In his first year at GMA Network, 2004, Dan was one of Howie Severino's trainees. But he soon proved to be capable and reliable, and not needing basic training since he had significant reportorial experience at RPN and Bombo Radyo Philippines, covering Makati. His superiors first took notice of Dan as a 19-year-old cub reporter when he spent Christmas Eve and day of 1999 reporting the M/V Asia South Korea tragedy in Daanbantayan, Cebu. His idols were Christiane Amanpour and Larry King of CNN.