After attending Ateneo de Manila University, he worked in a variety of fields: as a teacher, production hand, and stage actor.

During this time, he also became deeply involved in labor movements, such as Panulat Para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (PAKSA), as well as leftist political groups like the New People's Army.

"[2] As Emmanuel became more deeply involved with the New People's Army, and with other guerilla groups opposed to martial law under the Marcos dictatorship, he went deeper into the Philippines' underground, but his poems and stories continued to circulate and find wide readership.

Lacaba, along with three other dissidents, was killed on March 18, 1976, in Tucaan Balaag, Asuncion, Davao del Norte by members of the Integrated Civilian Home Defense Forces.

[3] Lacaba wrote the lyrics of "Awit ni Kuala", the song sung by Lolita Rodriguez in the classic Lino Brocka masterpiece 'Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang '.