“I was part of a generation that was influenced by foreign playwrights. But from that foundation, gusto ko gumawa ng sarili in my own terms. And that has also spurred my commitment to playwrights’ development.”

It is this deep-seated dedication to theater and commitment to playwrights that led to him establishing The Writer’s Bloc in 2004, an independent organization of established and aspiring Filipino playwrights; and his founding (with former Tanghalang Pilipino Artistic Director Herbie Go) and spearheading of the Virgin Labfest (VLF) 15 years ago – an annual playwrights-led festival of untried, untested, unstaged works on theater which has since changed the landscape of playwriting and redefined theatergoing in the country.

Rody’s commitment also extends to education. He has been teaching playwriting and theater acting since the ‘80s and has held more than 50 workshops all over the country and even abroad. Numerous recognitions and titles aside, Rody, at his core, is a Filipino creative with a deep and profound sense of social empathy.