Born in the seedy province of Bulacan, the Philippines, Kuya Daniel Razon was reared in a close-knit, religious family. Taught to read at an early age, he was already reciting poems, biblical verses and delivering sermons at the age of three before the congregation of the Church where his family is member.
If there are prodigies on the piano, Kuya Daniel was definitely one on speaking, which is very unusual. The good voice, combined with his charm and exposure to public speaking at a young age, gave him the edge in joining public speaking competitions during his elementary and high school years. Easily, he would receive the top prizes for the different categories in public speaking he participated in.
Daniel, whose upbringing was nurtured with the constant counseling of his uncle, Bro. Eli Soriano, the spiritual leader of the Members Church of God International (MCGI), heeded the latter’s prodding for him to study mass communications and broadcasting, so he could help the Church in preaching the Word of God. And, indeed, a big help he has become.
From the humble beginnings of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), the longest-running religious program in the Philippines, to the international recognition it has today, Daniel has been there to make it happen, with God’s help.
While his family could financially support him with his studies, Daniel took the long route—he worked to support his studies and to have some money he could give to those in need. Taxi driving, selling of fried sugared-bananas on sticks, and more—all these Daniel tried without hesitation.
Even while just starting in college, he had his first taste of television work by directing a talk show on Channel 13 in the Philippines.
A year after the EDSA Revolution of 1986, Daniel finished his Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication, major in broadcasting at the Philippine’s Centro Escolar University.
His first career was as a vendor of goods at a local market while still looking for a job fit for his time and schedule. His perseverance and patience paid off because he started working as a disc jockey of an FM station in Angeles City.
But even back then, and even in the eyes of his superiors, he seemed destined for the Big City, confronting him and saying: ‘I don’t need you here. You should be in Manila using your talents.’
He followed his station manager’s advice and worked with KYFM of Mabuhay Broadcasting System. He later on moved to the Manila Broadcasting Corporation and was tapped for DZRH and DWST, now YESFM, where he became popular as “Dr. Clark” in Philippine airwaves.
But it was while serving as a station manager of Capitol Broadcasting that Daniel got his break on television. For six years in Channel 4, he was a news presenter of the station's Balita Ala Una with Luella de Cordova and host of Dakila Ka, Pinoy, a public affairs program heralding the greatness of Filipinos in various fields and expertise.
Network giant ABS-CBN noticed him and gave him an offer. At first hesitant, he realized it was a good offer, so Daniel took it and joined the network in 1997. He hosted a regular morning show with DZMM’s Gising, Pilipinas. It is in this program where he earned the moniker, “Kaka”, and became popular in the consciousness of Filipinos who avidly await his daily morning rouser, "Gising Pilipinas, lahing kayumanggi."
His other programs in ABS-CBN include: Compañero y Compañera, Abogado de Kampanilya, Pulso Aksyon Balita, Hoy Gising!, and Pasada Sais Trenta.
For the Global Filipinos, Daniel became a reassuring and soothing presence in the Kamusta Kabayan program of ABS-CBN International's The Filipino Channel (TFC).
His landmark career in ABS-CBN opened the doors for countless opportunities.
Daniel moved to another TV giant, GMA 7 in 2003 to join the daily morning newsmagazine program, Unang Hirit. In this station, he frequented some of the network’s news and current affairs programs such as FrontPage and Saksi.
Currently he hosts and produces TV programs for UNTV-37. Among them is the innovative, and one-of-a-kind interactive TV-magazine-cum-public-service program, Good Morning Kuya! He also hosts the Bible-reading program, Mapalad ang Bumabasa on the said channel.
In 2008, Kuya Daniel started to host two new UNTV-37 shows: Spotlight, where he interviews prominent Philippine figures to share their life’s stories, and Munting Pangarap, where he grants the humble wishes of indigent Filipinos.