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Baguio digital nomad guide

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Nomad score 6.5/10

16.4120, 120.5934 Asia/Manila #587

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Researched Updated Oct 22, 2026 Last changed Oct 31, 2026 About guide entries

Essentials

City
Baguio (City of Baguio), a highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, geographically within Benguet, Philippines. 11
Population
368,426 (Philippine Statistics Authority, Census of Population, 1 July 2024). 1
Internet Speed
Globe GFiber Plan 1499 is up to 300 Mbps, Plan 1999 up to 500 Mbps and Plan 2499 up to 1 Gbps, where fiber is available. A measured citywide mobile speed was not on that page. 6
Currency & Banking
Philippine peso (PHP). BSP daily rate on 19 October 2026: 1 USD = 63.068 PHP (about 1 PHP = 0.016 USD). Central ATMs are on BancNet; many charge about ₱250 for a foreign card, so keep small bills for jeepneys. 2 3
Tap Water
Do not drink it. Use sealed bottled water. Baguio City Health Services Office (August 2026) says to boil water at least three minutes when the source is uncertain. 3 31
Power
220 V, 60 Hz. Outlets are a mix of Type A, Type B and Type C, so bring a multi-type adapter. 3
SIM Card
Globe, its GOMO brand, and Smart sell prepaid SIMs, which must be registered. A tourist SIM needs a passport, a Philippine address and a departure ticket, and the SIM Registration Act deactivates it after 30 days. GOMO 30 GB no-expiry data is ₱449; Globe GoSURF299 is ₱299 for 30 days (2 GB open access plus 10 GB for chosen apps). 4 5 7
Banking for Expats
GCash (Globe) and Maya (Smart) are the QR wallets, and both need a registered Philippine number. Opening a full local bank account was not re-checked with a bank. 3
Accommodation
On Lamudi (22 October 2026) a furnished 27 m² at Moldex Residences on Marcos Highway was ₱25,000 a month, and a 3-bedroom on Kisad Road in front of Burnham Park was ₱40,000 a month on a one-year lease. That band covers the city cost file furnished month of about ₱30,000. 26
Cashless Friendly
Malls and many restaurants take cards and GCash or Maya QR. Jeepneys and the public market are cash, and drivers often want coins in the morning. 3
Short Term Rentals
A Lamudi ad for a furnished 17 m² studio at Stanford Residences, New Lucban, asks ₱30,000 a month and ₱3,000 a night, a short walk from Saint Louis University. Outlook Ridge on V. Delos Reyes Street, Outlook Drive, is a finished DMCI condo for longer stays. 26 20
Budget Accommodation
3BU Hostel at 121 Upper Bonifacio Street, Holy Ghost, is the branch the operator still lists. The Governor Pack Road branch is marked permanently closed, and the site shows no nightly rate. 21
Best Area to Stay for Tourists
Upper Session Road, the cathedral hill and Burnham Park, so the market, The Mansion and the main sights are on foot or a short jeepney ride. 11
Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
Session Road and Abanao Street, for Regus, cafes and the Governor Pack bus terminals. Outlook Drive is the quieter condo side if you want Mines View nearby. 8 11

Food and Drink

Bar/Nightlife Area
Session Road is the central bar and cafe strip, with more rooms toward Camp John Hay on Leonard Wood Road. A single venue's current hours were not checked. 11
Best Food Delivery App
foodpanda, which has a Baguio city page for restaurant delivery. 33
Best Local Dish to Try
Pinikpikan, the Cordillera chicken soup, often cooked in Benguet with etag (salted pork). A single Baguio restaurant was not confirmed on its own menu. 29
Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Oh My Gulay, on Session Road in the La Azotea building. An August 2025 visit note says it is closed on Tuesdays. 35 44
Best Dessert Spots
Vizco's Cakeshop at SM City Baguio, Luneta Hill Drive. A cake price was not on an operator page. 40
Affordable Shopping Spots
Baguio City Public Market, for Benguet vegetables, strawberries and pasalubong. La Trinidad grows most of the strawberries sold there. 11
E-commerce/Online Store
Lazada, including prepaid mobile top-ups, is a main online shop. 3
Grocery Delivery
foodpanda's Baguio page also offers grocery delivery from local shops. 33
Local Brewery
Baguio Craft Brewery, on Ben Palispis Highway (Marcos Highway) in Bakakeng. A pint price was not on an operator page. 36
Street Food Stalls
The city public market by day, and the Harrison Road night market in the central trade area (named on a current Kisad rental ad). 11 26
Popular International Cuisine
Session Road and SM City Baguio are where the cafes and chain restaurants sit. A single standout foreign kitchen was not confirmed on its own site. 11 50

