MANILA, Philippines?The 15 artists managed by Douglas Quijano, who died on June 13, are still in the process of picking a new handler, according to actor Richard Gomez, one of the newly ?orphaned? stars.

In the meantime, all matters related to their guest appearances and interviews, as well as movie and TV projects, will be coursed through Gomez, former actress Nadia Montenegro told Inquirer Entertainment in a phone interview.

Quijano?s wards had a meeting on Sunday night to discuss the matter, reported Gomez, who was last seen on GMA 7?s defunct late-night show ?All About Eve.? ?Nothing is final yet,? he said.

No one for Janice

Montenegro said that they initially wanted only one talent manager to replace Quijano. ?But if one or a few other artists want a different manager, we will not take it against them,? she stressed.

Gomez said actor and former Parañaque City Councilor Anjo Yllana is considering joining the group being managed by Malou Choa-Fagar, a producer of the long-running noontime game show ?Eat... Bulaga!? where he?s a regular host. Fagar represents ?Bulaga? talents Janno Gibbs, Jose Manalo and Julia Clarete, among others.

Gelli de Belen, who hosts the morning variety show ?Sis,? may transfer to Backroom Inc., which manages the career of her husband, singer-actor Ariel Rivera, Gomez said, adding that Gelli?s sister, Janice, prefers not to have a manager at the moment.

Wait and see

Actor Wendell Ramos, a regular of the gag show ?Bubble Gang,? is currently negotiating with Perry Lansigan, who handles the careers of Dingdong Dantes and Geoff Eigenmann.

Actor and concert producer Jomari Yllana, seen regularly in the Sony Pictures franchise ?Zorro? on GMA 7, is keen on managing Quijano?s younger talents, among them Jay Aquitania and Tyrone Perez.

Gomez said that he and his wife Lucy, seen every afternoon on QTV 11?s ?The Sweet Life,? as well as actors Joey Marquez (?Adik Sa ?Yo?), Antonio Aquitana (?Zorro,? ?Bubble Gang?), John Estrada (TV5?s ?Everybody Happy? and ABS-CBN?s ?Dahil May Isang Ikaw?) are ?playing it by ear? for the moment.