Viewer is Boss

CEBU, Philippines - Baniog na kaayo ang iyang ngalan. Sa higayon nga litukon nimo ang ngalang “Mike Enriquez”, musantop gilayon sa imong hunahuna si “Imbestigador.” Kauban siya sa kapusong Pilipinhon matag gabii pinaagi sa 24 Oras sa GMA7 primetime. Labihan niya ka malampuson sa natad sa panibya, maparadyo man o telebisyon. Apan dihang gipangutana sa Banat News Hugyaw unsa alang kaniya ang iyang “legacy” isip broadcast-journalist, nagdumili siya pagtubag. 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?

Hinuon gitumbok niya ang mga punto unsay positibo ug negatibo isip Mike Enriquez sa Philippine broadcasting. “The biggest disadvantage is your 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,” pasiuna pa niya.

Padayon ni Mike: One advantage is being popular. It gives you a great opportunity to use your popularity to be good to others. Hindi ’yung type na â€œHindi 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.”

BNH: 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.

BNH: 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.

BNH: 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.

BNH:  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.

BNH: 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.

BNH: How would you describe yourself off cam?

Mike: 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.

BNH: What is your guiding principle professionally and personally?

Mike: 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.

BNH: 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.

BNH: 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 (BANAT NEWS)