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space
Regus at Abanao Square, Abanao Street, posts day coworking from ₱1,390. A Coworkable listing for 5Space still shows a hot desk at ₱3,500 a month, the figure in the city cost file; that space was not on OpenStreetMap. 8 27
Best Cafe for Work
Hot Cat Specialty Coffee, 001 Yangco Road at Brent Road, beside Mt. Cloud Bookshop. Spot.ph (June 2025) describes it as a specialty cafe; a menu price was not on that page. 30 34

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App
Grab, with a Baguio driver center at 117 Magsaysay Avenue. From 28 September 2026 the LTFRB posted a provisional regular-taxi flag-down of ₱65 (previously ₱50); the taxi petition was still described as pending. 25 13
Bike/Scooter Rental
Jeepneys and taxis are the local transport, and the city is steep, so there is no city bike share. A named scooter-hire shop and a current monthly rate were not found. 11
Best Beach Nearby
The nearest sea is the La Union coast, by bus from the Partas terminal on Governor Pack Road. A current fare was not on the operator site. 11 42
Top Regional Airline
Loakan Airport (BAG) has had no scheduled flights since Philippine Airlines ended the Cebu route on 1 July 2024. Domestic trips use Clark or Manila, where Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific both fly. 12
Top International Airline
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific from Clark International Airport or Manila (NAIA). Loakan has no international service. 12
Highway Access
From Manila, NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX, then Kennon Road, the Aspiras-Palispis Highway (Marcos Highway) or Naguilian Road. Kennon is the shortest and is often closed by landslides in the rainy season. 11
Main Train/Transit Hub
There is no train. The bus cluster on Governor Pack Road is the hub: Victory Liner for Manila and Partas for La Union and Ilocos. 11 42
Public Transport Passes
None. From 28 September 2026 a traditional jeepney is ₱14 for the first 4 km and a modern jeepney ₱17, then ₱2 or ₱2.40 per further kilometre. The provisional regular-taxi flag-down is ₱65. 13
Regional Travel
Victory Liner and Genesis (including JoyBus) run to Manila. Partas, from Governor Pack Road, runs toward La Union and the Ilocos coast. There is no passenger rail. 11 42

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital
Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, 25 Lower General Luna Road, a private hospital with a cardiac catheterization lab. For an ambulance call 911. FCDO warns that private intensive care can exceed £1,000 a day, so carry insurance. 9 32 47
Yoga & Wellness Centers
Pranalaya Yoga and Wellness, 1 Montinola Loop, Kisad Road, for yoga, aerial and Pilates. A drop-in price was not on the studio site. 24
Gyms & Fitness Centers
Anytime Fitness lists a Baguio club at Hotel Supreme Mall and Event Center. A monthly fee was not on the locator. 45

