(Photo from GMA Integrated News)
MANILA – The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution honoring multi-awarded radio and TV news anchor, and GMA-7 network executive Miguel “Mike” Enriquez.
HR 1254 was adopted in consolidation with five other proposed resolutions authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, along with Tingog Party-List Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
In HR 1254, lawmakers credited Enriquez, who died last August 29 at the age of 71, for his “fierce dedication to his craft,” where he stands as a “formidable pillar in media practice who tirelessly led the crusade to defend the rights of the disadvantaged and marginalized members of society.”
“Enriquez’s famous catch phrases ‘Excuse Me Po!,’ ‘Pasensya Na Po,’ and ‘Hindi Namin Kayo Tatantanan!’ reflected his unbiased and unflinching approach to news reporting and upheld the journalistic principles of integrity, accuracy, objectivity, and openness,” the resolution read.
The network executive also “battled against dishonest and abusive public officials and servants.”
Against the backdrop of a colorful media career spanning 54 years, the House members also vividly remember Enriquez’s “distinct voice” that “resonated in every Filipino home and brought awareness to significant issues that confronted the country and the world.”
“Mr. Mike Enriquez wholeheartedly served his audience with utmost passion, courage, and devotion, and left a legacy of hard work and truthfulness worthy of emulation and recognition by the entire Filipino nation,” read a portion of the resolution.
Unknown to many, Enriquez was a “loving husband and a beloved son, brother, and grandchild who brought immense pride to the Enriquez clan through his achievements as a consistent academic awardee and student leader in his younger years.”
A proud product of the De La Salle University (DLSU) from grade school to college, he was also an “anchor of stability to his siblings, a model of diligence and fortitude to his friends and colleagues, and a generous but silent donor to religious and charitable organizations.”
In an earlier statement following Enriquez’s death, Romualdez said the media industry and GMA-7 lost a “broadcasting giant.”
He described Enriquez as a “tireless media practitioner, an anti-corruption, an anti-abuse, and an anti-wrongdoing crusader, and a champion of the oppressed and the abused.”
“His docudrama Imbestigador was his vehicle for exposing corruption and mischief. His now famous punchline ‘Hindi kita tatantanan!' sent an ominous warning to wayward and abusive public officials, policemen, other public servants, and other citizens with influence,” the Speaker said.
“The death of Mike Enriquez has left a void in the industry, and in his beloved network, his colleagues would struggle to fill. His absence will be felt for a long time,” he said.
Enriquez started his “stellar career” in the country’s broadcast industry in 1969 when he joined the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) as a staff announcer, gaining experience in various fields of broadcasting before becoming a reporter, news editor, program director, and station manager.
He later moved to GMA-7 network in 1995, where he began as a news anchor for “Saksi: GMA Headline Balita” before he rose to prominence as the host for the flagship news program “24 Oras” and the long-running GMA Public Affairs Program “Imbestigador.” (PNA)
