Senators hail Mike Enriquez's legacy in PH journalism

Tributes poured in from the Senate on Tuesday night August 29, 2023, following news of GMA Network’s veteran radio broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez’s passing.

“Napakalaki ng legasiyang iiwan ni Manong Mike Enriquez, bilang isa sa pinaka pinagkakatiwalaang mga boses sa mundo ng pagbabalita (Manong Mike Enriquez will leave a great legacy, as one of the most trusted voices in the world of journalism),” Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said in a statement. 

“Mami-miss natin gabi-gabi ang kanyang boses na nagsasabing, ‘walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan, walang kasinungalingan, serbisyong totoo lamang’ (We will miss his voice every night saying, 'no bias, no protection, no lies, only true service),” Zubiri further said.

“My prayers go out to his family in this difficult time. I hope that they know that he will never be replaced, and will never be forgotten,” he added.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros also expressed her condolences and sadness at the passing of Enriquez whom she described as a friendly, knowledgeable, and dignified senior anchor in the newsroom “when I was co-anchor at GMA Network News in the 1990s.”

“Hindi matatawaran ang mga kontribusyon ni Mike Enriquez sa industriya ng broadcasting at news media sa Pilipinas (Mike Enriquez's contributions to the broadcasting and news media industry in the Philippines are inestimable).  He was a true trailblazer and an innovator who helped shape how Filipinos receive and perceive the daily news,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“Para sa maraming henerasyon ng Pilipino, ang boses ni sir Mike ang maasahang boses ng balita at komentaryo. Walang makakalimot sa kanyang nakakaenganyong tinig at paraan ng paghahatid ng balita, na naging bahagi na ng ating pang-araw araw na buhay (For many generations of Filipinos, Sir Mike's voice is the reliable voice of news and commentary. No one will ever forget his engaging voice and way of delivering news, which has become a part of our daily lives),” she said.

The senator noted that through his programs, Enriquez lends his voice to the grievances of many countrymen who are not heard or seen.

She also noted how Enriquez became an ally of the poor whom he helped bring closer to the truth and justice they were looking for. 

“Naging katunggali siya ng mga kurap, magnanakaw at mapang-abuso, na kanyang inimbestigahan at hindi tinantanan (He became a rival of crooks, thieves and abusers, whom he investigated and did not stop),” she pointed out.

“Sa kabila nito, mananatiling buhay ang kanyang legasiya, at ang kanyang mga kwento, biro at aral sa ating puso. Umaasa ako na darami pa ang mga broadcaster at media workers na susunod sa yapak ni sir Mike at maghahatid ng serbisyong totoo sa buong bansa (Despite this, his legacy, and his stories, jokes and lessons will live on in our hearts. I hope that more broadcasters and media workers will follow in Sir Mike's footsteps and deliver true service to the entire country),” she said.