In celebration of his 27th year of service to God and humanity, broadcast journalist Daniel Razon has chalked up 27 major milestones.

No. 27 – The Man Behind the Intelligent Alternative
In 2004, Daniel Razon reinvented UNTV, and propelled it to local TV popularity. By putting shows that highlight biblical and moral values on prime time slots, he gave the Filipinos an entertaining yet intelligent alternative to watch.

No. 26 – Good Morning Kuya!

Three years later, the Filipino people witnessed the birth of Good Morning Kuya! and the unrelenting public service that goes with it. Supposedly a TV program, daily, it serves people with its clinic, pharmacy, job fair, and legal service for free.

No. 25 – Free Fare

After a few months, the free bus rides and free Metro Rail Transit rides for senior citizens ensued. Today, the station also carries free air-conditioned jeepney rides, mini buses, multicab rides, and even free plane rides for our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

No. 24 – The Transient Home
Inspired by the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” Daniel Razon, with the help of Bro. Eli Soriano and the Kamanggagawa Foundation, established the first free transient home in the Philippines. And since October 29, 2008, it had been providing anyone who needs temporary shelter a bed to sleep on, meals, clothes, and counselling for free.

No. 23 – In My Eyes

Through his photo exhibit and coffee-table book of the same title, Razon opened new avenues for public service. Showcasing his photographs for the benefit of the needy and underprivileged, Razon’s very first exhibit benefitted the Kamanggagawa Foundation Transient Home as well as the daily public service endeavors on UNTV.

No. 22 – All My Life: The Album

His first venture into a musical career was directed towards the public good. Daniel’s first mainstream album, All My Life, was launched in 2007, which funded the many public service efforts of the Kamanggagawa Foundation as seen on UNTV 37’s Good Morning Kuya! The debut album received a Platinum Record, and earned Daniel Razon a nomination in the 21st Awit Awards for Favorite New Male Artist.

No. 21 – An Icon in Photography
Doing the legacy of his grandfather, popular photographer Bob Razon, Daniel went about winning the 1st prize in The New Icon of Singapore: Night category, from the Singapore Flyer Official Opening Photography Contest.

No. 20 – Looking Beyond

Less than a year after “In My Eyes,” there came the “Looking Beyond” photo exhibit, shown on February 26, 2009. This exhibit was for the Kamanggagawa Foundation’s Transient Home as Daniel made the public see what lies underneath the captured beauty of each photo.

No. 19 – Isang Araw Lang (Just One Day)
The campaign that started it all: the Isang Araw Lang Campaign. Aiming to promote doing good, even for just one day, Kuya Daniel calls out to the Filipinos to use their skills, time, and capabilities to help those who need it most.

No. 18 – Isang Araw Lang: The Album
Carrying the official Isang Araw Lang song, this is the album of the same title that engraved Daniel Razon’s name in Philippine music history. Launched at the YCONCON: Isang Araw Lang concert on August 17, 2009, the album attained Gold Record status in just the first day of release.

No. 17 – Isang Araw Lang: The Movie

On his directorial-debut-turned-blockbuster, Daniel stars in his first feature-length digital film about an inspiring jeepney driver who helps those around him in every possible way he can. Packed with moral lessons and good values, the movie has had glowing reviews, hailing it as a breath of fresh air in the movie industry. Well-received in the Philippines, the movie has also reached other countries in Asia, North America and Europe. The proceeds of the movie went to the many public services that Daniel Razon is supporting on a daily basis.

No. 16 – Brush and Shutter

Fifty-six of Daniel’s photographs were exhibited in the paint-and-photo fusion exhibit titled Brush and Shutter on September 28-30 as part of Daniel’s Isang Araw Lang (Just One Day) initiative. The benefit event also extended its proceeds to the victims of storms, Pharma and Ketsana, that cost much damage and many lives in the Philippine capital as well as in neighboring areas.

No. 15 – Protest Broadcasts

To aid the families of slain journalists in the country, Daniel Razon came up with Protest Broadcast, a benefit concert that debuted in 2007. The latest was held on May 17, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum. It was in honor of the 30 journalists killed in the Maguindanao Massacre that included four of UNTV’s media crew.

No. 14 – Sapang Alat River Clean Up
Making a splash in the environmental sanitation scene, about 2,000 supporters of the cause of Isang Araw Lang (Just One Day) cleaned the Sapang Alat River in Bulacan. And in just one day (before Earth Day), they successfully erased it from the list of the 30 dirtiest rivers in the world. Local residents and barangay officials, who thanked the IAL volunteers, will always remember April 21, 2009 — the day when they no longer had to bear the harsh smells and unsightly scene once marring Sapang Alat’s image.

No. 13 – La Verdad College: Free Education

Like the many firsts of Kuya Daniel, the La Verdad Christian College (LVCC) is the first of its kind in the country to help poor yet deserving students study as scholars for free, with free books, uniforms, and even free food. With Bro. Eli Soriano’s full support, the free college gives hope to hardworking yet underprivileged students with its 2 flagship courses: Mass Communications and Nursing Assistance. Today, the college has 2 campuses: one located in Apalit, Pampanga, and the newest building, at Caloocan City.

