AS tens of thousands of mothers marked the annual celebration citywide, those whose children live far away also received their greetings with the help of modern technology, yesterday's (May 14) Daily Sunshine reported.

Despite the price of a bunch of pink carnations rising at least 50 percent on Sunday's Mother's Day, local online florists received thousands of orders from other cities and overseas customers.

At the Shalala online florist's shop, a bouquet of 12 pink carnations and nine white roses at 168 yuan (US$22) was the most popular choice among netizens.

"Young people studying or working outside the city welcome the cyber flower-ordering service, which enables them to send an up-to-date greeting to their mother at a reasonable price, in spite of the distance," said a shop owner surnamed Lin, adding that online orders account for 50 percent of their business.

Online-ordered flowers for Mother's Day including door-to-door delivery generally cost between 100 and 300 yuan a bouquet.

The Daily Sunshine report said that major shopping centers in the city recorded booming sales of jewelry, cosmetics, massage chairs and clothes on Mother's Day.

A massage chair saleswoman said they sold some 20 units during the past two days, fourfold the number recorded on average days.

A survey conducted by a local Web site showed that more than 60 percent of interviewees chose jewelry as a gift for their mothers.

Editor: Wing