Talent manager Douglas Quijano was found dead in Lucban, Quezon on Saturday morning. - PEP
MANILA, Philippines - For Douglas Quijano, talent manager and friend to some of Philippine showbizâs brightest stars, death came like the proverbial thief in the night. Quijano â or Tito Dougs as he was fondly called by friends and talents â was found dead early Saturday morning in his rest house in Lucban, Quezon. He was 64. His attending physician, Dr. Uli Nantes, ruled the cause of death as a heart attack. Quijano's stable of stars made him a long-time power player in show business. He was best known for managing Richard Gomez's rise to stardom. But he also helped build the careers of Tirso Cruz III and Aga Muhlach. Among the other celebrities whose careers he managed were John Estrada, Joey Marquez, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, Anjo Yllana, Gelli de Belen, Jay Aquitania, Benj Basa, and Richard Gutierrez. Apart from managing talents, he also helped Lily Monteverde set up Regal Films, one of the biggest film outfits in the country. âMalaki ang kontribusyon niya sa industriya [Itâs sad because he helps so many artists. He contributed a lot to the industry," said German âKuya Germs" Moreno, a veteran TV host and long time friend of Quijano, in an interview aired over Balitanghali last Saturday.
Last trip Quijano had been complaining of âchills" since Friday after a trip to Gumaca, Quezon, according to entertainment writer Ces Evangelista, a house guest who was with him during the excursion. Interviewed by
Startalk on Saturday afternoon, Evangelista said they immediately brought Quijano to a doctor shortly after they arrived from Gumaca at around 6 p.m. âPagsakay ng van, nagchi-chill. Parang iba (dahil) gusto niya yung climate, pero yesterday, sabi niya giniginaw siya. Pinapatay yung air-con ng van. Nang makarating kami sa doctor, pina-check-up âyong kati-kati niya. Ayaw naman niya sa ospital," Evangelista said. [When we boarded the van, he felt cold so we turned off the air-conditioning unit. This was strange because he liked the climate here. We then reached the doctor and had his itches checked. He also said he did not want to be taken to a hospital.] Upon returning home at 8 p.m., Quijano drank a cup of coffee and went to bed, Evangelista said. He said he became worried when the talent manager was still not awake at 10 a.m. the next day. "Binuksan namin yung bintana, âyong maid na si Nora. Wala sa kama [si Tito Dougs]. Nakita namin na naka-dapa âdoon sa tabi ng kama. Tinawag ko âyong driver dahil ayaw ko lumapit. Pagkakita noâng driver, umiiyak na. Nakita raw niya âyong paa, violet na," he said. [When Tito Dougs had not woken up at 10:00, the house help and I opened his window and saw him lying beside his bed. I then called the driver to check on him. The driver returned crying, saying he saw Tito Dougsâ legs already violet.]
Wake, mourning Quijanoâs remains were brought to the Heritage Park in Taguig City early Sunday morning, according to a
GMA Flash Report. No date of burial has been announced yet, as the family is still waiting for some of their other relatives to arrive. Meanwhile, showbiz personalities continue to mourn Quijanoâs death. âHe was well-loved in the industry," said Lucy Torres-Gomez, wife of Richard Gomez. The Gomez couple hosted Quijano's last birthday party last July 25 in their Greenhills home. They are currently out of the country and are set to arrive on Tuesday. TV host-actress Gelli de Belen, said to be one of Quijanoâs favorites, remembers him to be a âfair and objective (manager)." âIf you want sound advice, if you want (to know) the real deal, if you want to learn about things without embellishment, siya ang kakausapin mo. He wonât tell you âAng galing-galing moâ (but heâll tell you) pag may decision (to be made), the pros and cons and lets you decide." Talent manager-TV host Lolit Solis, for her part, said she is saddened by Quijanoâs demise, adding that Quijano knew how âto enjoy life." âHe had been my friend since 1968. He was the one who convinced me to shift to entertainment journalism. He was there when I got married, when I gave birth and when my parents died. My first trip abroad was because of him," she said over
Startalk.
- GMANews.TV