Dicta License

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Dicta License
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Background information
Origin	Quezon City, Philippines
Genre(s)	rap/rock/grunge
Years active	1999-present
Label(s)	Warner Music
Associated acts	Kjwan
Website	http://myspace.com/licensetospeak
Members
Pochoy Labog (vocals), Bryan Makasiar (drums), Kelley Mangahas (bass), Boogie Romero (guitars)

Dicta License is a Filipino band formed December of 1999, whose music is a fusion of rock, rap, and grunge. This all-Atenean band consists of Pochoy Labog on vocals, Bryan Makasiar on drums, Kelley Mangahas on bass, and Boogie Romero on guitars (the last two, Kel and Boogie, are also part of another band, Kjwan.)

The name "Dicta License" literally translates as "License to Speak," which can be aptly associated with the philosophical/socio-political tone evident in their songs. The band's influences include Rage Against the Machine, Lauryn Hill, The Roots, Public Enemy, Incubus, and many others, RATM being their strongest influence of all.

Their first big break happened in 2001, when Warner Music Philippines included their songs "Duct Tape" and "Criminal" in its compilation album, No Seat Affair, together with other then up-and-coming artists, Cog, DTS, Zooom, Six Digit and Euglito's Eye. In that same year, Dicta License was invited to the Busan International Rock Festival in Korea, where they performed in front of a 25,000-crowd.

In 2003, they released a 5-song EP which consists of their original songs "Burning Streets of Love and Hate," "Criminal," "Smoke Under the Table," "Falling Earth," and "Undiscarded." After two years, the band released their first album, Paghilom, under Warner Music Philippines. It consists of 10 tracks with lyrics that explicitly address the Filipino youth with issues of socio-political concern.

Dicta License's first album

The first single from the album was "Ang Ating Araw" and was used as a theme song for ABS-CBN's tagalized version of the Asianovela, Amazing Twins. This song also put the band on music charts, like the Myx Hit Chart and the NU 107 Top 100 Year-end Countdown last 2005, where Dicta's song was hailed number one.

Other releases from the Paghilom include "Alay sa Nagkamalay Noong Dekada Nobenta," "Complex," and "Sugat," all of which also made it to the 2006 NU 107 Top 100 Year-end Countdown.

Dicta License was one of the three bands that piloted Admit One Productions, a monthly event that serves as a venue for up-and-coming bands to perform and be introduced into the music scene. The other founders were Fatal Posporos and Twisted Halo. The band is also a regular of the Sonic Boom Productions, which is also of similar nature as Admit One, and of RockEd.

Dicta License at the 13th NU 107 Rock Awards

Band recognitions include nominations from MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards 2006 for Best Cinematography in a Video and Best Production Design in a Video for their song, "Complex." They've also had individual recognitions like in the NU 107 Rock Awards 2006, where Pochoy was nominated for Vocalist of the Year and Best Male, and Boogie for Guitarist of the Year. (The band was also nominated for the Rising Sun award.)

Furthermore, Dicta License collaborated with Urbandub to do the theme song, Future, for the 2006 MTV Music Summit for HIV/AIDS, which was held last December at The Fort Open Grounds.

Right now, the band is doing their second album, which is expected to be released before the end of 2007 and they're also busy gracing gigs all over the country.