CEBU, Philippines – Highly-respected talent manager Douglas Quijano, credited to have built the careers of many of the country’s top stars, passed away Saturday morning. He was 64.
A text message received by The Freeman said that Quijano was found dead around 10 a.m. in his rest house in Lucban, Quezon—a home he built three years when he semi-retired from Philippine show business.
Senior Inspector Francis Pasno, Lucban police chief, said police found Quijano’s body on the floor of his bedroom. Initial reports said that he died of stroke.
Pasno said police forced their way in to Quijano’s room after the talent manager failed to respond to them. He said household helpers had been knocking on the door of the talent manager’s room before they came.
A member of Quijano’s household revealed that the talent manager had complained night before his death that he was not already feeling well, but that refused to be brought to hospital, according to a radio report aired on DZMM.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Artists Managers, Inc. (PAMI) has released a statement on the death of Quijano, who was one of its founding members: Our beloved DOUGLAS QUIJANO went home to His Creator this morning while in his home in Lucban. Let us pray for the eternal repose of his soul—a good and kind man. A caring friend to all—we the PAMI grieve this big loss. A founding member and our first chairman.”
Quijano is the manager of several of the country’s biggest actors including Richard Gomez and wife Lucy Torres-Gomez, brothers Jomari and Anjo Yllana, comedian Joey Marquez, Antonio Aquitania and Wendell Ramos.