Netizens Denounce Sofitel Manila’s Move Against UNTV, #NoToSofitel Ranked First on Twitter

Using the hashtags #NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH, netizens filled Twitter with outcries of foul and discrimination in connection to Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s removal of UNTV in the TV listing of the hotel.

#NotoSofitel ranked #1 while #BoycottSofitelPH ranked #3
on Twitter Philippine Trends, 2 p.m. of Monday (7/14/14).

During the early morning show Good Morning Kuya, the move by Sofitel was revealed by host Daniel Razon. He also called on to the supporters of UNTV to counter boycott Sofitel Hotel.

Netizens took to Twitter to express their disappointment with the hotel, which just recently was used as a venue for “Isang Araw” movie showing, a project launched by UNTV to support the various public services that it sustaines.

Part of the proceeds of the event was also for the benefit of the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. 

Merely hours after Razon disclosed the move by Sofitel,  #NotoSofitel hashtag ranked 1st on Twitter Philippine Trending topics. Both #NotoSofitel (1st) and #BoycottSofitelPH (3rd)  ranked on Philippine Trend, 2 p.m. of July 14, 2014. 

The protest by supporters denounce the discrimination in media suffered by the public service oriented channel, UNTV.

A Massive But Peaceful Protest

A massive but peaceful protest was launched by supporters of UNTV on different platforms of social media. The campaign, which was very popular on Twitter, also received a huge support on Facebook and Instagram.

A Facebook user posted this image on his account in
support of the campaign. (Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152337078954858&set=o.320029076567&type=1)

This photo taken from Instagram was posted in support of the
boycott camapaign against Sofitel Manila. (Link: http://instagram.com/p/qdD-2ZAsoq/)

Bro. Eli Soriano, host of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), a program aired everyday at UNTV, also denounced Sofitel’s move by Tweeting on his account @BroEliSoriano encouraging followers to sustain the campaign for sake of justice.

The preacher tweeted “Let the power of feelings offended be known unto all the world! The pen of Dr. Jose Rizal was proven to be more potent than a thousand bolos.”

let the power of feelings offended be known unto all the world! the pen of dr. jose rizal was proven to be more potent than a thousand bolos
— Brother Eli Soriano (@BroEliSoriano) July 15, 2014

let us sustain the trend that was established yesterday boycott those that ban untv! the public service channel in the phil.
— Brother Eli Soriano (@BroEliSoriano) July 15, 2014

According to netizens’ posts, the campaign (#NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH) for boycott will continue on the web for days to come.

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UNTV37 Recognized in the 22nd KBP Golden Dove Awards

UNTV37 garnered recognition from the 22nd KBP Golden Dove Awards held at the CCP Complex on April 29, this year.

KBP Golden Dove Award trophies given to UNTV for "Caring for the Elderly"
advocacy and for the Bible-based children's program "KNC Show".

The TV station was awarded as having the “Best Public Service Announcement” with this year’s theme “Caring for the Elderly”, and the “Best TV Children’s Program” for the “KNC Show”.

The advocacy “Caring for the Elderly” was pioneered by Kuya Daniel Razon, CEO of UNTV-BMPI, to promote the welfare of senior citizens. The TV station focused their public service initiatives in reaching out to the elderlies.

The TV station roamed to different homes for the aged to give different forms of aids to the lolo  and lola who were separated from their loved ones.

Shows of UNTV also gave emphasis on topics relevant to those who are advanced in years. Some of the topics discussed were about the nutritional diets fit for the elderly, skin care, common health issues, and legal topics that are beneficial to them as well.

The Bible-based kiddie oriented program KNC Show, on one hand, advocates wholesome presentations for kids based on the Bible. Their various segments include diverse topics about the natural wonders of the world, hobbies for kids, news for kids, and much more.

KNC Show was also recognized last year by the Gandingan Awards as the “Best Educational Program Finalist”.

UNTV delegates at the KBP Awarding include Atty. Reggie Tongol, Angela Lagunzad, Wylla Soriano, Jeffrey Santos, and Jovan Marquez.

