Last May, I wrote about being interviewed by GMA Ch. 7’s late night show, 100% Pinoy. That episode is about people who would join various competitions with the hope of making it big. Most of the people featured are participants and winners in singing competitions and beauty pageants. And perhaps to provide another angle, they interviewed me because I was a former champion of local and international quiz competitions. The interview lasted for several hours but when the show was aired, my segment was only 1 minute and 10 seconds long (like I said in my previous article, I am not complaining. In fact I feel sorry for the segment producers because their topic is too broad to be contained in a 1 hour show, less the commercial advertisements. And also, I said yes to these interviews in the hope that I could make a positive impact on the lives o the youth). Well, I think that personal record is already broken. Last Monday, I had my shortest TV stint when I guested at UNTV’s daily morning show, Sa Barangay ni Kuya Daniel.
Mr. Diwa Dadap, an events manager, will be promoting in UNTV’s early morning show, Sa Barangay ni Kuya Daniel, their upcoming nurse expo. Being one of the exhibitors, he invited me to join in the interview. But I have one humongous problem. The call time is 7a.m. And I have problems making it on time for appointments earlier than 8a.m. My circadian rhythmn has been set at me waking up at 7:30, it is for this reason that for a long time, I’ve been planning to compete in 10k runs but couldn’t do so because the race starts earlier than 6a.m.
But sometimes, you have to get out of comfort zone (waking up at 6a.m. for me is getting out of my comfort zone. He he he) And I made the appointment on time (well a few minutes late). The staff of UNTV are very friendly and accomodating. When it was our turn to be on air, I thought that it will be an interview. Instead, it is just a plugging for the expo. So I was only given an opportunity to speak for about 30 seconds, then its over, a personal record is broken.
I’ve observed that the staff and hosts of Sa Barangay Ni Kuya Daniel have a very different kind of work attitude that I’ve seen in other TV stations. It seems like they are just a big family having some happy, quality time and not like some TV shows whose life existence is to rack up the ratings game.
When I entered the UNTV building, I saw hundreds of people waiting for their turn with the free medical assistance program of the TV show (or perhaps the TV station itself). Let’s be pragmatic for a second, it takes money to run a TV station, and these businesses get their revenues from advertisements. But I don’t think that their shows get enough viewers attention to convince sponsors to advertise, which translate to low revenues. With UNTV still being able to do these free medical assistance programs (plus their other public assistance pprojects) is a strong testament of their intense desire to be of service to their less fortunate brothers, and I really commend them for this. Religion aside (I don’t belong in any, I’m an existentialist) I praise the members and church workers who makes the public service programs of UNTV possible.
Side Note: UNTV is closely associated with the religious group of Bro. Eli Soriano (anybody from this group, please pardon me if I am mistaken). One of my closest friend, Glenn, used to be a free thinker like me. But he was converted to joining Bro. Eli Soriano’s religious group. Even my father who used to be an agnostic had a change in belief and become a member of the same sect.
With the main host of the show, Daniel Razon and Diwa Dadap.
Diwa posing on the set of the morning show. I met Diwa when he invited my company to be an exhibitor in the 1st Pinoy Nurse Expo. He is a nephew of Maestro Jerry Dadap, a known composer and conductor. Back when I was the Student Council president of my college, I helped in organizing a concert by the Maestro together with his choral group as a fund raising campaign for the various projects of my college. It is a small world.
This is Badong Valdueza, one of my brothers in Yaw-yan and in Muay Thai. He holds the distinction of fighting in two professional bouts in one night. In December 2005, he won his MMA match in URCC held at the Aranete Coliseum. Then he has to rush to the other side of the metropolis for his kickboxing match held at Rizal Memorial Stadium, which he also won. Nobody has ever done that before until today. He is now a security aide of Ben Tulfo, who is known for his TV show, Bitag, which is also aired in UNTV.