No. 12 – Isang Araw Lang Marathon makes history

On January of 2010, Daniel called on concerned citizens to run for free education. In response, an estimated 50,500 people donned track suits and answered his call.

Daniel Razon’s “Isang Araw Lang Takbo para sa Libreng Kolehiyo” (Just One Day Run for Free College Education) held at the Philippines’ Mall of Asia was a half-marathon run for the completion of the La Verdad Christian College building in Manila.

No. 11 – PBA Plays for Charity

For the love of the game, but most importantly, charity, Daniel Razon spearheaded a benefit game with some of the Philippines’ best and beloved basketball players; also for the second La Verdad campus in Metro Manila. A crowd gathered and filled the 20,000-seater Araneta Coliseum to the brim on August 3, 2010, where the legends beat the hoopsters by 80-72.

No. 10 – Daniel Razon.com and the Philippine Web Awards
Even on the web, Daniel Razon is the people’s choice. Danielrazon.com has been winning the People’s Choice Award under the celebrities category for five consecutive years in the Philippine Web Awards. The latest PWA was held on October 27, 2009 at the RCBC Plaza, Makati, Philippines.

No. 9 – Shorty Awards
He may be well-known as a journalist, but when you follow him on Twitter, expect a lot of spiritual, poetic tweets from Daniel Razon. This unique trait of Razon, along with his many public service endeavors propelled his being nominated as the Best Journalist for 2010’s Shorty Awards, along with famous international journalists like Jeremy Scahill and William Bonner.

No. 8 – The ADD-a-Tree Project

In response to global warming and climate change, Daniel Razon led some 24,000 volunteers to plan trees for the future. Heading for the nearest landmark areas provided for by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) those volunteers are committed to planting and nurturing the trees until they grow strong enough to serve their purpose. The tree-planting activity is a big addition to the many clean-up drives that Razon spearheads, especially when natural calamities occur.

No. 7 – Tulong Muna Bago Balita

Because no story is above saving a person’s life, Daniel launched “Tulong Muna Bago Balita” (Rescue First Before News), a unique advocacy that aims to save lives first, before broadcasting news. Sending the entire UNTV News Team to an Emergency Response Training course, the team was soon afterwards aptly renamed UNTV News and Rescue Team.

No. 6 – PMPC Star Awards for Best Male Newscaster
Daniel Razon bagged the Philippine Movie and Press Club’s Star Awards for Best Male Newscaster for his evening newscast, “Ito ang Balita.” Daniel accepted his award at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila on November 13, 2010.

No. 5 – PMPC Star Awards Best Morning Show

Daniel’s innovative morning show Good Morning Kuya! also received accolades in the 24th Star Awards for Television, having won the Best Morning Show category together with ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda. The show features a homey and interactive setting, aired at UNTV 37 from Monday to Friday, 4:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

No. 4 – Anak TV Seal
On December 2009, the Southeast Asian Foundation for Children and Television awarded Daniel Razon’s morning show, Good Morning Kuya! (GMK), an Anak TV Seal. Proving that the morning show is fit for children to watch, and that it promotes positive values and morals to the youth, GMK is the first Philippine morning show ever to be an Anak TV Seal recipient. Recently, the morning show did it again, receiving the coveted Anak TV Seal for 2010 together with 12 other shows from UNTV.

No. 3 – Songs From Their Heart

Men with big hearts sing great songs — such is true for Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon whose tickets were all sold out at the biggest concert location in the country on November 22, the Araneta Coliseum. Some of the performers who joined them onstage for the charity concert were Marco Sison, Anthony Castelo, Hammilan, Juris Fernandez, and Ms. Pilita Corales.

In true familial tradition, Bro. Eli’s album made Platinum on its first day, very much like his nephew’s Protest Broadcast. Daniel Razon is Bro. Eli’s nephew.

No. 2 – Isang Araw Lang Plug Lands Golden Dove Award
The informative and educational public service announcement, “No to Abusive Drugs,” won the 2010 Golden Dove Award for Best TV Public Service Announcement on November 25, 2010.

This campaign under the Isang Araw Lang (Just One Day) advocacy warns the public of the perils of illegal drugs dependency, showing statistics and how 700 million pesos per day is wasted on it — an amount that can instead be used for the chemotherapy and dialysis sessions for many underprivileged Filipino patients.

No. 1 – Dunong Gulong (Wisdom on Wheels)

Making things possible for the sake of the common good is what Daniel Razon is up to on a daily basis. And on his 27th year celebration of public service, he unveils his latest philanthropic endeavor yet — Dunong Gulong (Wisdom on Wheels), a pair of customized buses that will serve as mobile schools that can travel to far provinces to cater to youth. With the support of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Energy Secretary Jose Almendras, and Bro. Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), the buses will soon be on its way to the provinces of Masbate and Quezon to teach. (Wordings by Pauline Arellano, Rigor Arellano; Editing by Jane Abao)