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danielkoepf

@danielkoepf

Member

German expat in the Philippines

Forum

15 posts

Contacts

4

About me

German

Lives in General Santos City

Speaks German, English

Registration: 12 September 2012

Activity

danielkoepf replied to a thread
6 years ago
Priscilla

Bank loans in the Philippines by Priscilla

Hello, Finances and banking can sometimes be a headache for many expats, especially when it comes to taking out bank loans. Is it difficult for an expat to get approved for a bank loan in the Philippines? What are the types of bank loans ...

danielkoepf

I am permanently in the Philippines since 8 years and I still don't have a Philippine bank account. They have ridiculous requirements and horribly bad service. Stay away from Philippine banks. Use your bank account abroad or just keep your cash ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
7 years ago
Bhavna

Naturalisation and citizenship in the Philippines by Bhavna

Hello everyone, What are the requirements for acquiring citizenship in the Philippines? For example, length of residence, language requirements, employment etc.. What formalities are involved in the process? What is the policy on ...

danielkoepf

I been living in the Philippines for 7 years and I am sick of doing the ridiculous process of the yearly report at the immigration office. Even changing the address is a bureaucracy masterpiece. I am married to a Filipina so being here in the ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
7 years ago
Priscilla

Mistakes expats make in the Philippines by Priscilla

Hello everyone, Did you make any mistakes when you first moved to Philippines? What were they? How did you address your mistakes? Did you learn anything from them? With hindsight, what would you do differently? Are there any tips you ...

danielkoepf

As a German I was used to take rules serious and here in the Philippines I was not only following all rules myself but was expecting the Filipinos to follow their own rules and laws as well. However, there is a lot of "should", ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
8 years ago
Priscilla

Expand your social circle in the Philippines by Priscilla

Hello everyone, Moving to the Philippines means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one ...

danielkoepf

Am I the only foreigner in the Philippines that has a filipino best friend? Is it really so difficult for you all to build friendships with filipinos? Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
8 years ago
Priscilla

Expand your social circle in the Philippines by Priscilla

Hello everyone, Moving to the Philippines means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one ...

danielkoepf

You can "fit in there"! Definitely. But you have to make the first step. Especially if you are already considered "a rich foreigner", the Filipinos hesitate to build a relation with you. You have to consider they are used to the ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
8 years ago
Priscilla

Expand your social circle in the Philippines by Priscilla

Hello everyone, Moving to the Philippines means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one ...

danielkoepf

OK, maybe my view is a little unusual, but i did not come to the Philippines to be friends with other foreigners. In fact, 99% of my social contacts here are filipino. I meet with my filipino best friend every week, we drink a beer and our families ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
8 years ago
Priscilla

Expand your social circle in the Philippines by Priscilla

Hello everyone, Moving to the Philippines means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one ...

danielkoepf

@jonnyboy - I think the question is how to be friends with the locals, not with the other foreigners here. Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
9 years ago
Maximilien

Volunteering in the Philippines by Maximilien

Hi, While living abroad, some expats wish to get involved in the local community life. What organizations expats can turn to if they want to volunteer in the Philippines? How to join a charitable institution, what are the steps? Which ...

danielkoepf

@sam40 I think you have been meeting the wrong people. It is true that we should not just give the Filipinos everything they need. But many Filipinos DO need someone to help them learn how to get along better. Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
9 years ago
Maximilien

Volunteering in the Philippines by Maximilien

Hi, While living abroad, some expats wish to get involved in the local community life. What organizations expats can turn to if they want to volunteer in the Philippines? How to join a charitable institution, what are the steps? Which ...

danielkoepf

I am a Jehovah's Witness but I struggled to learn the local language to attend the religious meetings in cebuano. But I found a group for deaf Jehovah's Witnesses using american sign language and english writing. So I attend there now, ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
9 years ago
Priscilla

Filipino cuisine by Priscilla

Hi, When living abroad, tasting the local cuisine is part of discovering the country. What is your favorite food in the Philippines? What is the local speciality? Share with us the local tastes of the Philippines and why not your best ...

danielkoepf

My favorites are Humba made of pork meat with a taste of pineapple and salted black beans. If you see this, give it a try! Another favorite is Bicol Express which I saw made with pork and sometimes with tuna. It is cooked in coconut milk and should ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
9 years ago
expat.com

Tips for getting your first job in the Philippines by expat.com

Hi, What are your tips and advice for getting a first job in the Philippines? What are the job hunting steps to follow? Where to look for offers: newspapers, Internet, recruitment agencies, word-of-mouth? What are the top hiring ...

danielkoepf

I was reading the answers so far and I want to say, if you are a caucasian foreigner in the Philippines, it is close to impossible to find work in a local company. It is better to start your own business. And for what you want to work, I would ... Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
10 years ago
Wayne 07

Living 2014 on $5000.00 a month in Philippines (living in provience) by Wayne 07

In 2010 I read a question on blog of what is it like living on $5000.00 (U.S A. Dollars) a month in the Philippines. It is 2014 soon to be 2015. I would like to know now how life would be like living on that amount in both the city and country. I ...

danielkoepf

It totally depends on your disease and the hospital you go to. And of course you should have PhilHealth that covers a lot. Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
10 years ago
Wayne 07

Living 2014 on $5000.00 a month in Philippines (living in provience) by Wayne 07

In 2010 I read a question on blog of what is it like living on $5000.00 (U.S A. Dollars) a month in the Philippines. It is 2014 soon to be 2015. I would like to know now how life would be like living on that amount in both the city and country. I ...

danielkoepf

$5000.00 a month in the Philippines? You live like king and queen in paradise. I live with my wife and son for $600 a month in General Santos and we are very OK. Read More

danielkoepf replied to a thread
11 years ago
mogo51

living in phils by mogo51

I am wishing to move from Australia to retire in Phils, have had several areas recommended out of Cebu, Dumaguette, Palawan, Subic Bay, can anyone give me an update on rough costs. I am currently single but not wanting to stay that way, and wish to ...

danielkoepf

Davao is extremely save, but every time I go there, I get so tired of the traffic problem. Why everyone needs to go by taxi or have his own car? I love General Santos City. Most people have motorbikes and traffic is flowing. And its save too. I ... Read More