On the 16th of July, 2013, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the decision of the Prior General, with the consent of his Council, to erect the Province of the Philippines comes into effect.  Up to now this had been a General Commissariat and before that a Provincial Commissariat of the Province of the Netherlands. Blessed Titus Brandsma will be the Patron of the new province.
The leaders who have been appointed to hold office until the first provincial chapter, in February 2014, are:

• Prior Provincial:  Fr. Christian Buenafe, O.Carm.
• First Councillor:  Fr. Rico Ponce, O.Carm.
• Second Councillor: Fr. Roberto Noel Rosas, O.Carm.
• Third Councillor:  Fr. Gilbert Sabado, O.Carm.
• Fourth Councillor:  Fr. Eduardo Albino, O.Carm.

The erection of the new province will take place on the 16th of July 2013 in Quezon City, Manila in the presence of the Vice-Prior General, Fr.  Christian Körner, O.Carm., the Councillor General for Asia, Australia and Oceania, Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O.Carm., and of the Prior Provincial of the Province of the Netherlands, Fr. Ben Wolbers, O.Carm.
We offer our congratulations and prayer to the members of the new province.