Daniel Razon’s Isang Araw Lang Yields More Public Services at UNTV’s 7th Year

The advocacy of Daniel Razon’s Isang Araw Lang (Just One Day) yielded more and more for public service as its home station, UNTV, celebrated its 7th year this month.

Kuya Daniel Razon shares the early days of UNTV and looks forward to more public service offering in the coming years.

Another two free-ride buses, one firetruck, 10 mobile school vehicles, and new mobile and in-house clinics were recently added to his Just One Day Advocacy.

Daniel Razon, who is UNTV-BMPI Chairman and CEO, launched the Isang Araw Lang (Just One Day) advocacy in 2009. With its launching, UNTV’s social services were inspired by acts of volunteerism and doing good works for others even for a day; though its medical mission and other services are rendered daily for free.

Education Department Sec. Armin Luistro lauds UNTV's commitment to education reform of the government.

At its fledgling stage, the two-year old Isang Araw Lang is noted as a historic advocacy for pioneering several public services in the Philippines such as the news tagline, Tulong Muna Bago Balita (Rescue First Before Reporting), UNTV’s News and Rescue Command Center, free bus and train rides, and transient homes.

“We expect to continue the charity works that we have started, add more and expand them for the benefit of our fellowmen,” Razon said in the vernacular during UNTV’s anniversary celebration last July 10 at One Esplanade, Pasay City.

Among the anniversary's performers are the young hosts of KNC Show, one of the oldest shows at UNTV.

This year’s celebration focused on providing charities to children with the theme “Kasangbahay ng Batang Pilipino (Household of the Filipino Child).” With key support from the Ang Dating Daan of Bro. Eli Soriano and UNTV volunteers, thousands of students have received school supplies, raincoats, and vitamins. Feeding programs were also held in various areas of Metro Manila.

School buildings and computer units were also donated to some schools in the Philippines. Last July 5, a ground-breaking ceremony for the two-storey building of Apalit High School in Pampanga was held. The construction of the school buildings is an effort to participate in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Adopt-a-School project.

Apart from other new public service offerings, UNTV adds a fire truck to its other social services.

In addition to the first two mobile school buses, UNTV and Ang Dating Daan granted 10 new units of four-wheeled motor vehicles to DepEd for its Alternative Learning System (ALS) program. The vehicles, equipped with teaching equipment, will be used by ALS teachers assigned to reach students in hilly and mountainous areas.

DepEd’s Secretary Armin Luistro has expressed his gratitude to the genuine efforts of UNTV and Kuya Daniel, saying, “UNTV, for me, stands for Unique Network Teaching Values.” He cited that unlike other television networks, UNTV’s foundation are the values being taught not only in words but in actions.

To date, Razon’s advocacy is benefitting hundreds of thousands of poor and marginalized people with its free private education, free medical and legal services, free rides, and micro-finance, among others.

It is to be recalled that these humanitarian efforts earned Razon the moniker Mr. Public Service in Philippine Television. These were also key factors in his being awarded a Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.