‘Well done, Mike! Good job on this earth’: GMA colleagues pay tribute to Mike Enriquez

Mike Enriquez’s colleagues were among those who witnessed how great a broadcast journalist the GMA Network pillar truly was.

To celebrate the legacy of the veteran broadcaster’s life, they came together to look back and highlight some of their fondest memories with Mike.

Among those who paid their past respects to Mike are GMA Network Inc. Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, GMA President and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr. and Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong. Network anchors Pia Arcangel and Arnold Clavio were also present.

In his eulogy, his fellow Super Radyo dzBB broadcaster Melo del Prado remembered Mike as the program’s father figure.

“Si Boss Mike po ay tapat lalo na po sa mga taong totoong tapat sa kanya,” he said.

Melo added that being dubbed “Imbestigador” was just fitting for Mike because of his intelligence.

He said Mike had always been “palaban basta nasa tama at katwiran.”

GMA Pictures Senior Vice President Nessa Valdellon was also present on behalf of the “Imbestigador” staff and managers.

She said that their “Imbestiga-dad” Mike, “always showed up for us. He made time to talk with us, to meet with us, to treat us,” and even treated them to lunch whenever their show had high ratings.

Nessa recalled that Mike was the reason so many of their teammates quit smoking.

“Lalapit siya, aagawin niya ‘yung cigarette boxes nila. He would throw them out,” she said.

She also shared that Mike himself pitched stories about old people who were victims of injustice, abused children, and marginalized people who were bullied by those in power, “and in the end, he became the voice for victims, the abused, and the voiceless.”

“‘Imbestigador’ became so popular that it turned into a verb: ‘Ipapa-Imbestigador kita!’ became a line,” she added.

Susan Enriquez, who quipped that she was there to clear up the misconception that she was Mike’s wife, also came to share lighthearted stories.

These included how Mike had always been a very giving person.

“‘Pag nasa remote [coverage], masarap pong kantsawan si Sir Mike,” she said. “Madali ho siyang bolahin. Sabihin mo lang pogi siya eh, ‘di ba? Maniniwala siya eh, di ba?”

“Galante ho yan! Kapag narinig ho niya humihirit ang tao, basta sabihin mo lang, ‘Ang pogi mo sir ngayon, maganda ‘yung makeup mo,’ ay talagang maniniwala ‘yan. Sasabihin lang agad niyan, ‘Ilang bulig ang kailangan?'” Susan recalled.

“Si Sir Mike, hindi lang po galante ‘yan. Si Sir Mike, bukas po ang palad niya sa mga taong nangangailangan,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mike’s fellow “24 Oras” anchor, Mel Tiangco, commended him for being “compassionate and extremely generous to many of those he had crossed paths with.”

“Monetary isn’t the only kind of help he extended. He gave life and career advice to the young and old,” she said. “It can never be denied that Mike has truly touched the lives of countless individuals.”

Mel recalled that Mike had always been willing to help, even those who never asked for it.

“He was indeed an inspiration,” she added.

“Well done, Mike! Good job on this earth!” Mel said while she and everyone present in the memorial service applauded Mike.

She ended her eulogy by saying, “Farewell, Mike. Your voice may have faded from the airwaves, but your impact would always resonate in our hearts. Ang aming pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal sa iyo, hindi namin tatantanan, ngayon, bukas, at magpakailanman.”

Meanwhile, Mike’s friends and classmates from De La Salle University were also expected to visit the wake Friday night.

The wake at Christ the King Parish in Greenmeadows, Quezon City will be open to the public starting Saturday, September 2, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mike passed away at the age of 71. –Carby Basina/LDF/KG, GMA Integrated News