Nagbigay-pugay ang GMA News anchors at reporters na sina Raffy Tima at Howie Severino kay Mike Enriquez sa pamamagitan ng pagbabahagi ng hindi nila malilimutang karanasan sa trabaho kasama ang yumaong broadcaster.
Pumanaw si Mike habang nakaratay sa intensive care unit (ICU) ng ng St. Luke's Medical Center, sa Quezon City, noong August 29, 2023.
Siya ay 71.
Read: Veteran broadcaster Mike Enriquez dies at 71
SUPER TYPHOON YOLANDA: NOVEMBER 2013
Sa Facebook kahapon, August 30, 2023, ibinahagi ni Raffy ang pagkakataong nagkasama sila ni Mike sa pag-cover sa pananalasa ng Super Typhoon Yolanda sa Tacloban City, noong 2013.
Mahigpit na sinalanta ng bagyo ang lugar kung saan halos dapa lahat ng kabahayan at kabuhayan. Libong tao rin ang namatay.
Caption ni Raffy sa larawan nila ni Mike, “Remembering a legend.
“November 2013.
“Aboard a Philippine Navy ship docked in Tacloban.”
Ayon kay Raffy, isang linggo na siyang nagko-cover ng pananalasa ng bagyong Yolanda nang sabihan silang darating si Mike upang mag-cover din, at kailangan nito ng matutulugan.
Lahad ng Balitanghali anchor ng GTV, “After a week of covering the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda, we were told Mike Enriquez was on his way to Tacloban. He needs a place to sleep.
“At that time, we were sleeping on military cots on the deck of the navy ship. He was more than happy to join us.
“But the captain offered to accommodate Mike in the officers quarter inside the ship. We can join him there instead.
“Having slept outside for almost a week, I was more than happy to feel the comfort of a bed and air conditioning.”
Naging malalim daw ang tulog ni Raffy sa loob ng officer’s quarter at ginising siya ni Mike na handa na upang sumabak sa trabaho.
Ganoon daw ka-professional si Mike.
Sabi ni Raffy, “The next day, Mike woke me up very early in the morning. He was already ready to go out and cover.
“That is how I will remember you Ninong Mike.
“Always ready, always eager and always happy to be out on the field even after being in the industry for decades.
“The void you left will never be filled. Thank you for over a half century of service to our beloved industry.
“Say hi to Mom and Dad for me in heaven.”
US INVASION OF IRAQ: MARCH 2003
“Mellow Mike” naman kung ilarawan ng veteran journalist at documentarist na si Howie ang yumaong broadcaster.
Nagkasama sina Mike at Howie sa pag-cover ng giyera sa Iraq taong 2003.
Mahirap daw noong makalusot sa mga border pero dahil sa pagiging charming ni Mike kaya nakalusot sila.
Pagbabahagi ni Howie, “A mellow Mike in Iraq
“Mike Enriquez used to say he was most at home inside a radio booth, but he rarely refused assignments or adventure.
“20 years ago, I spent both quality and quantity time with Mike (insiders actually called him “Booma”) when we were assigned to travel to Iraq on the eve of the US invasion, the biggest story of that time.
“We started our journey in Amman, Jordan because we couldn’t land in Baghdad, and traveled across a vast desert in large sedans loaded with our gear.
“At the border, we were met by grim Iraqi authorities who were notorious for demanding something in return for allowing media equipment through.
“We let Mike’s charm finesse us through that one without sacrificing any part of our budget. I think he used the struggling third world media card to distinguish us from the western white crews trying to get in as well.”
Ayon pa kay Howie, si Mike ang nagtimon ng news program ng GMA News mula sa Baghdad at sila naman ng kapwa journalist na si Jiggy Manicad ang nagbigay ng iba pang mga sangkap na balita tungkol sa U.S. invasion ng Iraq.
Lahad ni Howie, “Mike anchored the news remotely in Baghdad while Jiggy Manicad and I provided color and human interest stories, and occasional scoops on how the Iraqis were preparing for war.
“What we ended up producing collectively was a portrait of a secular, hospitable society that would be changed forever by the coming war.
“Mike did a memorable story about the international media that had converged in Baghdad.
“I saw and heard then another side of Mike that most are unfamiliar with – the mellow, English-speaking voice and un-jologs De La Salle graduate who could converse comfortably with the celebrity foreign anchors of the time.
“It was another display of a remarkable tool kit that enabled him to adapt to any part of the broadcast industry he found himself in and build one of the longest and most successful careers in our field.”
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Magkakaroon ng pagkakataon ang mga nagmamahal kay Mike na masilayan ang kanyang mga labi sa Christ The King Parish, Greenmeadows, sa darating na Sabado, Setyembre 2, 2023, mula 8:30 A.M. hanggang 3:00 P.M.