What parts of Douglas are missing?

Fifteen cute, egg-shaped urns and two heart-shaped ones were neatly set around a floral arrangement on a small table before the altar at the columbarium of the St. Therese Church beside the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City. Those urns contain the ashes of Douglas Quijano who was cremated in June 2009 and divided among 22 of his dear friends who just couldn’t let go of him.

The 17 urns were surrendered last Thursday morning during a commemorative Mass for the burial interment of Dear Dougs who, as he was wont in life, went gallivanting for three years, most of him carried around by urn-holders and some of him placed on little altars at home, guarded by eternally-lit candles.

The 15 egg-shaped urns came from Anjo Yllana, Jomari Yllana, Janice de Belen, Gelli de Belen, Marilen Nuñez, Apet Nuñez, Shirley Kuan, Jo-Ann Maglipon, June Torrejon, John Estrada, Abigael Babal (Douglas’ adopted daughter), Eugene de Guzman, Gboy Mendoza, Neil de Guia and Ces Evangelista (who was with Douglas when he died in his sleep at his rest house in Lucban, Quezon).

The two heart-shaped were from Ormoc Mayorable Richard Gomez and his wife, Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres, the couple who, during a Mass marking Douglas’ birthday last July 24, called upon urn-holders to have the urns ready so that they can be deposited at the St. Therese Columbarium. About time Douglas, a famous lakwatsero when he was alive (forever in this place and that place, here and abroad, seldom staying put), rested in peace.

“And,” said Lucy, “so that Tito Dougs can be included in the Mass for the dead at the Columbarium.”

Seven more urns are “missing,” said to be in custody of Antonio Aquitania, Jay Aquitania, Nadia Montenegro, Joey Marquez (entrusted with his son Jeremy), Wendell Ramos, BJ and two unnamed friends. What parts of Douglas are missing? His fingers? His heart? His toes? Whatever.

Those who were at St. Therese during the Mass — including Lucy and husband Richard (who left early for a previous appointment); Jomari; movie writers close to Douglas; and Douglas’ fellow PAMI (Professional Artists Managers, Inc.) members Shirley, June, Dolor Guevarra and Ethel Ramos…where were the rest?) — were tempted to make an appeal to Douglas — you know: “Douglas, saan man kayo naroroon, magsibalikan na kayo!” Knowing the fun-loving Douglas, I’m sure he was hovering around, enjoying the usual light mood in such gathering of friends. No more tears, only fond recollection of happy moments.

The officiating priest, Fr. Chito Cardoza, recalled how well-loved Douglas was…is!...and said that if anybody picked, if ever, picked a fight with Douglas you could be sure that it was that somebody who was at fault. True! Douglas was the one of the few friendly, sincere, selfless, caring and generous people in showbiz, ready to help without expecting anything in return. (Well, he was my self-appointed manager who closed my contract with GMA and he scolded me every time I asked how much I owed him on commission which he never accepted; same with now-also-the-late Wyngard Tracy who took over from Douglas, also “self-appointed,” who moved heaven and earth for me gratis et amore. Bless them!) 

During the singing of Ama Namin, Fr. Chito invited everybody to hold hands and form a circle around Douglas, parts of him anyway. Everybody stood there until after taking the communion, and then silently walked in line towards the cubicle where the urns would be rearranged, with Lucy and Richard’s heart-shaped urns in front of them. But before that, Fr. Chito asked everybody to sprinkle Holy Water over the urns.

The cubicle’s cover was placed temporarily, marked DOUGLAS G. QUIJANO, July 24, 1944-June 13, 2009, while waiting for “the rest of Douglas,” all in seven little urns held by seven different people, to come home for good.

Fr. Chito Cardoza requested friends of Douglas to hold hands and form a circle around the urns during the singing of Ama Namin, led by Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (in blue). Friends at the Mass also included Jomari Yllana; Jo-Ann Maglipon; Douglas’ fellow PAMI (Professionals Artists Managers, Inc.) members Shirley Kuan, June Torrejon, Ethel Ramos and Dolor Guevarra; Marilen Nuñez; Ces Evangelista; Neil de Guia; Gorgy Rula; and your Funfarer.

For the meantime, Douglas is resting in peace, not yet in one piece but in most pieces.

In death as in life, Douglas Quijano is everywhere, seemingly refusing to stay put.

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