Comment: from Discovery weekend blog

Since I reposted the Discovery weekend personal review, I thought that it should also be fitting to place the comment given in spymac website by one of my visitors. Read below and see how it helped him.
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The Discovery Weekend is a fantastic way to discover whether or not you are both ready for marriage and understand the commitments that must be made, as well as the adjustments that each must make to accommodate the other.

I undertook the Weekend with my fiancee (at the time) around 6 years ago, and I must say it was an eye-opener, with all of the hard questions that you must discuss (i.e., dealing with finances, in-laws, conflict resolution).

I eventually married her, and I do think that the weekend did help us resolve some of our issues.

I had a friend who attended the weekend at the same time we did; he ended up splitting up with his girlfriend as a result. I thought at the time that it was for the best; better for the conflicts to arise now than after you are married. Eventually though, I found out that they married a few years later.

However, my wife and I still can't bring ourselves to "hold hands while fighting". While a good idea in theory, it's very difficult to do in the heat of the moment.

-Bon

Discovery Weekend: My personal experience in 2005

This is the first export of one of my blogs in spymac website. Since this is about discovering your partner before marriage. I want to start with this blog to be reposted here in blogger. So just to note those reading this that my review was in year 2005. I hope it will be helpful to those who are contemplating to be married. I highly recommend you undergo this seminar.



It has been a week after my girlfriend and I underwent a reflection for couples under this program. Discovery weekend is a program for individuals who have plans of settling down and want to know more about their future or would be better half. Their website at discovery weekend explains fully the goals of the program.

They are located in Quezon City (within the area of Gotesco Mall while going to Fairview). Couples come in on Friday night and finish the seminar on a Sunday afternoon.

It is quite extensive since the seminar starts right after the Friday dinner. This of course includes the whole of Saturday up to the evening. This is culminated with a Sunday mass in the afternoon.

What is interesting about the program is that topics are given which initially deals with oneself, then between you and your partner and followed by topics that concern about the couple and God. This is for me important in order for each couple to fully understand each other.

The format of each topic initially presents the basics of developing a better relationship depending on the topic discussed followed by couples who share their experience with the participants. This is definitely very unselfish and brave on my point of view because this definitely exposes the couple of their personal issues. Wow! I definitely admire them.

After the couples share, the participants are given time to reflect on the topic through questions given to them, after which they then discuss their reflections to their partner.

Personally, the whole weekend for me is very helpful and fulfilling. Of course it takes two to make it a successful one.

Most of the participants are engaged couples that already have a schedule for their wedding. But this is actually designed also for individuals who need a better way of knowing their future partner i.e. if they are really compatible with each other. This of course helps such couples know how to deal better their issues even before they get married.

The males and females have separate quarters and each share the room with another participant. Those who join are usually 24 to 30 couples. The accommodations are very basic with bathrooms for each room. Do not expect a 5 star type accommodation so if you need extra pillows, you should bring your own.

How I just wished that they had some hot water during the morning bath. It is quite cold and how I can imagine it during the colder months.
I also hope in future sessions that they be able to ask the participants for food preferences or allergies. My girlfriend unfortunately was unable to eat one of the main foods during dinner due to an allergy on shrimps.

Overall, the seminar experience is quite exceptional, thanks to the main facilitators under Dr. Allan and Maribel Dionisio. As for the accommodations and food it is okay but again that is not why we went there in the first place.

So if you are seriously planning to settle down it is highly recommended you undergo this weekend seminar. Just make sure you register way ahead of time since they get fully booked quite fast. At 4,800 pesos (during the time of this writing) for two, this is definitely a must do pre-nuptial relationship enhancement.

To contact them see the info below:
Email: info@discoveryweekend.org
Phone number: 426-1271
Contact person: Lala Denilla

Found my old blog

Before I used blogspot or blogger website. I had made a blog at spymac. It is my very first attempt in the blogworld. However, since of the very erratic posting that I do, somehow, I got caught in the transition of the website (major revamp) and I was locked out (not able to get through my blog).Which led me to blogger.

Since I placed there some reviews of items that I use and placed some links there, I kind of feel it is a waste not to track down my account and get those reviews.

So just today, I was able to get in (at last) to my spymac account and will begin the transition this coming week or two. I hope I finish the transfer since some pics are missing already.

So for those who are watching my blog. Hope you find some useful things on my old blog.

signing out....

Jan 5, 2007: My papa's Birthday

January 5, 2007 is suppose to be my papa's 74th birthday. Unfortunately, he did not reach this day. As I mentioned in the previous blog post, he died last September 29, 2006 due to an accident in our garage in Bulacan.

Many people know, admire and love my papa. He is an Occupational physician who is also a general practitioner in our hometown, Meycauayan. Many go to him to have a checkup and are amazed on how he can diagnose with minimal laboratories and give the necessary meds for their ailment.

Initially, I was not attuned with his style, but through the years that I had my clinic with him, I realized that his style has value.

Patients of my father told me that he is one of the last remaining "old" doctors who has a healing touch.

Personally, I am happy to know, that he still was able to witness me getting married and graduating in my masters class. He was always there for me especially when I needed support and assistance in my undertakings.

One of the things, I love, that he did for me was in High School, wherein he gave me the freedom to decide what to do and go provided that I don't abuse it.

A few minutes ago, my nephew asked helped for his Christian Living homework. The story we talked about is the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple in Luke chapter 2. He asked me about the moral of the story and this is my personal reflection. The love of a parent to their child is unending. They will do all they can to make sure that their child is safe and sound.

That is what my papa gave me since the day I was conceived, the unending love in order to make me reach what I have today.
Happy Birthday Papa. I miss you so much. I Love you!

Blog out....

The year that was 2006

Hi everyone.
I guess it was quite a long period since I last posted on my Inner piece.
2006 was quite a year for me.
My last blog was about me getting married.

Well definitely, it did not end there in terms of significant events.
What do I mean?

1) Well, last September 29, 2006, a day after the "Milenyo" typhoon here in the Philippines, my father, Dr. Ildefonso L. Martinez died in Bulacan. It was a freak accident. Since he removed the tire wedge and the handbrake was not in place, his van rolled backwards in our garage. He was then pushed backed and went under the van.
Unfortunately, I was informed late because of bad cellphone network (due to the typhoon). When I arrived in Bulacan, I was not able to see my dad alive.\

The last time I talked with him was 2 days before when both of us were handling a patient in Bulacan.

I miss him so dearly and still wonder why he was taken suddenly. All of us were shocked most especially my mom.

I also wished that he was able to see his new granddaughter.
Which now leads me to another event this year.

2) My wife, just gave birth to our first born Baby Girl Marie Emmanuelle B. Martinez last October 23, 2006. Weighing 3.3 kgs. She is definitely an angel given to us. She is currently 2 months plus as of this writing and had her baptism last December 30, 2006.
I now made a blog for her.


So how was this year?
It was a year of happiness due to my wedding, fulfillment due to my graduation in Masters in Business Administration in Health, sadness and grief due to the death of my dad, joy and celebration due to the birth of my first born.

It was quite a year. A year with mixed events. And as the 2007 year begins, I hope and pray that it will be a good year. The only thing that I like to impart at this point, is hope, faith and entrusting the Lord, that whatever happens, He has His reasons.