"Walang Natira" by Gloc 9

Gloc 9, who is Aristotle Pollisco in real life, has gone a long way since that day in 1997 when he first met The Master Rapper, Francis Magalona. He was just a fan then who was given the chance to show off his rap talent in Eat Bulaga. Francis was impressed and that was the start of a long standing relationship. Gloc 9 became the Master Rapper’s protégé, that is, until cancer cut short The Master’s life in 2009.

Francis left a legacy of songs that now sits in the hearts of every Filipino. When he passed on, Gloc 9 became the obvious choice to fill the void.

Gloc 9 did not disappoint.

Numerous awards and four albums later, the legacy of Francis lives on with tracks that continue to speak to the Filipino psyche such as “Liwanag”, “Lando”, “Upuan” and “Martilyo”. Continuing on this trend, Gloc 9 offers us a new set of songs with his fifth album “Talumpati” and its carrier single “Walang Natira”.

“A blacksmith of words and letters, a true Filipino poet.”

---Francis Magalona’s description of Gloc 9

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“Subukan mong isipin kung gaano kabigat

Ang buhat ng maleta halos hindi mona maangat

Ihahabilin ang anak para ‘to sa kanila

Lalayo upang magalaga ng anak ng iba…”

Filipinos are industrious by nature. Unfortunately, for the longest time, many have given up on the lack of opportunity here in our own country and found themselves looking for greener pastures in the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. Earlier OFWs were predominantly from the lower brackets of our society who worked as housekeeps and yayas; however, as the financial horizon dims, even professionals like doctors and teachers have opted to seek employment outside of the Philippines. Brain drain they called it.

“yung bayang sinilangan ang pangalan ay Pinas

Ngunit bakit parang puno na ang prutas ay pitas…”

Manpower became the country’s number one export and the dollar remittances of the OFWs became the second largest contributor to the government coffers (BIR tax collection being the first). Good for the country, right? But at what cost?

“Ang phinga’y iipunin para magamit pag-uwi

Dahil doon sa atin mahirap makakuha ng buri

Mapahiran ng chocolate ang matamis na ngiti

Ng anak na halos di nakilala ang ama

O ina na wala sa tuwing kaarawan nila…”

Such is the inspiration behind Gloc 9’s carrier single “Walang Natira”. It is an elegy to the plight of our overseas workers as they sacrifice being with their families to slave for the country who would pay more. But more than just a tribute to our OFWs, the song is also meant to clamor for our country’s leaders to live up to their mandate as public servants; to lift our country from the ruins of corruption and economic depression and give our workforce a better chance for a brighter future here in our beloved country.

Album Launch:  January 23, 2011
Photos and Music Video c/o J. PACENA