Pumanaw na after makipaglaban sa sakit… Iconic na boses ni MIKE, mami-miss at ‘di na maririnig

PUMANAW na ang veteran broadcast journalist na si Mike Enriquez noong nakaraang August 29 sa edad na 71.

Nakilala si Mike dahil sa pagiging lead anchor ng mga news and public affairs program ng GMA-7 na Saksi, 24 Oras, Super Radyo DZBB at Imbestigador.

Higit na 50 years na sa news broadcasting career ni Mike na nagsimula noong 1969.

Sa 24 Oras, in-announce ang official statement mula sa GMA tungkol sa pagpanaw ni Mike.

“It is with profound sadness that GMA Network announces the passing of our beloved Kapuso, Mr. Miguel ‘Mike’ C. Enriquez, who peacefully joined our Creator on August 29, 2023. He joined the broadcast industry in 1969 and then became part of GMA Network in 1995, wholeheartedly serving the Filipino audience for 54 years.

“The Board of Directors, management, and employees of GMA Network, Inc. deeply mourn the passing of Mr. Enriquez. His dedication to the industry will serve as an inspiration to all. We pray for the eternal repose of our beloved Kapuso.”

Nagtapos ng Liberal Arts in Commerce sa De La Salle University-Manila si Mike in 1973. Unang pagsabak niya sa broadcasting ay sa Manila Broadasting Company (MBC) sa edad na 19.

Ang tinatawag niya na accidental application ay nauwi sa pagiging disc jockey hanggang mapunta siya sa broadcasting and journalism jobs, to managerial positions sa naturang radio network.

From MBC ay lumipat siya sa Freedom Broadcasting Radio Network and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) kunsaan naging vice president at board member siya.

Pero iniwan niya lahat iyon para maging head ng radio division and expansion SA GMA Network in 1995.

Nagbukas ang maraming pinto para kay Mike sa Kapuso network dahil doon nangyari ang first on-cam appearance niya bilang news anchor sa election coverage with Karen Davila noong 1998.

Sa isang 2010 autobiographical essay published on the GMA website, nasabi ni Mike: “GMA found out that they lacked one more male anchor for the coverage. So Bobby [Barreiro] and Tony [Seva] said, ‘Mike, why don’t you be one of the anchors?’ I thought it was a joke, and so I told them, ‘If this is your idea of a joke, it’s not funny.’ It turned out they were serious, so I agreed to give it a crack. And the rest led to what I am doing today. I run the radio business, and at the same time anchor the news.”

Unang in-anchor na news program ni Mike ay Saksi: GMA Headline Balita. Nasundan ito ng GMA Network News, Saksi, Imbestigador, and 24 Oras. Sa radyo, siya ang host ng Saksi sa Dobol B via Super Radyo DZBB.

Hawak din ni Mike ang executive position as consultant ng GMA’s radio operations group, and president of Radio GMA Network Inc. (RGMA).

Bilang award-winning broadcast journalist, ilan sa mga napanalunan ni Mike ay bilang

Most Outstanding Male News Anchor in 2022 by the Gawad Lasallianeta Awards, and Most Trusted Radio Presenter in the 23rd Annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards, 1999 Golden Dove Award for Best Male Newscaster and the 1999 Ka Doroy Valencia Broadcaster of the Year Award.

Internationally, naparangalan si Mike as Best Newscaster in the Asian Television Awards in Singapore in 1999.

Tumanggap din siya ng gold medal at the New York Festival in 2003 for Saksi, and a Silver Camera Award at the 2004 US Film and Video Festival in Holywood for a documentary on war-torn Iraq.

Nakipaglaban si Mike sa kanyang kalusugan sa mga nagdaang taon. Kabilang na rito ang kidney transplant at heart bypass.

Taong 2018 noong sumailalim si Mike sa heart bypass. Tumatanggap din siya ng treatment for kidney disease at sa kanyang pagiging isang diabetic.

Sumailim si Mike sa kidney transplant noong December 2021 at tatlong buwan siyang nag-leave sa kanyang mga TV and radio programs. Nakabalik siya noong March 2022 para sa coverage ng 2022 elections.

Muli siyang nagpahinga ng tatlong buwan pagkatapos ng election coverage.

Lagpas na sa isang taon na walang naging balita tungkol kay Mike, hanggang sa kumalat sa social media ang kanyang pagpanaw.

Hindi na maririnig ng marami ang iconic na boses ni Mike tuwing nagbabalita ito sa radyo at telebisyon.

Marami ang tiyak na mami-miss ang kanyang mga expressions na “Hindi ko kayo tatantanan!” at “Excuse me po!”

Mike is survived by his wife for 45 years na si Lizabeth “Baby” Yumping. Wala silang naging anak.

Paalam, Mike Enriquez…

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)