Gloc-9: From barker, kitchen helper to OPM pillar
Before earning awards and recognition for his hard-hitting songs, Gloc-9, whose real name is Aristotle Pollisco, went through his share of struggles.
During his appearance on Kara David’s “i-Listen,” Gloc-9 looked back on his early days, when he worked as a barker and conductor alongside his father, who drove a jeepney in Binangonan, Rizal.
"Noong bumalik ang tatay ko, mas nagkaroon kami ng bonding dahil ako naman ang kanyang kundoktor kapag nagbibiyahe kami ng jeep. Siyempre, wala na siyang work eh, nu’ng bumalik siya ng Pilipinas," Gloc-9 shared.
After returning to the Philippines, Gloc-9’s father bought his brother’s fish-hauling vehicle and converted it into a passenger jeepney.
“Binangonan! Binangonan! Binangonan!” Gloc-9 recalled shouting as he called out to passengers.
Despite the challenges of his early years, Gloc-9 considers those days among his best memories. Working as a barker and conductor exposed him to the stories and experiences of people he encountered every day.
"Part din ‘yun ng childhood ko. Ang upo ko kasi doon, hindi naman ako ‘yung nakasabit sa labas. Ayaw ni tatay. So meron akong maliit na bangkito. So nakaupo ako sa gitna nu’ng aisle sa pagitan ng lahat ng pasahero para kita mo lahat ng pasahero. Alam mo kung sino ‘yung hindi pa nagbabayad. So naririnig mo lahat ng pinagkukuwentuhan nila," patuloy niya.
He added: "Siguro kung meron man akong isang regalo na bigay sa akin, I see people, I hear people, I feel people, na malaking bagay sa pagsusulat ko ng kanta."
Before making a name for himself in music, Gloc-9 also worked as a kitchen helper at the commissary of a Japanese fast-food chain inside a mall. He also cleaned drains and did other odd jobs.
"Pagdating ko ng 7 a.m., lilinisin ko ‘yung garahe, kasi umalis na lahat ng delivery truck. Linisin ko ‘yung garahe, labas ko lahat ng trash. Tapos lilinisin ko ‘yung kanal sa tapat ng establishment. Kung may naituro sa akin ang mga magulang ko, make sure na kung ano ang opportunity na nasa harapan mo ngayon, ‘yun ang pinakamagandang opportunity ngayon. ‘Pag-igihan mo dahil it leads to your next opportunity. It will lead you to your next work," he shared.
His years living in Morong, Rizal, where he was surrounded by people and their everyday stories, also helped shape his songwriting.
"I think ‘yung love ko sa pagsusulat ang talagang nagtulak sa akin na mag-improve. Yung kuwento ng bumibili sa ‘yo, naririnig mo na eh. Tapos ‘yung mga kapitbahay mo na kapag dumadaan lagi doon, naririnig mo nga ‘yung kuwento nila," he said.
Gloc-9 released his first song, "Simpleng Tao," in 2003. Since then, storytelling has remained at the heart of his music, drawing from the people, experiences, and everyday situations he encountered along the way.