The show also have a public service segment. Shown in these picture are the poor and indigent patients waiting for their turn with the medical staff.
September 16, 2008 at 12:52 pm |
nice observations.
September 16, 2008 at 6:59 pm |
Nice write up – all facts and no plasticity.
September 17, 2008 at 9:56 am |
Addherent and Yani,
Thank you very much. I just wrote what I observed. And I wish that all the people behind UNTV success in all of their endeavors and that they will be able to reach out to more people who really need some assistance.
September 17, 2008 at 3:45 pm |
I never would have thought someone would make a comment like this one about UNTV. I am very much delighted about this article. Sir, you are right. UNTV peeps are really into a big family… that might have been the reason why their station ID is concatenated with the word “Kasangbahay.”
UNTV acts with the guidance of the Lord thru Brother Eli. Thanks for making an honest remark about the station and people behind it.
September 17, 2008 at 4:13 pm |
untv is the only public service channel in the whole world.
September 18, 2008 at 6:14 am |
Tnx!at least you’re not blind…
September 18, 2008 at 9:03 am |
To God be the glory!
September 18, 2008 at 9:21 am |
nice article…thanks for such appreciation…
September 20, 2008 at 11:38 am |
Eldon, Roy, Alex, Michelle and Keiichiroy,
Thank you very much for checking my blog. But I think you don’t have to thank me. I just wrote about something that I witnessed and that people outside your group should know about it. Goodluck to all of your endeavors. May you be able to continue your programs and reach out to more people.
October 7, 2008 at 9:20 pm |
Kuya Daniel is very working hard person… Keep up the good work. May god bless you always!
January 2, 2009 at 10:28 am |
You have good eyes. Not all people would see the goodness of others the way you did. Thank you.
January 2, 2009 at 7:43 pm |
Thanks Philip for the comment.
Like I said, I just wrote what I observed. The acts of charity that your group are doing should not go unnoticed and in fact, should even be supported, not only by people from your own religious group but also from another denomination as well. You all have one common Lord, and one common God.
January 3, 2009 at 2:36 am |
True, that if only they would replicate these charity works, we will see a better world.
However, the main reason that it remains a hope and not a reality, despite their huge financial capacity, is because they have a different god. If we do have the same God, that same God would move them to do the same good works, or even greater.
I am, by all means, convinced by the capacity and potential of their finances; but not of their god.
I learned that you are an existentialist, Pierre, and you may not be familiar with our God. That is why I was compelled to speak for His honor.
Even I, who am a nobody, will not agree that my person is the same as Jackie Chan; for I am not Chinese, neither am I an actor, nor my last name Chan.
I hope that you would continue to write your observations in life; those things that matter most. Thanks.
January 7, 2009 at 11:06 am |
Hi Philip,
Perhaps they have their reason for doing so.
Yes, I adopted existentialism as my personal philosophy since I am in college but I am very familiar with Christianity’s God (and his many interpretations by the different sects of Christianity) and so are the Gods of the other major religions. Needless to say, I’ve done my own searching. But now, I look at God at an anthropological, sociological and historical point of view and read the Bible at a philosophical and not theological point of view. Please do not judge me, but I think in this way, it has enabled me to better look at how and why people do the things they do for their religious beliefs. Without any prejudices, without any biases. Without any “holier than thou” attitude.
Like I said, I’m very much familiar with the activities of your group. And I know of how Bro. Eli’s group have continuously changed the lives of your brethren for the better. I have personally seen it on one of my closest friend and on my father, both of whom are members of your group. I think anybody who unjustly criticize you, just weren’t able to look beyond their own personal narrow mindedness.
March 31, 2009 at 4:43 pm |
I commend this post because of its honesty, and as a fan of Kuya Daniel, I say “Thank you.”
March 31, 2009 at 10:07 pm |
Thanks, Raj. Like I said, I only wrote what I observed. Daniel Razon and his group are the people who should be commended for their efforts.