A versatile composer, Nilo Alcala has written music for film and other visual media and has received nominations and awards in the Philippines. Alcala is a Filipino composer known for his extraordinary vocal works, and his ability to compose instrumental works using vocal-style writing.

dabda was commissioned by Norman Menzales, principal flute of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, for his Sampuguita Filipino Flute Project. This project was done in order to create new modern flute compositions by Filipino composers for Menzales’ album Panoramas. dabda makes up the first letters of the stages of coping with grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.