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Isang Araw: Why Endings Are The Best Part

Viewers exiting from the PICC Plenary Hall from watching Isang Araw. Image from ebtenorio.wordpress.com.


Isang Araw, the latest benefit indie by Kuya Daniel Razon premiered on December 16, 2013 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Its debut however was at the Sofitel Plaza on November 28th, the night celebrating the veteran broadcaster’s 30th year of service to God and the public. Yet, as the film credits rolled, the indie proved to be a toast in itself. 

Against the Plots 

The film continues the story of Daniel Baltazar (Daniel Razon), a cop-turned-jeepney-driver targeted by government officials and law enforcement officers for exposing and foiling their hidden crimes.


The poster of Isang Araw Lang in 2009.

Congressman Ricardo Nepales (Rey “PJ” Abellana) returns with a more vengeful plot to bring down Daniel. Only this time, he teams up with public-fund-drainer, beast-behind-beauty, and scheming wife Annette (Jackie Lou Blanco) pushing Daniel against a hard wall. 

Standing In Adversity

 But as viewers will find out in the end, Isang Araw is not a movie of closure-seeking convention, but of conviction at its firmest. 

Despite the persecution, Daniel continues providing for his “Bahay-Lingap,” the foster house he put up for abandoned street children. He also helps his fellow drivers in their barangay, and anyone fate brings to his arms. Hence, the term Kuya (Big Brother) Daniel. 

His deeds fill the movie with inspiring scenes articulated by a strategic mixture of action, comedy, drama and wit that climax towards a powerful ending.


For his one-of-a-kind advocacies and public service efforts, Kuya Daniel won the Luminary title in the recent Do More Awards by Rappler.com and Rexona. Photo from perpetualopinionator.wordpress.com.
 
Also, the film is seasoned with memorable lines. And while “Vengeance is not ours; it’s God’s” may be a fitting literary allusion, the script’s lines stem from much wiser scriptures, not of Philippine bards but of biblical figures.
“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,” is from Solomon in Proverbs 19:17.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive,” is from St. Paul, quoting the Lord Jesus Christ.

The result? Dialogues rich with wise passages written seamlessly into casual speech.

The Best Part

As the film showed in the very end, “Doing good will not yield evil.” 

Proceeds of Isang Araw will go to the various charity works led by Kuya Daniel and Bro. Eliseo Soriano of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path).


MCGI conducts simultaneous medical mission in Februaryof 2013. Photo from MCGI.org.

Daily medical missions, feeding programs and the country’s first free Transient Home are just some of the charity projects spearheaded by the MCGI Leaders. There is also La Verdad College which gives its scholars free tuition, books, and even meals, both in the Philippines and in Africa.

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