'Excuse me po!': 5 Mike Enriquez trivia you need to know
MANILA, Philippines — Who was Mike Enriquez?
From waking us up with his jokes and laughter in morning radio shows like “Saksi sa Dobol B,” to spooking us in the night with his hard-hitting, crime-busting TV show “Imbestigador,” Mike has become many a part of every Filipino’s life — so much so that he has been immortalized by Michael V’s “Bubble Gang” impersonations and cameos in movies like in Andrew E.'s 1992 movie “Mahirap ang Maging Pogi.”
In an exclusive interview at his office in GMA Network for the premiere January-February 2008 issue of now-defunct Bounce magazine, Mike shared to this writer some secrets about his student life and how he eventually became one of the country’s top broadcasting pillars and pop culture icons.
Mike was in reality soft-spoken, not so ‘bakya’
For those wondering if Mike spoke like he did on-cam while at home, I hate to break this to you, but he was not like that.
Instead of his usual high-pitched news catchphrase “Hindi ko kayo tatantanan!,” broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez shocked me with his “usual” and “normal” self outside the newsroom — soft-spoken and talked more in straight English than in Tagalog. He was as any La Sallian would be — a bit of “coño” and not really so “bakya” as he was seen on camera.
When this writer asked him why he was so different on TV from who really was in person, Mike replied that he had to be loud on radio and TV because for him, it was the easiest way to get the attention of the masses, the usual audience of his radio and TV shows. Since the masses were usually commuting on jeepneys, buses and other public transport during the time slots of his shows, he had to compete with street noises and had to adopt a “barker” style of reporting.
The “barker” style, he shared, started when he became a disc jockey (DJ) when he was still a college student. He just carried over his style when he joined Manila Broadasting Company (MBC), then Freedom Broadcasting Radio Network, Radio Mindanao Network and then finally, GMA in 1995.
“Everything we do must have some level of performance — performance in work, life, even in being a student,” he said.
Mike almost dropped out of college, but instead, even finished 2 courses
Before Mike got into “DZ dobol B” (DZBB), he first had a “dobol” college degree.
A native of Sta. Ana, Manila, Miguel Castro Enriquez graduated with a double major in AB Liberal Arts and Bachelor of Science in Commerce (LiaCom) from De La Salle University (DLSU) in Taft Avenue, Manila.
In 1969, after being accepted to work in a broadcast station where his friend worked as a DJ, Mike immediately loved broadcasting and was earning enough from being a trainee reporter and announcer that he was able to buy his own car, so he initially already wanted to drop out of college to focus on being a full-time broadcaster. Good thing his parents stopped him from dropping out and insisted that he finish his studies.
“I could have been in the same position where I am now even if I didn’t finish school, but still, I’m thankful I did,” he enthused.
“Having a college degree gave me an edge in terms of values, competitive attitude, and spirit of excellence.”
Mike originally wanted to become a priest, not a broadcaster
Becoming a broadcaster wasn’t his childhood dream, Mike confessed. In fact, in high school, he was active in acting for the drama club and was dubbed “Brother Mike” or “Father Mike” because he wanted to join the Franciscans and become a priest.
But since his parents disapproved of him becoming a priest, he later on went to college and became a radio DJ under the codename “Baby Mike.”
Mike found his work as a DJ “very rewarding” since he also loves music and almost joined the college band if he did not become a broadcaster.
“One time, I visited a friend at his workplace and found out that he works in a radio station. Upon seeing how DJs work, I told myself, I want to be like them,” he reminisced.
But his parents also disapproved of his newfound passion and wanted him to focus on his studies since being a broadcaster then was also perilous, particularly, whenever he had to cover the University Belt demonstrations during the height of the First Quarter Storm.
“There was really no balance between studies and work. I had been in the honor roll in grade school and high school, but when I got into college, I had no honor at all. I was even at the brink of getting expelled because of my work, but somehow, I managed to survive,” he recalled.
“By experience, there’s really no balance. If you want to study and work at the same time, you’ll just have to survive both.”
Mike had an equally colorful love life as his life
Although often a subject of memes and impersonations because of his seriousness and looks, Mike actually did not have a problem at all when it came to girls.
During this author's exclusive interview, he recalled spending his college weekends drinking and dancing with girls.
“Nothing really serious,” he said of his relationships back then.
Until his death, Mike was married with the love of his life, Lizabeth "Baby" Yumping. Despite not having kids, the couple had been a source of inspiration in their relationship that they have kept private for over 45 years.
Mike would have wanted to enter politics
When asked if he ever wanted to join politics like his counterpart in the rival station ABS-CBN, Noli de Castro, Mike said he had no problem with it, if he would get an offer to join a party and if he liked that party’s platform. But none had offered him to join their slate, he said.
Mike, nonetheless, no longer needed a government title, for he was also a company president.
Besides hosting daily and nightly shows on both radio and TV, he even managed an entire corporation as president of GMA’s radio stations, RGMA Network Inc.
Beyond his fame and fortune, however, Mike found a compliment from a child for a job well done to be the most rewarding.
“When I go out to work, I don’t think about winning awards for what I do. I just always give my best,” he espoused.
“My real reward is when a boy approaches me to ask if he could shake my hand because I’m his idol.”
Looking back, many Filipinos, this author included, wish to have also shaken hands with the great Mike Enriquez.
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