Blogger Spotlight: Gly Gly of Chasing Potatoes

Herbert Kikoy

We got pretty tied into other commitments over the past months and we haven’t managed to publish something on The Blogger Spotlight. As we kick off 2017, we are very excited to revive this segment in hopes of not just featuring the best Cebuano bloggers but also knowing how they made it to where they are now.

To start things off, we are thrilled to feature this very talented lady blogger. She is a certified thrill and adventure-seeker and not only that, she got wicked skills in photography (we are a secret follower… shhh). So with no further adieu, let’s get to know more about Gly Gly, the wanderlust and shutterbug behind Chasing Potatoes.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU GOT INTO BLOGGING?

Gly Gly: Hi, I am Glister del Socorro, Gly for short but some call me Patatas ( which I like the most haha 😂). There’s nothing really special about me. Sometimes I travel, sometimes I hike and climb mountains, sometimes I dive and be with the ocean, sometimes I go out to capture and snap photos. Sometimes I desire for daring adventures and sometimes I just stay idle and watch tv series or if life bores me I just sleep or eat. I’m just like any other people behaving in an ordinary manner.

I admit that there are lots of times when I am stuck with boredom, so to break the wheel of monotony, I do some blogs. Time flies, memories fade but words last; so maybe one day, if I reread my blogs, I would feel and live again the experiences of the past. This is for the sake of feeling again, re-awakening my emotions, and reminiscing the history of my existence.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA OF YOUR BLOG’S NAME?

Gly Gly: My blog name before was Destined To Be Great. Sound cliche, right? A name that somehow resembles personal bragging. But my social media name which is already in Facebook and Instagram is Chasing Potatoes.

Then a friend asked me why my blog name is not Chasing Potatoes which is a nice name. Fortunately my blog Destined To Be Great went down, so now I’m using Chasing Potatoes.

…and why Chasing Potatoes? It was derived from some misheard lyrics from the song “The Scientist.” (Please don’t kill me Coldplay fans, I’m just a bit deaf, haha 😂). Since I find Chasing Potatoes cute I use it as my social media and blog name.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BLOGGING?

Gly Gly: Aside from sharing my photos and adventures, I really find delight in putting my experiences into words using my own creativity. The words that express my thoughts are the traces I leave in this complex world. Blogging has opened my mind to things I have not known before. It is a delightful ang fulfilling learning experience. Because of blogging too, I gained a lot, as in a lot of friends. My pespective in life has changed 360 degrees ever since I started blogging.

WHAT IS THE NICHE OF YOUR BLOG AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?

Gly Gly: My niche is personal blog / travel. Maybe a lot of people have gone to the places where I have visited and have made the usual adventures the place had to offer; but since every person is unique, I have my own way of perceiving things and events. I choose the angles for my lens to capture and therefore I have my own interpretation or my own story of the sights that captivated me.

ARE YOU MONETIZING YOUR BLOG? HOW DO YOU MONETIZE YOUR BLOG’S TRAFFIC?

Gly Gly: No, I’m not monetizing it as of the moment. Maybe one day… but as of now I’m enjoying everything. Monetizing it or not… as long as I’m happy sharing my stories and as long as there are readers who are happy reading my blog. I’m more of a passion than a profit blogger.

TOP 5 SITES YOU VISIT (ALMOST) EVERYDAY

Chasing Potatoes
WordPress
Facebook
Google
Instagram

TOOLS YOU USE WITH YOUR BLOGGING

Smartphone
Snapseed
Lightroom
Action Camera

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BLOG POSTS?

Gly Gly: I just love reading travel blogs not just for guides and itineraries but the stories behind. I am always in awe and inspired from travel bloggers who are creative writers just like Trisha from PS I’m On My Way and Marj from DakilangLaagan. While reading vicariously, I feel I’m with them traveling too. I’m not really good in writing. It’s not my cup of tea. Because of them I’m inspired to be better writer or blogger.

BESIDES BLOGGING, WHAT OTHER INTERESTS DO YOU HAVE?

Gly Gly: As previously mentioned, aside from blogging, I love to travel, hike, dive,shoot pictures, watch tv series, and anything that won’t bore me. Hahaha!

GIVE US 5 OF YOUR BEST BLOG POSTS

I Thought It Was Going to Be a Perfect Date, Then the Storm Ruined It, But still I Was Thankful For It
The Pursuit of Mr. Frog Fish
CAPUL ISLAND : 17 Untradeable Experiences in this Heritage Island of Unspoiled Beauty
My 100 Days in Mobile Photography and Still Can’t Believe the Outcome of My Photos
Mt. Naupa: Climbing the Almost Perfect Cone of Naga’s Highest Peak

HOW WAS YOUR BLOGGING SO FAR? HAVE YOU RECEIVED AWARDS AND RECOGNITION SINCE YOU STARTED?

Gly Gly: Nope, I have never received any award, but I’m truly grateful for the recognition of being one of the finalists in Cebu’s best photo blog in the year 2015. I feel honored and privileged to be noticed and this has inspired me to do better with my craft.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO JUST STARTED BLOGGING

Gly Gly: Just enjoy … Know your niche and keep the blogging passion burning. Hold on to that blogging fever which has motivated you to develop and polish your chosen niche. Just write, write and write. Never get discouraged if someone criticizes your blog, grammar or photos. It’s a way to learn from your mistakes and lastly, there are always new bloggers and new players that will sprout along the way. Even then, just continue with what you are doing but be more creative. Strategize your blogging scheme until you gonna get there.

LASTLY, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BLOG IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

Gly Gly: I’m still Chasing Potatoes. . .

Before we go, here are 10 Quick Facts about Gly Gly

Gly Gly is …