What Douglas missed at his birthday bash

The Wanted coming for a concert

Breaking news!

The Wanted, said to be the sexiest boy band from the UK, is coming for a concert on Sept. 14, 8 p.m., at the NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The five members are Max, Siva, Jay, Tom and Nathan. The concert is produced by MCA Music. Details about tickets will be announced soon. The Wanted’s hit songs include All Time Low, Glad You Came and Chasing The Sun. They are the new UK group to place in the Billboard Top 10. Their albums are exclusively under MCA Music, available at Astroplus and Odyssey Music & Video (or online at www.MyMusicStore.com.ph).

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind…

Once again, I couldn’t help but recall that line from the humbling Kansas song last Tuesday, July 24, during the Mass/salu-salo to mark the birthday of Douglas Quijano who died in his sleep three years ago.

The Emperor Room of the Imperial Palace Suites (IPS) owned by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily who hosted the affair reverberated with laughter after the solemn Mass officiated by Fr. Larry Faraon, the same priest (described as showbiz na showbiz) who led that rousing send-off for Dolphy at the Heritage Park. No more tears were shed for the well-loved Douglas and only anecdotes about him were thrown around.

It was Lolit Solis who planned the event, sponsored by her group, PAMI (Philippine Artists Managers, Inc.), something that would have been but was not held to mark Douglas’ first and second anniversaries.

I remember what Douglas once told Richard Gomez when they attended a wake, “When you die, people will forget you after you are buried.”

Those who remember Douglas (from left): Rowena Salida, Mario Dumaual, Veanna Fores, Angge Lee, Norma Japitana, Mother Lily, June Torrejon, Fr. Larry Faraon, Richard Gomez, Ethel Ramos, Shirley Kuan, Dolor Guevarra, Marichu ‘Manay Ichu’ Maceda, Leo Dominguez, Lolit Solis, Jo-Ann Maglipon, Jake Tordesillas, Maryo J. delos Reyes, Ed Instrella and Cesar Evangelista.

Among Douglas’ many talents and dozens of stars that he had helped, only Richard showed up, along with his wife Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres and Gelli de Belen. Only one third of the more than 25 PAMI members came, namely (aside from Lolit) June Torrejon, Angge Lee, Veanna Fores, Norma Japitana, Ethel Ramos, Shirley Kuan, Leo Doiminguez, Dolor Guevarra and Ed Instrella. (Boy Abunda was represented by Backroom staffers Rowena Salida and Almed Garcia.)

Daniel Padilla, Douglas’ last discovery whom he introduced to Star Magic boss Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan, wanted to catch up from the shoot of an episode of Princess & I (set for airing that same night) but he was told not to since he would be trapped in the rush-hour traffic.

“I’m sure that Douglas is with us, enjoying our company,” said everybody who, in a gathering like that, would swap juicy stories (some of them, uhm, “below the belt”) and off-the-record showbiz gossip. (Sorry, can’t be repeated here.)

Annabelle Rama (who brought two lechon straight from Cebu) with Richard, Lucy and Mother Lily. (Not in photo is Gelli de Belen who left early.)

“I’m sure miss na miss ni Douglas ito,” said Lolit who has scolded stars who swore during the wake that they would never forget Douglas but who conveniently forgot to attend the affair. “Kung buhay ‘yon, siguro he would have gone with us to Germany for a stem-cell therapy,” added Lolit who quashed rumors (actually, jokes!) that her “monthly” came back after the treatment.

The good thing is that Douglas is resting in peace (“He’s now sitting beside The Lord,” said Fr. Faraon). Correction, please: Resting in “pieces” because his ashes were divided among his friends. PAMI head June Torrejon brought along her “share” kept in an egg-shaped bronze urn. Richard and the others forgot to bring the other “pieces” of Douglas, but Lucy said that she would gather “all of Douglas” and deposit him in a columbarium at the St. Therese Shrine so that he could finally rest in peace...in one piece.

How Queenie is doing at Miss World contest

2012 Miss World Philippines Queeneerich Rehman (right) with a fellow contestant

Here’s an update on how Miss World Philippines Queeneerich Rehman is doing at the Miss World pageant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China:

Queeneerich Rehman had a good start with her performance at The Miss World Performing Talent Competition. Queeneerich’s Beatbox number was reported to have excited and impressed both the judges and the audience alike. She was named one of the 24 semifinalists who will get to showcase their skills at the Miss World Talent Show, which will take place on Aug. 10. Queeneerich started Beatboxing in High School when she heard Justin Timberlake’s song Rock Your Body. The candidates will be given points for their talent and these will be added up to their final scores. I expect Queeneerich to score high in this competition. The winner will be given the Miss World Performing Talent Award.

After the talent auditions came the Top Model preliminaries. Queeneerich once more made the cut, with 47 candidates cast for the Top Model catwalk show on Aug. 12. The candidate who scores the highest will get the Miss World Top Model Award.

Other competitions leading up to the Miss World finals include World Designer Award set today, Beach Beauty on Aug. 1, Sports and Fitness on Aug. 6, Multimedia Award and Beauty With A Purpose Award which will be announced during the grand finals on Aug. 18.— Reported by ‘beauty-watcher’ GERRY DIAZ

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