Home at last

Fr. Mario Sobrejaunite celebrated the funeral Mass for Dr. Jose (Pepet) Genato Jr. before his cremation at the Manila Memorial Park last Saturday and thanked the Lord for sharing the life of an extraordinary man with the thousands whose hearts he touched. Dr. Genato is now home at last, said Fr. Mario, at peace in heaven with the Creator and his beloved wife Carmencita.

Dr. Genato, 87, passed away at the Makati Medical Center last Wednesday. He suffered a massive heart attack the Saturday before and was rushed to the ICU under Dr. Oswald Herrera’s care. While in the hospital, Dr. Genato never lost consciousness until his last few hours. He was never afraid of dying because of his strong Catholic faith.

When Dr. Genato’s wife died three years ago, he was never the same. He lost the love of his life and while he was showered with attention by his children, you could sense the loneliness and emptiness in his spirit. The night before he suffered his heart attack, Dr.Genato revealed that he dreamed of his wife during a deep sleep. He had a big smile as he related how she said it was time to go home, to be with her in heaven because “I was getting old.”

Dr. Genato was brought to the hospital Saturday night. That morning, he was in his clinic, attending to patients. It was his life-long mission to heal the sick and give comfort to the ailing. He disdained retirement, constantly reminding those who called for him to give up active practice that he wasn’t “retarded.” Last February, Dr. Genato still performed a delivery – his specialty as an obstetrician and gynecologist.

When Dr. Genato married his bride nearly 60 years ago, he told her they wouldn’t get rich with his profession. Although he attended to several high-profile clients, Dr. Genato wasn’t the type to over-charge. In fact, he used to maintain a free clinic for the poor in Sampaloc. Relatives and friends were treated on an “NC” (no charge) basis with Dr. Genato refusing to accept payment of any kind. He felt it was a privilege to be a healer. Once, when he forwarded a bill to a celebrity patient after a delivery, the staff in the nurses’ station couldn’t believe how low his charge was. “Why should I charge more than usual when it was a normal delivery?” he said. Dr. Genato recommended Caesarian delivery only as a last resort even if it meant billing a patient a lot less. He never meant his profession to be a business but a commitment to service.

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It was no secret that some of Dr. Genato’s famous patients included Sharon Cuneta, Janice de Belen, Pops Fernandez, Jackie Lou Blanco, the Uytengsus and diplomats along Embassy row. One of his celebrity patients Pia Hontiveros came to his wake and cried, saying she had never encountered a doctor as caring and dedicated.  

One of Dr. Genato’s children said some of his patients who paid their respects at his wake recalled how he waited for hours in the next room during labor before delivery. And he was one of the last few doctors who still made house calls. It wasn’t a case of old school doctoring but more a case of an uncompromising work ethic. “He was always in the delivery, labor or operating rooms at least one hour before every procedure because he wanted to set an example for interns and nursing staff about discipline and commitment to his profession,” said a daughter. “We were touched when the Makati Medical Center staff from OB-GYNE came to his wake and brought notes thanking their mentor for all his lessons in the delivery room. There were also security guards, secretaries and telephone operators who came to say goodbye. With tears in their eyes, they recounted how he treated them all for free. They all loved him.”

Dr. Genato was passionate about sports. He was an athletic scholar at UST and played on the unbeaten varsity basketball team that swept the UAAP title in 1946-47. His teammates included three-time Olympian Ramoncito Campos, Pocholo Martinez, Col. Julian Malonso and Tito Eduque. Dr. Genato also played commercial basketball for Torres Optical. He was more known for his defense than offense as a hard-nosed guard. His younger brother Tony was a two-time Olympian who played on the Philippine squad that took third place at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in 1954.

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After hanging up his sneakers, Dr. Genato continued his passion for sports and became involved in bowling. He was a fixture in inter-club bowling competitions and a Club Filipino champion. As a spectator, he was just as enthusiastic and cheered lustily for his son Pepito who was once a star striker with the national football team. Last year, Dr. Genato was in the stands to witness the Azkals’ 4-0 romp over Sri Lanka at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. He followed the PBA, boxing and tennis on TV.

Of course, you must know that Dr. Genato was my father-in-law. I owe him everything for bringing my wife Menchu into this life. Without Dr. Genato and his wife Carmencita, I could never be as fulfilled or happy as I am with Menchu. He taught me the true meaning of selflessness, patience and understanding. He showed me the insignificance of worldly possessions and the wealth of love of family. For his guidance and wisdom, I will forever be grateful.

Dr. Genato left behind four children –Menchu, Pepito, Vicky and Robert, seven grandchildren – Ia, Cristina, Yza, Maricar, Pedro, Cara and Bea and three great-grandchildren, Joshua, Nico and Jacob. His two surviving brothers Tony and Eddie mourn his passing. Brother Veting and sister Rosie had previously passed on. Dr. Genato will be remembered for his integrity, honesty, strong faith in God, dedication to his profession and passion for sports. A man like him is a rarity in a lifetime.