Arnold Clavio pays tribute to 'second father' Mike Enriquez

Arnold Clavio joins countless Filipinos in mourning the death of broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez — not just as a colleague, but as family.

During Friday's memorial service, Clavio gathered with fellow journalists to remember Enriquez, sharing stories from inspiring to funny.

"Ang ikukwento ko, hindi ko alam kung ginawa niya sayo," Clavio said. "Ang naranasan niyo lang ubo. Sa radyo, kami ho ay nagpapalitan ng programa. Ako 'yung pinaglalabasan niya ng sama ng loob. Lagi niya sasabihin, 'Lika, Noy.' Akala ko may sasabihin, 'yun pala ay uutot lang po."

"At kung 'yung ubo niya, 'Excuse me po' — may kasunod agad 'yun 'pag umutot 'yun. 'Sorry, Noy,'" he added. "Ilang taon kong tiniis 'yun."

This is just one of many stories Clavio can tell about Enriquez. Their relationship was a familial one, which Clavio explained on "Unang Hirit" earlier this week.

"Inabutan niya kasi nung namatay [ang] tatay ko so parang may gap doon," Clavio shared. "Siya na 'yung tinuring kong father figure. Talagang si Mike, hindi lang boss 'yan eh, 'pag pinuntahan mo, madaling lapitan. Tagapagpaalala, tagagabay, naging ganun."

"Tapos 'yung kulitan namin sa dzBB, 'yung pag-blind item, 'yung sino, sinisisi niya nga ako dun. Kaya siya nagkasakit dahil hirap na hirap siyang manghula," he added.

During these blind item reports, Enriquez would painstakingly guess "mula A hanggang Z." He would also quip, ‘Sino 'yan? Kasi gustong malaman ni Tita Babes,' referring to his wife.

"'Yun pala, hindi totoo!" Clavio said. "So ngayon, 'pag sinasabi niyang gustong malaman ni Tita Babes, 'yung asawa nya, dini-diretso ko na 'yung sagot kay Tita Babes. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Wag nyo pong sabihin kay Mike.’"

As a boss, Enriquez was meticulous,  and wanted nothing but the best from his colleagues and staff.

"Alam mo ba tuwing manggagaling kang 'Unang Hirit,' kami’y magpapalit," Clavio said. "Bago siya umalis, sasabihin niya, ‘Energy! Energy!’"

"Minsan umeere ka na, tatawag pa sa phone. 'Yung energy mo!'" he added. "Ganun siya. Tsaka 'yung tunog nya, kakaiba talaga. Oo, magsasabi lang ng oras, akala mo may sunog, di ba? Ganun siya eh, para manatiling gising daw ang Pilipino."

Loss of his Ama

In a statement to GMA News Online, Clavio described Enriquez as a "good listener, hindi judgemental," with a "big heart para sa kapwa — kaya siguro limang ugat ng puso niya ang nagkaroon ng bara."

"At ayaw na ayaw niyang ibo-broadcast ang mga ginagawa niyang tulong," he added. "Hindi madamot si Mike. Ilang beses na akong Saksi 'pag naka-kantyawan siya sa GMA at DZBB na manglibre, mag-gagalit-galitan pero may darating na pagkain. Ang hinangaan ko kay Ama, sa kabila ng kanyang katanyagan at kayamanan, nanatili siyang humble at di makasarili."

Clavio said that he felt Enriquez's love for him, "hanggang kamatayan." And Clavio returned that love, expressing concern once he noticed Enriquez's deteriorating health.

He revealed that the last time they saw each other was when Enriquez fell in a radio booth and hit his head on the floor.

"Iyun na ang huli naming pagkikita," he said.

However, he was still able to speak to Enriquez some time later. When he asked when Enriquez is returning to work, the answer was, “Malapit na. Nasa doktor 'yan kung papayagan ako."

Unfortunately, Enriquez was unable to return to work as he passed away earlier this week.

"Ama, salamat," Clavio said. "Masama ang loob ko sa 'di mo pagsagot sa text ko kapag kinukumusta kita at binabati sa mahahalagang okasyon. Pero nauunawaan ko na ngayon. Tinuruan mo akong maging ulila. Sinanay na di ka hanapin. Na pagdating ng araw na ito ay mabawasan man lang ang aking hinagpis at kalungkutan."

"Mapayapang paglalakbay Ama. Wala ng hirap at dusa. At pagsapit mo sa pintuan ng langit, ikaw naman ang sasabihan ng…'Mike, Pasok!'"