The equally famous couple have excelled in their chosen fields. Greg is in gynecology while Gina is in dermatology. Clinic hours are hectic and their daily patient list is long. Shuttling between their respective clinics in different hospitals, doing the morning and afternoon rounds to attend to patients are daily rituals for this couple. They display patience and grace under pressure. They maintain a pleasant bedside manner with all their patients, in spite of their busy schedule.
They also enjoy teaching. Greg is a professor at the U.P. College of Medicine and Gina is an associate clinical professor in the same college. They both hold clinics at the Makati Medical Center and the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. They also see patients at the Pastorfide Pastorfide Medical Complex (PPMC) which they recently opened at the Medical Plaza Bldg. in Makati.
The PPMC is a swanky-looking place. At the reception is a genuine museum-piece Picasso encased in characteristic European silverleaf frame. Classic modern interiors that will never go out of style welcome the patient. Walls of warm wood add to the peaceful and calming ambience. The whole design was done by Ed Calma.
On the right side is Greg’s "territory." His office is spacious with just a few furniture pieces elegantly positioned for a sophisticated look. There’s a sleek flat TV built-in in one wall and a view of the Makati skyline on the opposite side. In between is a sharp-looking desk where the doctor sits. His ready smile and soft-spoken charm complete the picture.
Greg shows me three other rooms where he keeps the latest gynecological equipment including one for invitrio or fertility treatment. Several friends have successfully undergone this specific treatment with him. He leads me across the reception over to the dermatology area. "Gina’s territory," he quips. A showcase of the latest skin care products are displayed before entering the main office. Adjacent to the clinic are several rooms with high-tech paraphernalia for specific skin treatments. For the first time, I saw the "hair transplant" room which contained the latest in transplant technology. "Now, I know where to go in my old age… just in case," I announce to the amused doctors.
The PPMC must be a delight to its clients, not only because it is new but because it is sparkling clean. One wonders what their house looks like. How do they relax? How do they live? Although the new PPMC is good enough to live in, there’s no place like home.
I turn to Greg who, since many years before, has always been impeccably attired. His mild manners enhance an elegant totality whether he is wearing a barong Tagalog or an Armani suit. I ask him if it’s possible visit their home. He and Gina are kind enough to invite me for a late breakfast one Saturday.
"Wow, you’re just like young lovers," I comment on how they looked at one another as they welcome me to their house. They laugh and lead me to a casual breakfast table situated between the dining room and the bar overlooking the garden. There is a ping-pong table. "My kids play that a lot – it’s their favorite game," Gina says. By the concrete fence are layers of potted plants the lady of the house collects.
"We built this home 20 years ago when we had our twin babies," Greg says. Gina joins in: "The painting of the two girls on the wall are our children when they were little." Filipino painter and conservator Angelito David executed the painting. "He is a dear friend and we have been missing his company since he left some years ago. He is now living in the United States to study art conservation and restoration."
The house is instinctively neo-classical and somewhat eclectic because of the infusion of some very old Chinese antiques, the most cherished of which is an heirloom camphor chest from Gina’s maternal grandmother. All the pieces of furniture are imported from abroad and through the years, they’ve added other pieces of their choice.
The sofas and chairs are upholstered in either floral or striped silk. A classic grandfather’s clock is positioned in a particular corner where its chime are heard all throughout the house during specific times of the day. Given distinguished spaces on the walls are oil paintings by Sanso, Zalameda and Diaz-Marcial. Huge antique jars are situated by the foyer with selected greenery in highly-polished brass planters. Guillermo Tolentino’s sculpture of a child stands by the grand piano. Another Tolentino piece, an "earless" horse piece serves as accent in the formal dining area.
The couple also love to collect crystals and ceramics. A whole glass cabinet of Lladros and Laliques make a glowing showcase especially at night when the lights are turned on. "That did not happen overnight," Greg says. "We started collecting 25 years ago when we got married. Each piece was lovingly brought home from different trips we made at different times."
In the formal dining area, a bigger mahogany wood and glass cabinet bedecked with another collection of only white crystals provides the central piece. An outcrop by the ceiling is treated with a combination of gold leaf and a commissioned painting of a black-and-white breed of game fowl marching towards one direction makes a good conversation piece. At night, a dimmed chandelier transforms the dining room into a cozy and intimate space. The couple enjoy hosting for close friends.
An amused Gina looks at her husband Greg when I ask about their favorite food. "Nothing in particular," he says. "When we are in a French restaurant, we order escargot as our appetizer. Then of course, we don’t miss our Peking duck in a Chinese restaurant. Tempura is a sure order in a Japanese restaurant. For native dishes, Gina loves lechon – which I try to avoid."
How about their favorite place abroad?
Gina brightens at the thought. "We travel with the children at least once or twice a year. We never miss going to our vacation house in Seattle, Washington, because we love the slower pace of life there. It’s a refreshing change from the hectic schedule we have here. The clean air and nice weather help us recharge. We are also lucky to have a scenic view of Lake Washington from our terrace, so you see, it is always a visually delightful experience," she says.
Twenty-five years after Greg’s residency and fellowship training at Peter Brent Brigham Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and 11 years after Gina’s fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the Pastorfide couple have come a long way to become the best in their fields.
In spite of their roster of famous patients, Greg and Gina assure me they "treat everyone with same amount of concern and expertise, because each patient is as important as the next."
After a tour of the house, I espy the garage and could not help but notice that the couple are also into cars. "OK, I’ll take this beautiful Jaguar home," I say in jest. " On second thought, maybe the BMW will do for now."
Fame and success have not changed the warmth and grace of this couple. Blessed with not one, but two sets of twins, they are a picture of love and happiness. What a lucky team!