The first Marriage Retorno Retreat in the Philippines was conducted on March 21-23, 2003 at PACEM Seminary, Sra. Dela Paz Subd., Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City.

The Marriage Retorno Program was brought to the attention of the M.E. couple, Roy and Malee San Buenaventura, while surfing for programs related to the Marriage Encounter on the Internet. The MR proved to be interesting, primarily because of the fact that it was also developed by Fr. Gabriel Calvo, the same priest who developed the Marriage Encounter weekend. In particular, they were enamored by the fact that the program seeks to deepen the conjugal spiritual experience of encountered couples. Like most couples who are active in the M.E. program, Roy and Malee  are always on the lookout for spiritual enrichment opportunities for themselves and for their community.

Following the initial contact, Roy and Malee inquired from the U.S. and Canada MR Coordinating Committee, how they can bring the program to the Philippines. The generous response of the Committee, through Kevin and Kathie Stogsdill and Fr. Mel Heman was a promise to send a MR presenting team consisting of two couples and a priest from Singapore, to introduce the MR Program to Filipino encountered couples in Manila. While arrangements were being made, letters and information materials on the Marriage Retorno were distributed to various marriage encounter communities, inviting their leaders to attend the first Marriage Retorno to be held in the Philippines.

At this stage of the preparation, Roy and Malee sought the counsel of Fr. Richard Antonio, and approached the Marriage Enhancement and Team Services Foundation, Inc. (METSFI) for assistance in sponsoring the weekend. Encouraged by the warm response of Fr. Richard, and the couples Fortune and Elsa Perlas, and Peewee and Mia Zafra, they went ahead with the plan to hold the MR weekend.

Representatives from twelve M.E. communities responded to the invitation, including two Catholic nuns and three M.E. team priests. The weekend retreat has been scheduled on March 21-23, 2003 at the PACEM Formation Center, Sra. De La Paz Subdivision, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City.

The advance party of the MR Presenting Team arrived in Manila in the afternoon of March 19, 2003, Wednesday. The following day, the initial briefing of couples who were interested to become MR presenting teams was held at PACEM Formation Center. The rest of the team arrived on Friday afternoon. The team was composed of Fr. Johnson Fernandez, Peter and Cecilia Wong and Stanley and Esme Teo.

The couples who made it to the first MR weekend were the following:  Henry & Eloise Alojado, Ding &  Belen Bauza, Enri & Cel Bulan, Ben & Tes Cervantes, Jose & Janette Descallar, Raf & Susan Fragante, Rey & Mila Gernale, Joe & Jonette  Ingua, Louie & Maha  Jocson, Tery & Marnie  Malicse, Pete & Vangie  Murao, Fortune & Elsa  Perlas, Eric & Minic Ruiz, Nes & Ging Segubre, Emmy  & Esther Tagunicar, Peewee & Mia  Zafra, and of course, Roy & Malee  San Buenaventura.  The priests who participated were Fr. Dave Clay, MSSC,  Fr. Richard Antonio and Fr. Teofilo Lopez, MJ. The sisters were Srs. Celes Maniquis and Cecille Villanueva of FMM.

The weekend exceeded the expectations of the participants, as each one went home with a renewed sense of awareness of God touching their lives in a new way. The couples, priests and sisters praised the Lord for the experience of discovering a new method of dialoguing through scriptural prayer dialogue.

Immediately, on the last day of the weekend, the participants organized themselves into the Marriage Retorno Philippines Coordinating Committee. The San Buenaventura couple was elected as Coordinator. In the next five months, this group met once or twice each month to prepare the presentation talks of the couples. Initially, ten couples indicated their interest to become presenting couples. By the end of July, six couples were already seriously writing their talks. Around this time, it was determined that a schedule for the next MR weekend to be conducted in English by Filipino presenting teams can be made by September. It was further decided that a monthly MR weekend will be conducted thereafter.  On August 30, 2003, a writing workshop for the MR Team was held at Citadel Inn, along P. Burgos St., Makati City. The schedule for the next MR weekend was set on September 19-21, 2003 at the same venue.

God's generosity is overwhelming, since the MR was made possible with the contributions of talents and resources of MR and M.E. couples everywhere. The airfare of the Singapore presenting team who brought the MR to Manila was donated by the U.S.-Canada MR Coordinating Committee. The Singapore MR Team, in turn, gave to the MR Philippines donations of US$1,000 for the initial task of organizing the MR weekend. The program was also publicized nationally with the help of  Tita Dulce Rodriguez, a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer through her Live and Let Live  column which comes out every Friday and Sunday; and also through the Buhay Mahalaga program of Pro-Life Philippines broadcasted on the Divine Mercy cable channel hosted by Sis. Pilar Vezosa and Atty. Mia Zafra.