Talent exec Douglas Quijano found dead

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Movie and television talent manager Douglas Quijano was found dead in the bedroom of his rest house at Countryville Subdivision in Barangay Ayuti this town Saturday morning.

He was 64.

Senior Inspector Francis Pasno, Lucban police chief, said house helpers found Quijano lying face down on the floor of his bedroom.

Quoting the helpers, Pasno said Quijano was not feeling well and experienced body chills Friday night before he went to bed.

The helpers, according to Pasno, told Quijano to go to the hospital but he refused and opted instead to go to sleep.

On Saturday morning, Quijano did not come down for breakfast as was his custom, and the house helpers wondered why he was still asleep near midday. They then tried to wake him up by knocking on the door of his bedroom.

When Quijano failed to respond, the helpers called his driver, who broke down the door of the master’s bedroom.

Initial police investigation revealed that there were no signs of forced entry or struggle in the room.

Scene of the crime investigators have yet to determine the cause of death.

Regal Films matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde, head of the film outfit for which Quijano line-produced movies, was stunned when she learned of Quijano’s passing.

“I love Douglas. Mabuti siyang tao. Mabait siya (He is a good person). He could have helped many more people. He’s a big loss to the industry,” Monteverde said.

Quijano’s talents included John Estrada, Anjo and Jomari Yllana, Wendell Ramos, Joey Marquez, Gelli de Belen, Antonio Aquitania and Richard Gutierrez.

“Like everybody else, I was shocked when I heard the news,” said Lucy Torres Gomez in a phone interview with The STAR from San Francisco where she and her husband Richard, also a Quijano talent, and other GMA stars are gracing a Pinoy event.

“Goma and I can never find a manager like Tito Dougs. He’s irreplaceable. We love him dearly. He was like a father, a brother and an uncle to everybody. We will miss him,” she added. – With Michelle Zoleta