads of things needing improvement in there to make it completely functional.

Here’s some of my thoughts about the new “Philippine gateway”..

• I like its spaciousness. You have less chances of bumping into people here. When you get there, there is a separate unloading places for those with private vehicles and those taking cabs so people getting in can be more or less easily managed.

• The interiors are minimalistic. The colors used are  mostly gray and white, the only splashes of colors I saw there are the red lounge chairs and Cebu Pacific banners .

• The design allows a lot of light in so its nice that they thought of consuming less energy.

• This terminal actually allows well-wishers to get inside. Well-wishers are allowed up to the check in area, then you can go around to the viewing deck (presently under construction) I’d say this is a big improvement to NAIA Terminal 1. It’s Filipino tradition to bring hordes of well-wishers to the airport so its good that they included this in the terminal design.

• I know that this terminal have just opened but I do hope they would install those flight information monitors. Passengers won’t really have a clue which flight is departing, boarding or was canceled. So everything is just guesswork or you need to run over to the arrivals area (downstairs) just to ask about the flight status. So I’m hoping they could fix that up soon.

• There is not much of signs to guide passengers there. Is that so hard to set up? I mean it would save them a lot of manpower if they actually have signs pointing passengers to where they should be.

• I’m not sure I like the policy of having all check in counters open for all flights. I mean, this can be a recipe for mix ups. I kept thinking about my daughter’s luggage boarding the flight to Butuan instead of being inside the plane to Legazpi or I was probably being overly anxious again .

• Grab a bite first before going there. Since its operation is still on start-up, there is limited number of food concessionaires there but I’m sure there will be more shops there in the near future.

• The terminal is also situated a little further than the two other terminals so they also have shuttle services with two routes. One going around the three terminals and another going to Baclaran and MRT/LRT Pasay area. This is a great idea and a big help for those with connecting flights and those who want to save on taxi fares. Shuttle service charges 20 Pesos per head.

(Sorry, Photo is kinda blurry I just took them with my phone.. )

Watch the video for a walkthrough at the NAIA T3 with Tirso G. Serrano, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) assistant general manager for airport development and corporate affairs..

©2010 pinaywifespeaks. All Rights Reserved.

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