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks
Mines View Park, Burnham Park and The Mansion, the presidential summer house on Romulo Drive. 11
Museums & Art Venues
BenCab Museum, Km 6 Asin Road, Tuba, about 15 minutes by car or the Asin jeepney from the market. General admission is ₱200; Tuesday to Sunday 09:00-18:00, last entry 17:30. 10
Historical Sites
Camp John Hay, the former US military rest camp opened in 1903, now a pine-forest resort and watershed inside the city. 11
Religious Sites
Baguio Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Atonement), on the hill above Session Road. 11
Annual Events
Panagbenga, the Baguio Flower Festival, every February. The name is Kankanaey for a season of blooming; the foundation office is at Burnham Park. 22
Cultural Districts
Tam-awan Village, Pinsao Proper, a reconstructed Cordillera village of huts and crafts. 37
Theater Venues
Baguio Convention Center, built for the 1978 world chess match and still the large events hall. 11
Local Markets
Baguio City Public Market, for highland vegetables, strawberries, woven cloth and woodcarving. 11
Street Art
Colors of Stobosa, the painted houses on the hillside in La Trinidad, the town that borders Baguio. 38
Art Galleries
Ili-Likha Artist Collective, 32 Assumption Road, an artist compound with galleries and eateries. 41
Historic Buildings
The Laperal White House, 14 Leonard Wood Road, the 1920s wooden mansion. It now houses Joseph's restaurant; dining is by reservation rather than a separate museum ticket. 23 49
Local Heritage
Ibaloi and Kankanaey weaving. Easter Weaving Room is at 2 Easter Road, Pinget, and Panagbenga still treats ikat weaving as a Cordillera art. 39 22

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes
The La Trinidad strawberry farms, just over the city line, and the pine trails inside Camp John Hay. 48 11
National Parks Nearby
Mount Pulag National Park. The usual Ambangeg trail starts in Bokod, Benguet, a few hours from the city, and DENR requires registration at the visitor office before entry. A current government fee table was not opened (a 2016 report of ₱175 is too old to use). 46 12
Cycling/Walking Paths
Burnham Park and Wright Park are the in-town walks. The streets are steep and there is no city bike share. 11
Scenic Viewpoints
Mines View Park, over the valley and the old mining ridges. 11
Birdwatching Locations
The pine forest inside Camp John Hay is the practical in-town spot. It is not a staffed bird reserve. 11

Other Services and Amenities

Tech Repair Services
SM City Baguio, Luneta Hill, Session Road, for phone and laptop shops. 50
Table Tennis Spots
Baguio Table Tennis League is mapped on Government Center Road, Military Cut-off. The Athletic Bowl in Burnham Park is the larger sports ground. 43 11
Libraries & Study Spots
Mt. Cloud Bookshop, 1 Yangco Road, next to Hot Cat, is the usable reading room. The city library site did not load. 44
Casino & Gaming Halls
PAGCOR's published Casino Filipino list has no Baguio branch. The nearest listed Luzon houses are Angeles, Mimosa at Clark, Tagaytay, Olongapo and Laoag. The PDF has no clear publication date. 28

Business

Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
DMCI Outlook Ridge, V. Delos Reyes Street, Outlook Drive (toward Mines View, not Session Road): last published studio list price ₱3,746,000 for 21 m², about ₱178,000 per m². The page showed no units available. 20
2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
At the same Outlook Ridge list, a 45 m² two-bedroom starts at ₱7,092,000 (about ₱158,000 per m²) and a 73.5 m² two-bedroom starts at ₱10,416,000. Those prices were marked not available. 20
Corporate Tax
25% on net income, or 20% if net taxable income does not exceed ₱5 million and total assets do not exceed ₱100 million (PwC, reviewed August 2026). 17
Dividend Withholding Tax
10% final tax for resident aliens on dividends from a domestic corporation. Non-resident aliens pay 20% if engaged in trade or business, or 25% if not (PwC). The country tax profile headline rate is 25%. 15
Tax System
Resident citizens are taxed on worldwide income. Aliens, resident or not, are taxed only on Philippine-source income. A non-resident alien who stays more than 180 days in a calendar year is treated as engaged in trade or business (PwC). 14 16
Highest Income Tax Bracket
35% on taxable income over ₱8 million (PwC, rates from 1 January 2023). 14
VAT
12% on goods, services and digital services (PwC). 18
Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
No. The Philippines has no controlled foreign company rules (PwC, reviewed August 2026). 19
Property Tax
Cities may charge up to 2% of assessed value a year, plus 1% for the Special Education Fund (PwC). Baguio's own ordinance rate was not opened. 18
Property Transaction Tax
6% capital gains tax on the higher of the price or fair market value of real property, plus documentary stamp tax of ₱15 per ₱1,000 (1.5%) on the deed of sale (PwC). 15 18
Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
Aliens are taxed only on Philippine-source income. More than 180 days in a calendar year treats a non-resident alien as engaged in trade or business, so graduated rates apply, and there is no special nomad exemption. Qualifying self-employed people under the ₱3 million VAT cap can elect 8% on gross above ₱250,000. 14 15 16

About these guide entries

Method
Researched
Last updated
Oct 22, 2026
Last changed
Oct 31, 2026

Checked against the sources below and compared with similar cities. Numbers in the list point to these sources.