“For a young network to be at the helm with other bigger networks, it’s really a big step for us and I’m really proud to be part of UNTV,” says Jeffrey Santos, Operations Manager of UNTV Rescue.

Jeffrey Santos, Operations Manager of UNTV Rescue, expounds on the big steps
UNTV has taken to be worthy of recognition by KBP alongside other bigger networks.

 “Kuya Daniel always reminds us that with recognition or not, our works will continue,” Mr. Jovan Marquez, Assistant Head of UNTV Programming and Productions, says.

All UNTV programs are geared towards giving educational, truthful, and genuine public service to those that are in need. When Daniel Razon took over the management of the television station, UNTV removed itself form the typical approach of programming and became a center of public services in the country.

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As Kuya Daniel Razon Turns 30 in Service to God and Humanity, Bro. Eliseo Soriano Leads Thanksgiving to God

Bro. Eliseo Soriano, Presiding Minister of Members Church of God International (MCGI) lead the members of the Church in thanking God for Bro. Daniel’s 30th birthday in the spirit this November 28, 2013.

In a thanksgiving service of the Church on Saturday, November 23, the international preacher lead the Chruch members in offering thanksgiving to the Lord for Bro. Daniel's three decades of continuance in the Church. Bro. Eli also acknowledged Kuya Daniel’s dedication in taking care of the members.

“I could say [Bro. Daniel] is my true son in faith to God,” says Bro. Eli. He added that Bro. Daniel is his primary help and support in looking after the Church brethren.

The members of Chruch of God flocked the ADD Convention Center at Apalit, Pampanga to offer thanksgiving to God and celebrate the evening with Kuya Daniel. Some of them came to the Philippines from countries abroad to offer thanksgiving with the mass of the members in the country.

Kuya Daniel’s sons Joshua and Aaron also joined him on stage and presented a song for the attendees.

Bro. Daniel who was born in the Church and got baptized at the age of 17, is the Vice Presiding Minister of MCGI. For his part, he underlined his gratitude to the Lord for Bro. Eli who leads the group since his youth.

“Thanks to God for giving us a leader like Bro. Eli who is always zealous in guiding us so we may be rightful to God,” say Bro. Razon.

Bro. Daniel is also the current CEO of UNTV-BMPI, the organization behind the television and radio stations UNTV-37 and UNTV-Radio La Verdad. In his leadership, he turned UNTV into a public service oriented organization with programming and projects geared towards serving the poor and the sick .

Kuya Daniel Razon holding the trophy from Philippine Academy of
Medical Specialists during an episode of Good Morning Kuya.
(Screen capture from youtube.com/untvweb)

Just recently, Bro. Daniel was awarded by the Philippine Academy of Medical Specialists as one of its eight EPIC awardees in recognition of his pioneering free healthcare projects for the poor.

Atty. Regie Tongol (left) accepted the Luminary award from Rappler.com in behalf of
Kuya Daniel during the recognition night of Do More Awards.
(Photo from Rappler.com)

Coinciding his birthday, he was declared by Rappler.com as the Ultimate Luminary on Do More awards — a recognition to honor those who have spearheaded change in the society as well as being an inspiration to others.

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First UNTV Cup: Excitement builds up as the opening tip nears

Excitement builds up over the 1st UNTV Cup, a project spearheaded by UNTV-BMPI CEO Daniel Razon, prior to its opening tip on July 29 at the Big Dome. One of the more talked about development is that future boxing hall of famer Manny Pacquiao, a basketball enthusiast himself, is invited to play with his co-public servants on the event.

This will be a big opportunity for Manny to showcase his basketball skills to the thousands expected to attend the basketball for a cause tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on the 29th – if the Sarangani congressman finally decides to participate.

Pacquiao is known for his heroics in the boxing ring but his fondness of basketball is well documented as well. He has even integrated basketball games in his previous trainings before a fight.

Blogs, news sites, as well as online social networks have been showing excitement as the opening ceremony of the UNTV Cup nears. ABS-CBN News, InterAksyon, and Philboxing.com were some of the agencies that have covered the story of this charitable sports event.

