Who is Mike Enriquez?
MIKE ENRIQUEZ – Here are some details about the late television and radio newscaster.
The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of one of the pillars of newscasting. Mike left an indelible mark in showbiz, particularly in the field of news and current affairs, with a career spanning more than five decades. With Enriquez’s passing, his colleagues were left heartbroken, considering him a father, friend, and mentor.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Mike, whose real name is Miguel Castro Enriquez, was a 71-year-old broadcast journalist hailing from Santa Ana, Manila. He was the eldest of three children.
He used to be an altar boy with the aspiration of becoming a Franciscan priest. However, his parents refused. Instead, he was enrolled at De La Salle College (now De La Salle University-Manila), where he took up AB Liberal Arts in Commerce. Enriquez finished his degree in 1973 and taught in Broadcast Management. Enriquez was married to Lizabeth “Baby” Yumping and had no children.
CAREER
Mike, whose real name is Miguel Castro Enriquez, began his journey in broadcasting as a staff announcer at the Manila Broadcasting Company in 1969, following an accidental discovery of his passion for radio. Over the years, he assumed various roles, including broadcast reporter, news editor, program director, and station manager.
He joined GMA Network in 1994 to lead the radio division and expand its networks. He made his on-screen debut during the 1995 senatorial election coverage and co-anchored with Karen Davila. His presence led to the launch of “Saksi: GMA Headline Balita,” and he later anchored “GMA Network News” and “24 Oras,” covering significant events like natural disasters and global occurrences.
Throughout his career, Enriquez’s dedication earned him recognition and awards, including acknowledgment as a child-friendly personality by the Southeast Asian Foundation for Children and the Anak TV Seal awards. Despite facing medical leaves in 2018 and 2021, he remained committed to his programs and returned to his Eleksyon 2022 coverage.
ILLNESS
On August 22, 2018, Mike Enriquez announced a medical leave due to kidney disease and diabetes, which led to his absence from shows like 24 Oras and Super Radyo DZBB. After a heart bypass, he resumed broadcasting on November 26, 2018. In December 2021, he took another medical leave and underwent a kidney transplant. He returned on March 28, 2022, for GMA’s coverage of the 2022 Philippine presidential election, but later took another off-air leave.
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