Mike Enriquez. Image from GMA Network.
MANILA, Philippines — Veteran broadcaster and host Mike Enriquez has died at the age of 71, according to GMA News.
Miguel “Mike” Castro Enriquez will turn 72 on September 29, exactly a month after his death. He is survived by his wife Lizabeth “Baby” Yumping.
A distinguished television and radio newscaster, Enriquez stood as one of the pillars of GMA Network. He is renowned as one of the anchors of the media giant’s flagship news program “24 Oras,” and he also hosted the investigative docudrama show “Imbestigador.”
READ MORE: Mike Enriquez: A man of talent, dedication and good journalism
Often referred to as “Booma” within inner media circles, Enriquez has popularized the expressions “Excuse me po!”, “Hindi ko kayo tatantanan!”, and “Naloko na!” such that these have evolved into distinctive trademarks of the former radio disc jockey named “Baby Michael.”
Apart from being a multi-awarded newscaster, Enriquez was also the consultant of GMA’s radio operations, with supervision over dzBB.
A graduate of De La Salle University, the media veteran also became a professor for broadcast management in the same university.
Victim of death rumors
Enriquez has long been a victim of death rumors on social media, a recurrent thing since he was hospitalized in December 2021 to undergo kidney transplant.
In November 2022, fellow Kapuso broadcaster Arnold Clavio, who was his co-anchor on “Saksi sa Double B,” felt compelled to dispel death rumors hounding Enriquez following his prolonged absence from “24 Oras,” as well as in their radio program on dzBB.
This after veteran actress Lollie Mara and singer Richard Merk sent their condolences on Facebook over Enriquez’s supposed death. They immediately deleted their posts after they were told of Enriquez’s condition, and immediately apologized for the “confusion.”
Clavio then said that he was able to talk to “Ama,” referring to Enriquez, who he said was chirpy and very much alive during their conversation.
“Mga minamahal, nakausap ko po si Ama, Mr. Mike Enriquez. Buhay na buhay at ang kanyang mensahe: ‘Fake news!’ (My beloved, I already talked to Father, Mr. Mike Enriquez. He is very much alive and his message is: ‘Fake news!’),” Clavio said in his Facebook post.
In a separate interview, Enriquez’s “24 Oras” co-anchor and Mel Tiangco said that she had long wanted to ask him about his health condition but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“Nahihiya akong tumawag, but I really want to. He might think, ‘Ano ba ‘to, pati ako tsini-tsismis.’ And I might only get sad if he says he’s not so well,” she said said.
After undergoing a kidney transplant last year, Enriquez returned on air in March 2022 in time for the coverage of the 2022 national elections. Several weeks later, the veteran broadcaster went back on leave.
Aside from his kidney transplant, Enriquez also underwent a heart bypass procedure in 2018. EDV
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