After a 40-year delay, Fil-American band Dakila looking to hold that Manila concert.

After a 40-year delay, Fil-American band Dakila looking to hold that Manila concert.

by rick olivares

Fil-American rock band Dakila, formed in the San Francisco area during the early 1970s is looking to finally connect with its Filipino roots some 40-plus years after its Manila concert in 1972 was cancelled following the declaration of Martial Law.

Dakila was a popular rock band in the Bay Area during the early 1970s that performed a fusion of the Latin rock music along with a myriad of other genres and styles not to mention Filipino music. The band recorded a cult favorite album in 1972 and broke up a few years later. They reunited in 2013 and are not only performing, touring, and recording again, but they are also looking to finally land on Philippine shores.

The band whose members were mostly of Philippine ancestry rose from the ashes of a Santana tribute band called Soul Sacrifice after founder Rome Bustamante saw the pioneering Latino band during the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Other members from the original band included Bert Ancheta on guitar and vocals, Fred Ancheta on bass, Carlos Badia on congas, David Bustamante on guitars and percussion and vocals, Rome Bustamante on organ and vocals, Michael Gopaul on timbales and vocals, and Frank Magtoto on drums and vocals.

“After the success of Santana, (American) record companies were looking for similar bands in the Bay Area to sign up for record deals,” related Rome’s younger brother, David, who is the sole remaining original member of Dakila which is still performing in the United States to this day.

“Soul Sacrifice had to start creating their own music originals and become something the record industry was looking for,” related David via email interview. “It was decided to change the name and identity of the band to ‘Dakila’ to emphasize our Filipino heritage. The name ‘Dakila’ was thought up by our father, Anacleto Bustamante, who was a musician himself.”

“Yes, the influences from Santana (can be heard) in the music but many bands based in the Mission district of San Francisco where already fusing and mixing Latin rhythms to rock, funk, and rhythm and blues. Some bands got that lucky break and some didn't.”

Another Bay Area band Malo, formed by the younger brother of Carlos Santana, Jorge, was signed by Warner Bros. And soon after that, record company executive, Clive Davis, a legend in the American music industry, spotted Dakila after a rehearsal, and offered the band a five-year contract with Epic/Columbia. The self-titled debut was released in 1972.

Dakila, the album, featured six tracks with English, Filipino, and Spanish titles. Album producer Bruce Good wrote on the jacket notes, “The music on this album presents a flavor that Latin freaks will not immediately recognize. They’ll hear congas and timbales, the organs and guitars they know and love. But a subtle spice has been added to the pot, and it’s a whole new stew. The new flavor is Tagalog; it is the Philippines. Just a taste more jungle than you’re used to, but then, who wants the same dish all the time?”

While Santana broke down barriers, it wasn’t easy for Tagalog in 1970s USA. In fact, Epic/Columbia released the Dakila track “El Dubi” as a single with the B-Side, “Language Lesson”, an audio track that taught American disc jockeys how to speak and pronounce the Tagalog song titles. It was hilarious to say the least.

More than the music, the band was also a force for change. The band helped raise money with the help of the Cesar Chavez Foundation to build homes for Filipino farm workers in what is called today, the Agbayani Village in Delano, California. These were for the workers who toiled in the grape fields of Delano for decades.

That single with the Language Lesson for a B-Side

Dakila toured most of the West Coast and many colleges in the region. “We toured with Malo and Buddy Miles, who was the drummer for Jimi Hendrix’ Band of Gypsys,” related Bustamante. “The band also performed in major historical venues produced by Bill Graham.”

A Manila homecoming concert was planned to help promote the self-titled debut that was also released domestically, but the declaration of Martial Law scuttled plans for the live show.

The canceled Manila concert was a portent of things to come for the band. While the album received some airplay in San Francisco as well as in the Filipino enclave of Hawaii, and some in Europe as well, album sales were generally not what Epic/Columbia execs had in mind.

The band recorded their second album but Epic/Columbia opted not to release it and the band was released from their contract. Soon after that, the band broke up in 1974.

Almost 40 years later, Dakila reformed with only David Bustamante actively performing and recording from the original line-up. “I decided to organize a tribute performance in 2013 at the Voices of Latin Rock annual fund raiser and instantly the band sparked great attraction among promoters and journalists,” said David. “I was (initially) able to get two original musicians plus myself as we were able to pull it off after 40 years. I decided to keep the band going and continue appearances up and down California for starters so the music – we only play original material -- can go on and tell our story.”

Two original band members have passed away in the 90's. One member had a severe stroke while the rest of the original members of have retired from performing.

“I have been writing most of the music since the band reformed in 2013,” shared Bustamante. “We continue to play some of the classic Dakila songs but the new sound today is a mix of rock, pop, Latin, jazz, funk, and a dose of Filipino influences.”

Joining Bustamante in the new line-up are Amador Tuazon, Richard Segovia, Ron Mesina, Gabe Del Rosario, Ace Olfre, and Eddie Lastra.

“If we can get the band to perform in the Philippines, it would fulfill the dream of the past musicians,” hoped Bustamante. “Hopefully, that dream may come true.”

My two Dakila records. One I keep and one I play to death.

Dakila 2018.