  1. PSA RSSO CAR: Baguio population 368,426 on 1 July 2024Official
  2. BSP daily peso per US dollar, 19 Oct 2026 = 63.068Official
  3. Wikivoyage Philippines: power, water, SIM, GCash, GrabSecondary
  4. GOMO data offersOfficial
  5. Globe GoSURF prepaid dataOfficial
  6. Globe GFiber plansOfficial
  7. SIM Registration Act, tourist SIM 30 daysOfficial
  8. Regus Abanao Square day coworking from PHP 1390Official
  9. Notre Dame de Chartres HospitalOfficial
  10. BenCab Museum hours and admissionOfficial
  11. Baguio: status, roads, parks, busesSecondary
  12. Loakan commercial flights ended 1 July 2024Secondary
  13. PNA: LTFRB fares from 28 September 2026Official
  14. PwC individual income tax, reviewed 2 July 2026Secondary
  15. PwC dividends, capital gains, real property 6%Secondary
  16. PwC 180-day trade-or-business testSecondary
  17. PwC corporate tax 25% or 20%Secondary
  18. PwC VAT 12%, real property tax, DSTSecondary
  19. PwC: no CFC rulesSecondary
  20. DMCI Outlook Ridge last list pricesOfficial
  21. 3BU Hostel: Gov Pack closed, Upper Bonifacio listedOfficial
  22. Panagbenga official about pageOfficial
  23. Joseph's at the Laperal White HouseOfficial
  24. Pranalaya Yoga, Kisad RoadOfficial
  25. Grab Luzon: Baguio office, 117 Magsaysay AveOfficial
  26. Lamudi Baguio condo rents near SLUListings
  27. Coworkable 5Space hot desk PHP 3500 a monthListings
  28. PAGCOR Casino Filipino branch list, no BaguioOfficial
  29. Pinikpikan, Cordillera chicken dishSecondary
  30. Spot.ph Hot Cat, 12 June 2025Secondary
  31. Baguio CHSO: boil uncertain water 3 minutesSecondary
  32. FCDO Philippines health: 911 and ICU costsOfficial
  33. foodpanda Baguio city pageOfficial
  34. OSM Hot Cat, Yangco RoadReference
  35. OSM Oh My Gulay, Session RoadReference
  36. OSM Baguio Craft Brewery, Ben Palispis HighwayReference
  37. OSM Tam-awan Village, Pinsao ProperReference
  38. OSM Colors of Stobosa, La TrinidadReference
  39. OSM Easter Weaving Room, Easter RoadReference
  40. OSM Vizcos, SM City BaguioReference
  41. OSM Ili-Likha, 32 Assumption RoadReference
  42. OSM Partas terminal, Governor Pack RoadReference
  43. OSM Baguio Table Tennis League, Military Cut-offReference
  44. Mt. Cloud and Oh My Gulay, August 2025Secondary
  45. Anytime Fitness locator: Hotel Supreme BaguioOfficial
  46. Rappler: DENR registration at Ambangeg for Mt PulagSecondary
  47. OSM Notre Dame de Chartres Hospital, General Luna RoadReference
  48. OSM Strawberry Farm stop, La TrinidadReference
  49. OSM Laperal White House, 14 Leonard Wood RoadReference
  50. OSM SM City Baguio, Luneta HillReference

