Remembering Tito Dougs

Rommel Llanes

Monday, June 22, 2009
01:29 PM

Last June 13, Philippine showbiz lost an institution...or better said, an icon who was a guiding light for countless people who loved him. Douglas Cordovez Quijano, fondly called Tito Dougs, succumbed to a heart attack in his home  at Countryville Subdivision, Barangay Ayute, Lucban, Quezon Province. He was 64.

 

Today, June 20, his remains will be cremated and placed in an urn, which will then be placed in different containers and shared among his talents. But a major portion of it will be taken to Lucban.

 

"Napakiusapan namin yung family na mabigyan ang bawat isa sa amin ng ash ni Douglas," says Richard Gomez in an interview with Ricky Lo in Startalk today at the Heritage Park.

 

Whether his ashes remain in one urn or be scattered to earth, wind,  and friends, Tito Dougs continues live in our hearts for many reasons: his valuable contributions to Philippine showbiz, his professionalism as a talent manager, writer, film producer, and other accomplishments; above all, for his all-embracing spirit as a person.

 

Over the past week, we have mourned his death and celebrated his life at the same time. Once again, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) traces his legacy as culled from interviews, tributes during his wake, and previous writings about Tito Dougs.

 

HIS BROTHERS' KEEPER. Douglas was the eldest of six children. His brother Allan Quijano remembers his kuya as very responsible and  caring. "He is not very strict, hindi rin very lenient, always in the middle. He will give you advice whenever you make a mistake. Pero kung the third time...ay, iba na yun. Pero he is a very good brother."

 

Allan recalls when Kuya Douglas took care of the family as breadwinner.

 

"He made sure na okey kami. Literally, sabi nga, he is his brothers' keeper. He provided for us. Para sa school. He made sure nakapag-aral kami. Very caring." And he never asked for anything in return.

 

Douglas also showed his caring ways to his niece and nephews.

 

"Gusto niya yung inaalagaan niya yung nieces and nephews nya. Siya naglalaba ng clothes nila, siya nagpaplantsa. Kumbaga loving 'tita' nga, e. Very caring."

 

THE STAR MAKER. Tito Dougs discovered talents and managed them to became superstars, legends and icons. His first talent, Tirso Cruz III, was the matinee-idol-half of the most successful love team in local showbiz history—Guy and Pip. Tirso and Superstar Nora Aunor as Guy drove fans to a frenzy in the early '70s.

 

Later that same decade, Douglas managed the careers of acting heavyweights Chanda Romero and Charito Solis.

 

In the '80s, he discovered William Martinez, Aga Muhlach, Nadia Montenegro, Janice de Belen and Richard Gomez, and handled their careers.

 

Under Tito Dougs's wing in the next decade came other talents like Joey Marquez, John Estrada, Anjo Yllana, Gelli de Belen, Jomari Yllana, Eric Fructuoso, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Jao Mapa, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitania, Jeremy Marquez and Jay Aquitania.

 

He even managed the showbiz careers of his talents' loved ones, like Lucy Torres-Gomez and her daughter with Goma, Juliana. Tito Dougs also helped the careers of a new generation, like Rainier Castillo and Andrew Schimmer.

 

But he was more than a manager to all these stars. He was their friend, mentor, father, mother and best buddy all rolled into one.

 

"He was my first real friend in showbiz and he eventually became my best friend because palagi ko siyang kausap," says Lucy Torres-Gomez about Douglas. He was the only person she greeted every Father's Day and Mother's Day.

 

Nadia Montenegro looked up to Tito Dougs as her father and mentor. "Kasi in all my life decisions that I have to do, siya lahat din, e. Especially when I was 16, sabi niya, 'O, in love ka na. Ako na ang bahala makipag-usap kay Mother [Lily Monteverde]. Live your life and be happy.' Siya ang nag-decide for me. Pati yung... Lahat-lahat, even yung for my kids. Everything, siya lahat. Kumbaga, when he says yes, I know it's all right."

 

Joey Marquez felt that Douglas was really a part of himself. "He is the one who's just there 'pag may problema ako. At this point, parang natanggalan ako ng braso, paa, kumpiyansa...I really don't know how to get it back...."

 

Incidentally, it was in 1994, after the Manila Filmfest scam, that the veteran talent manager co-founded the Philippine Artist Managers, Inc. (PAMI).

 

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