Mike Enriquez: Stick to the truth

He is among the pillars of GMA News and Public Affairs. The ABCDE markets know him for sure. His name is tantamount to decades of no-nonsense career in the field of broadcast-journalism in the country. He is fearless and inquisitive. To the afflicted he is the very reliable “Imbestigador” who goes after the shenanigans of government and excesses and arrogance of people who are in power and position. To the primetime viewers he is the anchor who delivers the news on 24 Oras with authority and credibility. Away from the cameras he loves to read, listens to music and spends quality time with his wife and their poodle.

Get to know him more in this interview originally published in HUGYAW, the entertainment section of Cebu based tabloid Banat News, affiliate of Philippine Star.

Para po sa inyo, what is your legacy as a broadcast journalist?

Mike: I don’t want to be the one to say that. I’d rather that be left for the viewers and the listeners to judge. Let them speak, besides in GMA, viewer is boss, right?

Sa palagay po ninyo, sino sa mga reporter ng GMA Network ang karapatdapat na sumunod sa yapak ninyo?

Mike: Naku marami. Marami tayong mahuhusay at masisipag na reporters. Marami ring tapat. ’Yun ang isa sa mga lakas ng GMA News and Public Affairs. All of our reporters can be the next Mike Enriquez.

 What are the advantages and disadvantages of being Mike Enriquez?

Mike: The biggest disadvantage is you’re total loss of privacy because of the nature of our job. We’re seen on television which is a very visible medium. So naturally, wherever you go, whether it’s in a church or in a restaurant or in a sidewalk or in an airport or in any public place, you will be recognized. When that happens, the tendency is for people to be drawn to you and most of the time they greet, so you have to greet back. Sometimes they want pictures taken, autograph, so walang privacy. Hindi naman lahat ng oras ay we feel good about relating with other people di ba? We have our bad hair days but you can’t afford to have that. When you are a known personality, you must return the good will of people who greet you, who smile at you, who wave at you. You have to greet back, you have to smile back, you have to wave back.

 One advantage is being popular. It gives you a great opportunity to use your popularity to be good to others. Hindi ’yung type na “Hindi mo ba kilala kung sino ako? Hindi ako pipila diyan!” None of that. The advantage is to use your popularity to help others. For example, if somebody is aggrieved, you call up the person who’s allegedly aggrieving the aggrieved and you use your popularity in a sense like ”Si Mike Enriquez ito, ano itong nabalitaan kong ginagawa ninyo sa taong iyan?” The other advantage of being popular is that it also makes you conscious of the need to conduct yourself properly in both public and private life kasi nga pinagkaka-ingatan mo ’yung popularity na ’yon. Unless wala kang pakialam which happens to some, they don’t care at all, they just do what they want. It’s a challenge being popular. It’s also a challenge to live up to being an expample to others, especially for the people who look at you and say ”I want to be that guy someday.”

 Anu-ano po ang mga katangian na dapat meron ang isang baguhan upang magtagumpay sa industriya?

Mike: Dapat maging tapat sila before anything else. Dapat maging makatotohanan, panig sa katotohanan. Dapat masipag sila at handang magsakripisyo para sa katotohanan at para sa career nila. This is not a field that grants instant gratification. Whatever gratification or reward comes, you need to work for it, and work for it very hard. If you want instant gratification, don’t go into broadcasting, it will not come right away.

Ano po ang paninindigan ninyo tungkol sa teleradyo at live streaming?

Mike: Teleradyo and live streaming, with the onset of the internet, it is inevitable na magkakaroon ng mga ganyan. Pero at the end of the day, regardless of the platform, ang pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin is ‘yung content. Mas lalo na ngayon na may mga social media, mas lalong mas importante ngayon na accurate, fair, and balanced ang content.

Laging sinasabi ng karamihan na kapag balita, GMA Network ang maaasahan, kapag entertainment, kabilang istasyon naman, what’s your reaction?

Mike: Hindi ko masasagot ‘yung sa entertainment part dahil I’m from News and Public Affairs. ‘Yung sa News and Public Affairs, pinaghihirapan namin ‘yan, 24/7. Hindi ako magugulat kung sasabihin nila ‘yun. Pero hindi namin ‘yun ginagawa para masabi nila na tayo ang nangunguna. Ginagawa namin ‘yun dahil ‘yun talaga ang misyon naming mga broadcaster, anumang network.

Sa tingin po ninyo, ano po kaya ang magiging kapalaran ng AM radio, knowing na may built-in FM radio sa cellphones ng karamihan?

Mike: Radio would still be around very much. In the future, it may take on different forms, but radio would still remain a people’s medium especially sa provincial areas. Radio has withstood the technological innovations and advances through the years.

Ano po ang paninindigan ninyo sa network war?

Mike: Kung ‘yung so-called “network war” ay pagalingan sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo, okay ‘yun. Pero kung ang ibig sabihin ay gagawa ka ng kung anu-ano para lang mapansin ka, manalo ka, or mag-rate ka, hindi tayo ganun sa GMA. At saka, lahat ng ginagawa natin dito ay nakatuon sa isang bagay lamang, serbisyong totoo. Hindi natin iniisip ‘yung kakumpitensiya o ‘yung ginagawa ng ibang network, naka-focus tayo dito sa ating values, sa ating vision and mission.

 How would you describe yourself off cam?

Off cam, I read a lot. I’m not only a voracious reader, I don’t know what you call me, basta I read. I also listen to music, watch movies, and I spend time with my wife and our poodle. And most importantly, I sleep.

  What is your guiding principle professionally and personally?

Just stick to the truth and just stick to the fact that you are here to serve people. Not to get rich or famous, but to serve people. This is what this job is all about. This is about being of service to others, giving genuine service. Kapag may tinutulungan tayo, hindi naman tayo nagpapabayad, hindi naman tayo umaasa ng regalo. Talagang serbisyong totoo lang, serbisyong puro.

 Where will you be at ano po ang iyong gagawin by the time na kayo’y wala na sa GMA Network?

Mike: I’m not thinking of mawala sa GMA Network. Kapipirma ko lang din ng contract and I am very happy.

 At what age po sa palagay ninyo dapat nang iwan ang media?

Mike: No age. Hangga’t kaya ng katawan mo. Hangga’t kaya ng body and spirit mo, sige lang. Di ba ang turo sa atin, hanggang sa huling hininga mo? That’s very Franciscan.

Quick and Fast

  Coffee or tea? Coffee

   UAAP or NCAA? UAAP

  TV or Radio? Radio

  Basketball or boxing? Basketball

   Beach or mountain resort? Beach resort

   Rice or cereal? Cereal

  Black or white? White

  Horror or Romcom? Romcom

   Running or swimming? Running