Talent Manager Douglas Quijano at age 64, found dead at his rest house in Lucban, Quezon. For Douglas Quijano, talent manager and friend to some of Philippine showbiz’s big whigs, death came like the proverbial thief in the night.
Quijano – or Tito Dougs as he was fondly called by friends and talents – was found dead early Saturday morning in his rest house in Lucban, Quezon. He was 64. His attending physician, Dr. Uli Nantes, ruled it was heart attack.
Quijano was supposed to celebrate his 65th birthday on July 25.
Quijano – or Tito Dougs as he was fondly called by friends and talents – was found dead early Saturday morning in his rest house in Lucban, Quezon. He was 64. His attending physician, Dr. Uli Nantes, ruled it was heart attack.
Quijano was supposed to celebrate his 65th birthday on July 25.
Quijano's stable of stars made him a long-time power player in show business. Among those whose careers he managed were Richard Gomez, John Estrada, Joey Marquez, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, Anjo Yllana, Gelli de Belen, Jay Aquitania, Benj Basa, Tirso Cruz III, Aga Muhlach 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.“Malaki ang kontribusyon niya sa industriya [It’s sad because he helps so many artists. He contributed a lot to the industry," said German “Kuya 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 “chills" 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.
“Pagsakay 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 ‘yong 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.
Evangelista said they only learned of Quijano’s fate when the talent manager did not wake up at 10 a.m. the next day.
"Binuksan namin yung bintana, ‘yong maid na si Nora. Wala sa kama [si Tito Dougs]. Nakita namin na naka-dapa ‘doon sa tabi ng kama. Tinawag ko ‘yong driver dahil ayaw ko lumapit. Pagkakita no’ng driver, umiiyak na. Nakita raw niya ‘yong 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 Dougs’ legs already violet.]
Wake, mourning
Quijano’s 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 Quijano’s death.
“He 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 Quijano’s favorites, remembers him to be a “fair and objective (manager)."
“If 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 won’t ell you ‘Ang galing-galing mo’ (but he’ll 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 Quijano’s demise, adding that Quijano knew how “to enjoy life."
“He has 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.
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.
“Pagsakay 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 ‘yong 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.
Evangelista said they only learned of Quijano’s fate when the talent manager did not wake up at 10 a.m. the next day.
"Binuksan namin yung bintana, ‘yong maid na si Nora. Wala sa kama [si Tito Dougs]. Nakita namin na naka-dapa ‘doon sa tabi ng kama. Tinawag ko ‘yong driver dahil ayaw ko lumapit. Pagkakita no’ng driver, umiiyak na. Nakita raw niya ‘yong 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 Dougs’ legs already violet.]
Wake, mourning
Quijano’s 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 Quijano’s death.
“He 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 Quijano’s favorites, remembers him to be a “fair and objective (manager)."
“If 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 won’t ell you ‘Ang galing-galing mo’ (but he’ll 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 Quijano’s demise, adding that Quijano knew how “to enjoy life."
“He has 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.
Sources: GMANews.TV
