Johnny Susi, 58, performs pop and rock ballads on an overpass in Ortigas, Quezon City for 300 pesos (roughly US$7). Marivic Chengo, 38, has to sing at least 50 songs a day to earn some pennies of alms. Both Johnny and Marivic are visually-impaired, married to blind spouses, and while Johnny has to feed eight children, Marivic has to raise two kids.

Street musicians like Johnny and Marivic, with their guitars and tin can donation boxes, are common sights in the busy sidewalks and footbridges of the main streets of Metro Manila. Knowing that even street singers want to be heard, Broadcast Journalist Daniel Razon granted these special people their dream of a big performance outside the borders of the metro streets.

On his concert night and celebration of his 28th year in public service held Monday (November 28) at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, Kuya Daniel guested Johnny, Marivic, and Francia Abalos, another disabled, lame as she was since she was a baby, as part of his charities. Before an audience that filled to the brim The Big Dome, the three performed not for some coins of donations but for a “talent fee” as a form of charity.

They also received sacks of rice and groceries. A full college scholarship grant was also given to Johnny’s eldest daughter while Marivic received a new electric guitar.

“The money that we’re going to pay for the guests will still be for charity. Instead of paying for big names, we will grant the small wishes of some street singers,” Kuya Daniel explained in the vernacular when he introduced his very special guests. “The 30,000 pesos for example that we’ll pay for professional singers, they will probably spend that for only a day, but that amount means a lot to our fellowmen who are like them,” he added.

Johnny sang original Filipino music. The first was Malayo Pa ang Umaga (Morning is Yet Far), and when asked why he chose such a song, he said in Filipino, “I don’t know when morning will come, it seems far yet, but tonight it seems at hand through Kuya Daniel.” He sang his second song, Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko (Till My Hair Turns White), a duet with his wife.

Marivic dedicated Whitney Houston’s song “Run To You” to Kuya Daniel because she said he is someone whom people can easily run to for help. She also sang Michael Jackson’s “I’ll Be There.” Francia, who walks through a wheelchair, performed Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan (How Can I Thank You).

The man of the night, Kuya Daniel, entertained the audience with several sets of songs he often heard during his childhood, teenage, and college years. As he said, songs like Yesterday, Remember When, Together Again, Only You, and Filipino music, Ayayay, Malayo Man Malapit Din, and Sinisinta Kita, among many others, somehow have connections to him, songs that depict memorable events and segments of his life.

His own life story concert, “Story of my Life” specifically narrated Kuya Daniel’s biography as a musician. As recalled by his classmates and teachers, young Daniel was popular as an undefeated orator. He even earned the monikers “Si Tula” (The Poem) and “Pasyo” which is short for Andres Bonifacio, a renowned Filipino hero. But Daniel had always wanted to sing. He was inspired by a classmate who would always represent their school in singing competitions.

Daniel had his first break when his grandmother entered him in a contest of Sylvia La Torre, known as the Queen of Kundiman (traditional Filipino love songs), where he competed and defeated his classmate. From then on, he pushed through his passion for singing, asking his dad to buy him a guitar and even enrolled in a conservatory music class while in college. He had voice lessons for only two semesters after seeing no chance to sing his favorite pop music but all-classical.

After college and before his media works, Daniel took a singing job at a karaoke bar for 300 pesos per gig. Over the years, through his perseverance and significant help from friends in the music industry, Daniel Razon became a trademark of “music and concert for public service” in the Philippines.

“He’s the concert king because of all people who sing, he’s the one who sings for charitable works,” said Filipino actor-politician Roderick Paulate.

Another significant part of Kuya Daniel’s life is the love story he shared with Mrs. Arlene Razon. The couple sang the duet song of Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, “Way Back Into Love,” that sent the crowd to a delightful cheer.

One of the highlights of the event was Bro. Eli Soriano’s song number, What Kind of Fool Am I. As his uncle and leader, Kuya Daniel is thankful to God for Bro. Eli being a constant source of inspiration to him. Through live video streaming, Bro. Eli expressed his delight for a wonderful concert and for seeing special people as guest performers. “They made my day,” he exclaimed.

For the finale, Kuya Daniel performed his two original compositions, “To You I Give” and “Story of my Life,” which he recounted he has written both in only 30 minutes while in an 8-hour land travel.

The event lasted for five hours, starting from 8 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Also seen in the event were UNTV owners Larry Henares and wife and son Atom Henares, veteran composer Vehnee Saturno and family, singers Anthony Costelo and Richard Reynoso, and comedienne Toni Rose Gayda. Eagle Riggs hosted the event.