G. B. Korten was born in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. She finished her elementary, high school, and college studies at the University of the Philippines. She has a master's of science degree in nursing from Boston University and took a variety of adult education courses at Wellesley College and Harvard University. She has a certificate in basic cuisine from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Mrs. Korten founded and operated East West Travel, Inc. in the USA for more than twenty years. She runs an antique furniture and jewelry store there called Rare Wonders of the World. She lives in Natick, Massachusetts, with her husband, Dr. Klaus Korten. They have two sons, Carlos Wilhelm and Santiago Ernst.
