Blogger Spotlight: Rachel of PostCardPretty

 

As we kick-off the “Love Month”, Drift Stories is proud to feature a teacher by profession and blogger by passion.  With her blog, which she started a year ago, received press and features not just in magazines and newspapers but to tv and broadcast media as well. Along with her friends or just all by herself, she wandered not just Asia but most parts of Europe as well.

With no further adieu, let’s give it up for Rachel Arandilla, the incredible author behind Post Card Pretty.

 

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

Rachel: Writing has always been a creative outlet for me. I used to blog or write privately for myself. Being a teacher by profession, I always had the passion to share what I know and help other people. A lot of friends and acquaintances come to me to ask for travel and visa advice, and I am always glad to help–so rather than relating my experiences to every person who would ask, I decided to put up my blog and write everything in there: about my travel experiences, stories and tips. It was a great resource for my friends (and even a helpful archive to myself, when I choose to revisit certain places!).

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

Rachel: Postcardpretty.com simply means ‘postcard-pretty’ or ‘pretty as a postcard’. I feature pretty places and tell travel stories from my never-ending journey in my blog..

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BLOGGING?

Rachel: I am able to reach out and help not only to my friends but strangers who need travel advice. I meet new friends and like-minded individuals with the same fueled passion for travel and adventure.

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

Rachel: Travel – well, because I travel a lot! I want my Filipino readers to know that traveling is possible–it doesn’t need to entail a lot of money, or effort, or time–just go do it. I believe that everyone should travel and see what’s out there–it could change your outlook in life and appreciate things around you more.

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

Rachel: No! I haven’t reached to that point yet. 🙂 But thanks to my blog I have received a lot of press and features. I’ve been invited to local and national events, also via Cebu Bloggers Society. I’ve been modeling on runway and print, ads, and has been featured in magazines, newspaper and TV (GMA’s ‘I Juander’ travel show). I also have a consistent travel column in a local news publication, in Sunstar Weekend.

So despite not having monetized my blog yet, it has opened a lot of opportunities for me!

TOP 5 SITES YOU VISIT (ALMOST) EVERYDAY

My friends’ websites!

  • CopyCarla.com
  • Babeforfood.blogspot.com
  • Issaplease.com
  • Wanderlass.com
  • Expertvagabond.com

TOOLS YOU USE WITH YOUR BLOGGING

Just WordPress. Haha I am so hopeless with tech and coding stuff.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR BLOG POSTS?

Rachel: Looking through my photos and reminiscing my travel stories! I sometimes get a flush of inspiration after talking to my friends about my travel stories–they often got me thinking ‘Hey I should write this down on my blog…’.

BESIDES BLOGGING, WHAT OTHER INTERESTS DO YOU HAVE?

Rachel: Art, Culture, Dancing, History, the Beach, Teaching, Architecture, Culture, People, Design, Psychology, Marketing and Business.

GIVE US 5 OF YOUR BEST BLOG POSTS

My most popular and favorite blog posts are the following:

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

Rachel: I am a member of Cebu Bloggers Society. I have been featured in Cebu Pacific, GetGo and other various websites.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO JUST STARTED BLOGGING

Rachel: Content is king–just write what you are passionate about, be sincere to your readers and the rest will follow!

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

Rachel: More destinations, more opportunities, and more accessibility of travel information to Filipinos.

Before we go, here are 10 Quick Facts about Rachel

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Rachel is …

  • Rational but Impulsive
  • Optimistic
  • I am an Extrovert
  • Left or Right Hemisphere? Right Hemisphere
  • I am a Leader

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Rachel’s Favorites

  • Author: Vladimir Nabokov
  • Book: Lolita, Gone Girl, ASOIAF
  • Band: John Legend
  • Song: Right now, The Weeknd has been on replay on my playlist
  • Food: Palak Paneer with Roti

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There you have it folks. Thank you for reading.

Stay tuned next week the next edition of The Blogger Spotlight.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Herbert Kikoy

Surigaonon by birth, Butuanon by heart and now an adopted son of Cebu, Herbert is a hobbyist photographer who focuses on Food, Sports, Travel and Festivals photography.