Additionally, online blogs have shown interest in the said tournament. The blogger at dievolger.blogspot.com says:

"Leave it to Mr. Public Service Kuya Daniel Razon (Chairman and CEO of UNTV) to come up with a charity project and he'll gather co-public servants, local government officials and celebrities for a tournament that will surely bring triumph to all no matter who wins or loses the game." 

Blogger of paperchases.wordpress.com has this to say:

"Whether the country’s kamao will indeed come to shoot some hoops for a cause this coming Sunday, we hope all our kasambahays and everyone else out there will support this wonderful initiative from our very own public service channel, UNTV."

 Social network users have expressed eagerness to witness this unique tournament.

The teams of public servants and celebrities will compete in the tourney and the champion will have the 1 Million peso cash prize for the charitable institution of their choice. The runner-up will receive 500,000 pesos.

This is an initiative by Kuya Daniel to promote unity, camaraderie, and healthy living upon the public servants and all of these coupled with a noble cause.

UNTV Cup is just one of the public service projects by Daniel Razon. He was the man behind the successful Isang Araw Lang Untity Run, to help fund the free college education at La Verdad Christian College. He also spearheaded the Sing and Shoot Concert which is a concert type event with a basketball game also for the La Verdad students.

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UNTV unveils plans on carrying out its 9th year theme: "Inspiring Change, Building Better Communities"

UNTV-BMPI CEO Daniel Razon revealed some of the TV station's projects in fulfilling the theme of the station "Inspiring Change, Building Better Communities".

(Ineexpand natin ang ating ginagawang public service at gusto natin mas marami ang ating maaabot. Kumbaga nagsimula ka sa maliit na scope, ngayon community na ating pinupuntahan.)

"We are expanding our public services, we want to reach out to more people. We started out on a smaller scope, now we are already going to the communities." said Razon.

One of the focus of UNTV this year is to improve its free public health services by distributing UNTV Philhealth coupons to indigents in remote communities of the country.

UNTV Philhealth coupons will be distributed to indigents in remote areas of the country.

With this project, there will be no need for people in need of medical assistance to travel to Metro Manila just to avail the free check ups and medicines provided by UNTV. Participating hospitals in various parts of the country will already grant them service upon showing the coupon.

This project is in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units.

(So we will coordinate with the DSWD and the local government para mas ma-identify natin kaagad ang indigents na maaaring mag-avail ng UNTV Philhealth coupons na magagamit nila sa mga areas na nila.)

"So we will coordinate with the DSWD and the local government to quickly identify the indigents that could avail the UNTV Philhealth coupons which they could already use in their respective areas. " said Daniel Razon.

In addition to that, UNTV will also sponsor families that cannot avail of Philhealth services by providing  UNTV Sponsored Philhealth Cards. The TV station will pay for the premiums of the health service instead of the families.

Another new public service of UNTV is Rescue Cab (Tulong Muna Bago Pasada) which will tap to the thousands of taxis roving around Metro Manila to assist in case of road accidents.

New public service from UNTV termed Rescue Cab taps taxi drivers
 to provide help in an event of an accident.

This project is adapted from Tulong Muna Bago Balita, which is another brainchild of Kuya Daniel.

(Kaya natin tinatawag na Rescue Cab ang ating naman ngayon dito itina-tap ay yung mga taxi drivers.. Tayo ang nagte-train sa kanila, tayo ang nag-o-augment ng pangangailangan nila para maging qualified din sila sa pagre-rescue.)

"The reason we call it Rescue Cab is because we now tap the taxi drivers. We train them, we are the ones to augment their needs, for them to be qualified in rescue." he said.

New television programs are also expected to debut in the coming weeks at UNTV Channel 37 to provide worthwhile shows to its viewers.

More projects are expected from the public service station on the coming seasons as promised by Daniel Razon.

