"Mga Kwento ng Makata"- Gloc9 Celebrating 18 Years in the Music Industry

For 18 years, Gloc9 have spurred our consciousness with regard to the state of Philippine society with songs such as "Elmer", "Martilyo", "Magda", "Sirena", "Upuan" and "Payag". His artistry have generated 100 songs and 7 certified hit albums that has amassed numerous awards. But the most notable critical acclaim came not from an award giving body but from the adulation given him by no other than the National Artist for Literature, Bienvenido Lumbera.  In an article, Mr. Lumbera said of Gloc9, "Ambag ni Gloc-9 at ng mga kapwa niya makabayang rapper ang tinig na nagpapalaya sa mga hinaing at kaisipanng pipi ng mamamayan."  This in itself is a validation of Gloc9's artistry and established for him a niche in the Philippine music industry as one of the best Filipino musician.

Aristotle Pollisco was born during the time when children still plays outside, climbing trees, swimming in the river, having fun under the rain and untainted by the putrescence of technology.  He grew up in a family where privilege is borne out of hard work and where each one contributes to chores to alleviate the family's day to day struggles from doing palengke runs for his mother to being his father's back rider when the former plied the family jeepney through the streets of Cainta-Binangonan.  He has gone on to experience more of life outside his family working as a kitchen helper at a fast food chain, a call center agent, and as a struggling artist whose love for music and poetry pushed him to move forward to realize his dreams.  Such is the road that Gloc9 traveled before making it big---something which actually gave him the depth in terms of inspiration to write his songs.

To have survived in the music industry for 18 years is no mean feat and Gloc9 knows that he owes much to a lot of people for him to have accomplished this:  to his ever supportive parents, who provided him the foundation of his principles;  to his own family, his wife and manager Thea and his twins, Shawn and Sean, who are his new sources of inspiration and hard work; to his friend and mentor, the late King of Rap, Francis Magalona, who gave him his break; and of course his legions of fans who continues to patronize his music that gave him commercial success.

The concert series, Mga Kwento ng Makata LIVE, is a THANK YOU concert to his supporters; an opportunity to touch base with them and open himself up as a son, a husband, a father, and a fan---someone they can relate to.

For four Saturdays of October---10, 17, 24, and 31---Gloc9 will be joined by the musicians who have collaborated with him.  Last October 10, Bamboo, Marc Abaya, Kylie Padilla, Jennylyn Mercado, Glaiza de Castro and Rochelle Pangillinan took center stage with Gloc9 for a musical extravaganza to the delight of the packed venue.  Once Gloc9 hits the tune for "Sumayaw Ka" ready your cellphones for he might just go around the venue for selfies!

Line up of guest artists in the next series as follows:
(October 17) Ebe Dancel, Chito Miranda, Rico Blanco, Jonalyn Viray, and Janno Gibbs
(October 24) Jolina Magdangal, Yeng Constantino, Ebe Dancel, Ogie Alcasid, and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
(October 31) KZ Tandingan, Jay Durias, Ebe Dancel, and Julie Anne San Jose