Gloc-9: Sirena and Other Stories

Gloc-9 aka Aristotle Pollisco in real life, have once again proven his story telling craftsmanship with his new album "Mga Kwento ng Makata" featuring the carrier single "Sirena".

Gloc-9's songs have always been of social relevance.  The poet that he is, he gets his inspiration from what he sees around him and translates them in a song.  Sirena is one such composition. The song talks about the life and struggles of the third sex in a society highly dictated on by convention.  They are laughed at, ridiculed, and sometimes abused by their parents.  

Upang matakpan ang mga pasa sa mukha/Na galing sa aking ama na tila di natutuwa/Kapag ako'y nasisilayan laging nalalatayan sa paglipag ng panahon ay do ko na namalayan... 

Let's face it,  much that the world has evolved in the last decade or so homosexuality is still frowned upon by many.  The Bible's Book of Genesis would always be quoted to prove that in the beginning God only created two:  Man and Woman.   But then, Matthew 7:1 also tells us, "Do not judge for you too will be judged."  

Colorful in his imagery and metaphors, Gloc-9's play of words never fails to stir emotive responses from his listeners.  At first I was stumped as to the title of the song.  Sirena or mermaid is half woman and half fish.  Siokoy or merman is half man and half fish.  So I guess anything in between would be SIOKE which also happens to be another word to describe a gay person.  But this is not the title of the song---SIRENA is.  And then it hit me...

Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid/Naglalakihang mga braso ang saki'y dumidikdik/Drum na may tubig/Ang sinisisid sa patagalan ng pag hinga sakin kay ay bibilib...

Such is the torture that these people get from their own parents.  Such a shame.  Such horror.  For someone supposed to be made in the likeness of God, to do such atrocities is unforgivable!  And then maybe, just maybe Gloc-9's words may well be true---

Di sinusukat ang tapang at ang bigote sa mukha/Dahil kung minsan mas lalake pa sa lalake ang bakla...

Everyday Lessons from Gloc9 and Daiana Meneses

I bumped into Aris "Gloc9" Pollisco and his lovely wife Teegi this morning at SM Hypermart and got to chit-chat while waiting our turn at the counter.  

Gloc9, together with Parokya ni Edgar, were in a successful North American tour a month ago.  For many of us from the outside looking in, it was a WOW thing.  It's like, "Wow!  Sarap nyo naman!  North American tour!" But what we do not know is how hard the life of an entertainer really is---show, travel, show, travel, show---barely able to rest and do anything else in order to fulfill the commitment to entertain.  Performing sick is part of the job hazard and as the entertainment saying goes, "The show must go on." 

Like Gloc9, Daiana Meneses is also living the seemingly glamorous life of an entertainer.  I saw her yesterday at the Bumper to Bumper Car Show and she seemed vibrant and accommodating amidst the suffocating mob of fans who either wanted her autograph or her picture.  I took a video of her http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMTF2EC6qo&feature=youtu.be and posted it on her Facebook wall to which she graciously replied to with a short "kwento" as to the sleepless days of touring the different parts of the country prior to the event.  

These are people who we envy and look up to.  However, their life is not all that glamorous as we thought it is.  They are dedicated people making a living.  Many of us are like this except that we're only famous in our own little circle.  If we are envious of their fame, many of them crave for the simple life away from the kleig lights and public scrutiny.  Well, we are dealt with different hands in this game of life.  How we react to what we have is a matter of ATTITUDE.

Gloc9 and Daiana are good examples of people who love their work and are willing to go beyond the call of duty to make good in their craft.  Not only are they entertainers but also role models worth emulating.

"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