Rodney Dakita Garcia played guitar in a pub to help pay his way through law school. As a writer and musician, he has composed numerous songs, poetry, and a two-act musical play, "Hacienda," which was first staged in the Washington D.C. area.

In 1986 the Philippine Embassy gave him the "People's Power Award." In 1998, the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington D.C. gave him an award for "Extraordinary Service" to Catholic Schools.

He lives in Maryland with his family.