The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
If GMA Network news and public affairs stalwart Mike Enriquez dies a thousand times, he would still be remembered and revered manifold just like what his friends, colleagues and acquaintances are paying him homages on his passing.
Mike died last August 29, 2023.
Enriquez’s newsroom buddies are showering him with words of fondness. “Mike had been very supportive of my broadcast career,” said Mackay Quadra, Program Producer and writer of “Pinoy MD sa Double B,” a radio show on Kapuso Network’s AM band, DZBB anchored by Connie Sison and “Konsyumer at iba pa,” a collaboration between GMA Network and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
According to Mackay, Enriquez wasn’t only a boss but a friend as well. “He was like an elder brother to me. He was very friendly to all if us in the newsroom. Our relationship went beyond news production work. You see, he liked dog pets so much. When he found out that I also take care of dogs, we became closer. ‘Ba’t di mo sinabi agad (Why didn’t you tell me at once?),’ he chided. He had fur children,” volunteered Quadra, a seasoned broadcaster and producer-consultant as well of TV host Ramon Tulfo.
“He treated us equally in the newsroom,” exclaimed Francis “Kiko” Flores who had spent more or less three decades as anchor in DZBB and newscaster in Channel 7 and the former QTV.
Mike and Kiko’s professional links date back in 1998 after Flores left ABS-CBN with fellow broadcasters Mario Garcia, Jun Ricafrente, among others.
“I was immediately given a timeslot in DZBB. First, it was on a weekly basis. Then, he offered me a daily program but since I would be busy with my other media works like PR, I just settled later for a once-a- week show, specifically Saturdays. But then, our friendship didn’t falter,” said Francis who now goes on board in Radyo Pilipinas in an agriculture show, again, still on a Saturday.
“Si Mike, hindi ka n’yan pababayaan lalo na at nasa tama ka sa ipinaglalaban mo (Mike wouldn’t leave you especially if what you are fighting for was right),” quipped Kiko.
Flores said the fierce Mike Enriquez was just to emphasize his crusade against corruption and crime in high and low places which he was able to stand his ground.
“Hindi namin kayo tatantanan (We will not bow out to you)” was his battle cry.
“Napaka-gentle ni Mike. Palabiro (He was a gentle soul. He’s fun to be with),” Francis stressed.
“Pag trabaho, trabaho. Pag biruan, biruan. Madali ‘yang kant’yawan. Halimbawa, pag nasa newsroom kami at may magandang balita, sasabihin namin, papansit ka naman, o’ at magpapabili agad ‘yan (If it’s work, it’s work. If fun time, fun time. He was easy to request for something especially it there’s good tidings like if our program rated well. We’d request, ‘treat us to a noodle’ and he would quickly ask the utility to buy one),” Mackay chuckled.
“I will miss him dearly,” said the teary-eyed Quadra. “There will never be another Mike Enriquez,” she added.
“We called him Booma,” noted Lhar Ssntiago in his Facebook wall.
“He was my mentor. I learned a lot from him in my broadcast career,” confirmed Lhar.