User:AnneMR13/sandbox

Expatch is an online free resource that publishes high quality information, news, events, things to do and getting-acquainted help for foreigners living and working in Manila. It is a community blogging site expats and Filipinos can share knowledge and experiences through by way of contributing articles. Its headquarters is located at Discovery Centre, 25 ADB Ave. Ortigas Centre, Pasig City, Philippines.

As of November 21, 2013, Expatch has gained 8,382,495 million hits.

=== History ===

Expatch is rooted from the words “expat” and “patch,” which denotes the meaning ‘to connect expats.’ It took two months to stitch together ideas behind the website as there was stiff competition around websites dedicated for the needs of foreign nationals staying in Manila.

The main goal of Expatch is to provide expats with the Filipinos’ warm hospitality by means of sending out valuable information and encouraging everyone to join the online community that the website has began to establish then, and continues to do so until this date.

Expatch was also taken from the Filipino concept of ‘Bayanihan,’ where a community of people join in the spirit of helping out each other to achieve a common objective.

It was launched in 19 April 2012 with 2,829,347 hits in its first year.

=== Current Features: ===

> It features articles with substantial content that aims to make expats' stay in the Philippines worthwhile.

> It is highly interactive. Registered users can contribute articles and comment about other users' work as well.

> The site is open to expats who are interested to contribute their knowledge and experience in the

Philippines in the form of blog entries or business articles.

>It allows free promotion of company events in exchange of articles. However, self-promotion is a hard limit of the articles.