(We will expand sa bigger pa, God wiling sa mas malaki pa na scope. Nagumpisa ka sa pamilya, smallest unit of society, then you go to the community, dirediretso na yun with God's help.)

"We will expand, God willing, to a larger scope. You started from the families, the smallest unit of society, then you go to the community, that will keep on going with God's help." said Kuya Daniel Razon.

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UNTV, Nine Strong Years of Public Service

To witness a random act of kindness is a very heart warming experience. A person showing love to another without expecting anything in return is something that can touch the heart of even the most hardened of people.

Feeding a homeless guy, or giving a few bucks to a beggar, may not only help them through the day but that simple act could give them hope and motivation to continue despite the the difficult situation that they are in.

But what if instead of randomly helping, we make it a regular part of our lives?

That's exactly what TV Station, UNTV, has been doing for nine years now. Through its charity oriented programming, they were able to touch the lives of thousands upon thousands of people who have needed help and hope in their lives.

This July, UNTV, under the leadership of Kuya Daniel Razon, is celebrating its 9th year of broadcasting and public service. Not with a typical TV station format, UNTV's orientation is to provide meaningful shows and public service oriented programs to the public.


A glimpse of UNTV's Humanitarian Efforts 

Although UNTV has always been a public service oriented station, the most influential advocacy of the station came on February 2009, when the campaign 'Isang Araw Lang' emerged at Kuya Daniel's very own show Good Morning Kuya. Daniel together with a few veteran broadcasters was talking about the predicament of poor Filipinos and how and who should help them.

There, Daniel Razon asked “What if a doctor or lawyer gives just one day of his service to his fellowmen for free? What if any Filipino who has the capacity to give sacrifices just one day for his fellowmen in need?”

Thus the campaign was born. A call to action for everyone to do something good, and exert effort to help others even for just a day.

The advocacy for change has generated a lot of support. Some of it include Bread Society's "Brigada Eskwela", a project that successfully cleaned more than 44,000 public schools.

In one day, youth groups from Metro Manila cleaned Sapang Alat River at Caloocan City which is the 30th dirtiest river in the world.

Youth groups cleaning the Sapang Alat River in support of Isang Araw Lang campaign .
(Photo embedded form kuyadaniel.wordpress.com)

Isang Araw Lang Unity Run, which is a fun run to raise funds for free college education, is also a product of the said campaign.

Participants of the Isang Araw Lang Unity Run for college education
(Photo embedded from kuyadanielrazon.wordpress.com)

Government institutions also partnered with UNTV to serve our countrymen. Together with DepEd, UNTV launched 'Dunong Gulong', a mobile classroom that provides basic education for out of school youth and students from far-flung areas in the country.

Kuya Daniel Razon (middle), together with Sec. Armin Luistro (Razon's right)
during the launching of Dunong Gulong.
(Photo embedded from kuyadaniel.wordpress.com)

Add-a-tree project, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is also a fruit of Isang Araw Lang.

When the Maguindanao massacre happened in 2009 (where some 30 journalists were killed in a politically motivated ambush in Mindanao), UNTV was one of the first to reach out to the families of the victims and gave them support.

In 2010, UNTV launched Tulong Muna Bago Balita (Rescue First, Report Later) an advocacy that puts life-saving first on top of news reporting. This meant UNTV reporters became rescuers ready to respond to emergencies in a moment's notice.

Aside from the said projects, there are other charitable efforts spearheaded by UNTV. These include Libreng Sakay (Free Ride), Transient Home, Tulong Muna Bago Pasada, Munting Pangarap, Law Center ni Kuya, and Home for the Abandoned Babies project.

UNTV's public service efforts in the span of nine years are already difficult to enumerate. In those years, UNTV has imprinted its own brand of programming to the Philippine media scene.

For its 9th year, the theme of UNTV is "Inspiring Change, Building Better Communities." The theme is really descriptive of what the station do for their advocacies are not only limited in helping individuals but they are changing whole communities with their service programs.

So job well done to Kuya Daniel Razon and to everyone that comprises UNTV for their 9th year of public service.

May they continue their strong public service for years to come.

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