Mike Enriquez remembers happier times with Cesar Apolinario

When Cesar Apolinario passed, GMA News anchor Mike Enriquez lost not only a colleague, but also a friend.

"Si Cesar was not just a colleague. He was a friend," Enriquez said during an interview at the wake.

"Siya 'yung sa una katrabaho mo lang, and through the years naging kaibigan, naging ka-joke-an. Tonight, nagpunta ako sa kanyang wake not as a co-worker sa GMA, not even as a kapuso sa GMA, but nagpunta ako dito ngayong gabi as kaibigan ni Cesar."

In the video, the GMA pillar also looks back on the countless times his younger colleague brought him joy.

"Marami. Sobrang dami. Kaya nga maraming nalulungkot sa pagpanaw ni Cesar," said Enriquez.

For one, he said Cesar jokingly  always tried to make way for him whenever he saw him coming.

"Si Cesar? [laughs] Kasi si Cesar niloloko parati 'yan eh. 'Pag nagkikita kami niyan, (he says) 'uy tumabi kayo. Andyan na si (Mike) oh!' Naghahawi ba, kahit walang tao, kunyari siya yung tiga-hawi pag dadaan daw ako. Parating 'yun ang biro niya sa akin eh, ewan ko kung bakit gano'n eh," Enriquez recalled.

Still, as he paid his respects to his friend, Enriquez expressed gratefulness.

"One thing na masasabi natin is, si Cesar, bata pang kinuha ni Lord, pero sagad na sagad, buong buo ang buhay niya, full na full, at doon ay puwede na lang tayong magpasalamat na nabigyan tayo ng Cesar Apolinario."

Cesar passed away at 46 last week.

The beloved Kapuso reporter, documentarist, host and director was diagnosed with lymphoma earlier this year, an illness which he chose to face privately. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News