Change history

    • Grocery Delivery SM Markets Online or MetroMart. foodpanda's Baguio page also offers grocery delivery from local shops.
    • Gyms & Fitness Centers Altitude Gym (Kenon Rd): 2,000 PHP/month; Anytime Fitness (SM Baguio): 2,500 PHP/month. Anytime Fitness lists a Baguio club at Hotel Supreme Mall and Event Center. A monthly fee…
    • Highest Income Tax Bracket 35% for income over 8 million PHP. 35% on taxable income over ₱8 million (PwC, rates from 1 January 2023).
    • Highway Access Connected to Manila via TPLEX and Kennon Road or Marcos Highway. From Manila, NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX, then Kennon Road, the Aspiras-Palispis Highway (Marcos…
    • Historic Buildings Laperal White House (reputed haunted house, now a Victorian museum). The Laperal White House, 14 Leonard Wood Road, the 1920s wooden mansion. It now houses…
    • Historical Sites Camp John Hay (Former US military rest and recreation base). Camp John Hay, the former US military rest camp opened in 1903, now a pine-forest resort…
    42 more changes
    • Internet Speed Fiber broadband up to 200 Mbps via PLDT/Converge; 5G mobile speeds around 40-70 Mbps Globe GFiber Plan 1499 is up to 300 Mbps, Plan 1999 up to 500 Mbps and Plan 2499 up to 1…
    • Language Classes University of the Cordilleras (UC) sometimes offers Tagalog or Ilocano courses. not set
    • Laundry Services Wash and Dry (Leonard Wood): 200 PHP for an 8kg load (wash/dry/fold). not set
    • Libraries & Study Spots Baguio City Public Library (Burnham Park): quiet, traditional study space. Mt. Cloud Bookshop, 1 Yangco Road, next to Hot Cat, is the usable reading room. The city…
    • Local Brewery Baguio Craft Brewery (RKC Building): 250-350 PHP per pint of local craft beer. Baguio Craft Brewery, on Ben Palispis Highway (Marcos Highway) in Bakakeng. A pint price…
    • Local Heritage The weaving traditions; visit Easter Weaving Room (Guisad) to see traditional looms. Ibaloi and Kankanaey weaving. Easter Weaving Room is at 2 Easter Road, Pinget, and…
    • Local Markets Baguio Public Market for 'Pasalubong' (souvenirs) and fresh highland vegetables. Baguio City Public Market, for highland vegetables, strawberries, woven cloth and…
    • Main Train/Transit Hub Victory Liner Terminal (Gov. Pack Road) for luxury bus travel to Manila (650-900 PHP). There is no train. The bus cluster on Governor Pack Road is the hub: Victory Liner for…
    • Museums & Art Venues BenCab Museum (Km. 6 Asin Road): Entrance 200 PHP; features works of National Artist… BenCab Museum, Km 6 Asin Road, Tuba, about 15 minutes by car or the Asin jeepney from the…
    • Music Scene Kaffeeklatsch (City Camp Rd) for jazz and acoustic live performances. not set
    • Must-See Landmarks Mines View Park, Burnham Park, and The Mansion. Mines View Park, Burnham Park and The Mansion, the presidential summer house on Romulo…
    • National Parks Nearby Mount Pulag National Park: famous for the 'Sea of Clouds' (requires 3-4 hour drive to… Mount Pulag National Park. The usual Ambangeg trail starts in Bokod, Benguet, a few hours…
    • Nearby Nature Escapes Mount Costa (La Trinidad): A sprawling park with themed gardens; entrance 350 PHP. The La Trinidad strawberry farms, just over the city line, and the pine trails inside Camp…
    • Networking Events Baguio Tech Community meetups usually held at Calle Uno Coworking. not set
    • Parcel Delivery Service LBC Express or J&T Express for domestic shipping. not set
    • Popular International Cuisine Chaya (Legarda Rd) for authentic Japanese; Amare La Cucina (Wright Park) for wood-fired… Session Road and SM City Baguio are where the cafes and chain restaurants sit. A single…
    • Population Approximately 380,000 368,426 (Philippine Statistics Authority, Census of Population, 1 July 2024).
    • Power 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and B sockets (standard US style) 220 V, 60 Hz. Outlets are a mix of Type A, Type B and Type C, so bring a multi-type…
    • Property Tax Amilyar: Roughly 1-2% of assessed value annually. Cities may charge up to 2% of assessed value a year, plus 1% for the Special Education…
