What started as an idea to promote a resort unexpectedly turned into a movie—and gave businesswoman Geng Rodriguez the chance to fulfill a childhood dream she had set aside decades ago.
Rodriguez, also known as Cleofe Rodriguez, is making her debut as both producer and actress through ‘Pamana,’ an upcoming romance-comedy-suspense film directed by veteran filmmaker Rommel Penesa.
The film brings together an ensemble that includes Herlene Budol, Gil Cuerva, Janice de Belen, Ashley Ortega, Paolo Gumabao, Petite, Negi, Jelai Andres, Kakai Bautista, Zara Lopez, and Kai.
For Rodriguez, however, becoming a movie producer was never part of the original plan.
As general manager of Highland Bali Resort and Villas in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, she had simply been looking for new ways to promote the property when she crossed paths with Penesa.
“Nakita ko na very brilliant naman yung kanyang mga ideas,” Rodriguez recalled.
Their conversation eventually led to an impulsive invitation that would change the direction of the project.
When Rodriguez learned that Penesa was at a farmers market with his wife, she immediately asked him to come to the resort.
“Sabi ko, ‘Direk, pwede bang pumunta ka dito sa Highland Bali Resort and Villas? At may pag-uusapan tayo, mag-puproduce tayo,’” she recalled.
Penesa arrived that same day. From there, ‘Pamana’ began taking shape.
Rodriguez initially stepped into the project from the business side, but Penesa had another idea.
The director had been watching her vlogs and thought her personality could translate well on screen.
“Nakikita ko, napapanood ko yung mga vlog mo eh. Pwede ka ron,” Penesa told her.
He eventually handed Rodriguez a script and gave her a character to play: Delia Flores.
Penesa described Delia rather directly as “suplada, masungit, mapang-api.”
Rodriguez, meanwhile, jokingly described the character as having a “double and triple personality”—sweet one moment and “chismosa” the next.
Stepping in front of the camera proved to be an eye-opening experience.
“Ngayon ko nakita kung anong sakripisyo, kung anong pagod,” she said of actors and the demands of production.
“Sobrang ina-admire ko talaga silang lahat ngayon.”
There is also something deeply personal about Rodriguez finally getting to act.
Before building her career in business, she had dreamed of becoming an actress as a child. Life eventually took her in a different direction.
Now in her 50s, she is finally pursuing that dream—but largely on her own terms.
As producer, Rodriguez made it clear that she did not need a romantic leading man for herself and wanted the movie to remain light, entertaining, and suitable for a broad audience.
“Gusto natin ngayon, romance, comedy, masasaya. Hindi yung puro lungkot lang at iyakan,” she said.
Being a first-time producer also allowed Rodriguez to help assemble the cast she wanted.
Among her personal choices was Janice de Belen, whom she has admired since childhood.
“Si Janice de Belen, very fan ako niyan. Kasi bata pa lang ako, Janice de Belen,” Rodriguez shared.
The project eventually assembled performers from different corners of Philippine entertainment, with Budol among the central stars.
Interestingly, Budol also played a role in how the project evolved.
According to Penesa, the actress initially approached him about creating a vertical drama series.
But when the director began working out what it would take to produce a full-length movie—with even the Metro Manila Film Festival initially entering the conversation—the idea expanded.
“Gumawa muna tayo ng maliit na movie. Represent natin sa Netflix. Tapos pang-vertical din natin,” Penesa recalled discussing.
Budget became one of the production’s biggest challenges.
Without the resources of a major festival entry, the team had to find ways to reduce costs while still completing the film.
Rodriguez herself kept her demands as producer-actress simple.
“Ako, pang-gasolina na lang. Pakain, okay na ako dyan,” she quipped.
Behind ‘Pamana’ is a filmmaker whose career spans several generations of Philippine film and television.
Before becoming a director, Penesa worked behind the camera for acclaimed filmmakers including National Artists Ishmael Bernal, Lino Brocka, and Eddie Romero.
His experience also exposed him to directors working across different genres, including Joel Lamangan in drama, Soxy Topacio and Joey Reyes in comedy, and Toto Natividad in action.
Penesa later directed projects of his own, including the youth-oriented series “Dear Uncle,” as well as concerts featuring international acts such as Chicago, Toto, and Gloria Estefan.
More recently, he worked on GMA Network’s action series ‘Black Rider.’
‘Pamana’ represents a considerable shift from that action-heavy project and a return to lighter material. Among Penesa’s previous romance-comedy projects were ‘Dading,’ starring Ricky Davao, and ‘My Korean Jagiya.’
Despite its emphasis on comedy and romance, ‘Pamana’ carries a darker hook involving inheritance, betrayal, and greed.
The story follows Kimmy Reyes, a wealthy resort heiress whose wedding day takes a sinister turn when she discovers a deadly scheme involving her inheritance.
Given another chance to confront what awaits her, Kimmy must find a way to change her fate, uncover a conspiracy stretching back years, and determine whom she can trust.
Penesa teased the story’s unusual premise by saying: “Kasi nanaginip ako eh. Totoo pala yung panaginip ko.”
The filmmaker describes ‘Pamana’ as a romance-comedy with a twist, with greed serving as one of the central themes.
At its core is a question of what a person would do if given a glimpse of what lies ahead—and whether knowing the future would be enough to change it.
Rodriguez’s Highland Bali Resort and Villas also plays an important role in the production as one of the movie’s primary locations.
Located in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija and overlooking Pantabangan Dam, the property takes inspiration from Balinese architecture and the owners’ love of travel.
Its villas, landscapes, wellness amenities, and water park provide much of the setting for the film.
Rodriguez is also involved in another Nueva Ecija venture, St. Martin De Porres Memorial Park in Cabanatuan City.
But with ‘Pamana,’ the businesswoman is entering an entirely different industry—and taking perhaps her biggest creative gamble yet.
She began by looking for a new way to promote her business. She ended up financing a film, assembling actors she admired, stepping in front of the camera herself, and finally pursuing an acting dream she had carried since childhood.
For Rodriguez, that may be the most personal “pamana” of the project: the realization that reaching one’s 50s doesn’t necessarily mean the time for new dreams has passed.
As she put it while inviting audiences to give the movie a chance: “Sure na kayo po ay tatawa at matutuwa. Promise, mag-enjoy kayo.”