    • Property Transaction Tax Capital Gains Tax (6%), Documentary Stamp Tax (1.5%), Transfer Tax (0.5-0.75%). 6% capital gains tax on the higher of the price or fair market value of real property…
    • Public Transport Passes None. Jeepneys cost 13 PHP (base); Taxis start at 40 PHP flag-down rate. None. From 28 September 2026 a traditional jeepney is ₱14 for the first 4 km and a modern…
    • Regional Travel Victory Liner (Manila), Partas (Vigan/Laoag), GL Trans (Sagada). Victory Liner and Genesis (including JoyBus) run to Manila. Partas, from Governor Pack…
    • Religious Sites Baguio Cathedral (Our Lady of the Atonement) - iconic pink facade on a hill. Baguio Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Atonement), on the hill above Session Road.
    • SIM Card Globe or Smart: 500 PHP for 20GB monthly data; purchase at SM City Baguio. Globe, its GOMO brand, and Smart sell prepaid SIMs, which must be registered. A tourist…
    • Scenic Viewpoints Mines View Park Overlook: vista of the Amburayan Valley and abandoned gold mines. Mines View Park, over the valley and the old mining ridges.
    • Short Term Rentals The Outlook Ridge Residences (approx. 45,000 PHP/month) or Airbnb units in cedar crest. A Lamudi ad for a furnished 17 m² studio at Stanford Residences, New Lucban, asks ₱30,000…
    • Social Events for Expats Baguio Expats and Locals Facebook group organizes weekly mixers at local craft bars. not set
    • Street Art Valley of Colors (Stobosa, La Trinidad): giant colorful mural across a hillside of houses. Colors of Stobosa, the painted houses on the hillside in La Trinidad, the town that…
    • Street Food Stalls Baguio Night Market (Harrison Road): Opens 9 PM - 2 AM for cheap street eats and… The city public market by day, and the Harrison Road night market in the central trade…
    • Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. 130,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 25 m² = 3,250,000 PHP) not set
    • Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. 95,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 25 m² = 2,375,000 PHP) DMCI Outlook Ridge, V. Delos Reyes Street, Outlook Drive (toward Mines View, not Session…
    • Table Tennis Spots Baguio City Athletic Bowl sports complex. Baguio Table Tennis League is mapped on Government Center Road, Military Cut-off. The…
    • Tap Water Not drinkable. Purchase 5-gallon purified water jugs for approx. 40-50 PHP. Do not drink it. Use sealed bottled water. Baguio City Health Services Office (August…
    • Tax System Progressive personal income tax (0% to 35%); Residency is determined by 180+ days stay. Resident citizens are taxed on worldwide income. Aliens, resident or not, are taxed only…
    • Tech Repair Services SM Cyberzone in SM City Baguio for authorized and third-party repairs. SM City Baguio, Luneta Hill, Session Road, for phone and laptop shops.
    • Theater Venues Baguio Convention Center for major performances and trade fairs. Baguio Convention Center, built for the 1978 world chess match and still the large events…
    • Top International Airline Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific via Clark International Airport (CRK). Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific from Clark International Airport or Manila (NAIA)…
    • Top Regional Airline PAL Express (Philippine Airlines) flies from Loakan Airport (BAG) to Cebu. Loakan Airport (BAG) has had no scheduled flights since Philippine Airlines ended the Cebu…
    • VAT 12% standard rate. 12% on goods, services and digital services (PwC).
    • Vegan/Vegetarian Options Oh My Gulay (Session Road): artistic vegetarian cafe; meals approx. 250 PHP. Oh My Gulay, on Session Road in the La Azotea building. An August 2025 visit note says it…
    • Wine Bars Concoctions (Upper Session Rd): Relaxed vibe with a decent wine selection. not set
    • Yoga & Wellness Centers The Yoga Room (SM City Baguio area): 400 PHP per drop-in session. Pranalaya Yoga and Wellness, 1 Montinola Loop, Kisad Road, for yoga, aerial and Pilates. A…

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