Fr. Rico P. Ponce, O.Carm.

 – Prior Provincial

Fr. Rico is currently on his second term as Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Philippine Province of St. Titus Brandsma. He was first elected in the Provincial Chapter of February 2020, then again in March 2023.

As Prior Provincial, he concurrently chairs the respective Boards of Trustees of the Young Carmel Philippines Foundation (YCPF), the Institute of Spirituality in Asia (ISA), and the Carmelite Schools.

In 2014, the Prior General and his Council appointed Fr. Rico as a member of the ad hoc  Commission for the Restructuration of Culture (Ristrutturazione della Cultura).

He was also reappointed as member of the Scientific Board of the Institutum Carmelitanum, the scientific research and educational arm of the General Curia of the Carmelite Order, until 2025.

Fr. Rico received his Ph.D. in Empirical Theology at Radboud University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, his MA in Pastoral Ministry from the Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) of Our Lady of the Angels Seminary (OLAS) Quezon City, and his Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Sociology from Mount Carmel College, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Fr. Esmeraldo Reforeal, O.Carm.

– First Councilor

 Fr. Esmeraldo — who known to most as Dodo — was re-elected First Councilor during the Provincial Chapter of March 2023, the same position which he served in the previous triennium. Likewise, he was re-appointed for a second term as Provincial Secretary.

His assignments for this triennium also include: Director of the Student Friary, Provincial Delegate to the Nuns, Provincial Safeguarding Officer, Convenor of the Initial Formation Commission, Convenor of the Saints Louis and Zelie Martin Marriage Encounter Apostolate, and member of the Ongoing Formation Commission. He is also a board member of the Ormoc Holy Family Foundation, Inc.

Before being elected to the Provincial Council, Fr. Dodo had served as Research and Publications Director of the Institute of Spirituality in Asia (ISA), Formator of the Student Friary, and NVAT Director. He was also a faculty member of the Institute of Formation and Religious Studies (IFRS), the Maryhill School of Theology (MST), and the Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC).

Fr. Dodo completed his Masters in Theology (M.Theol.) at the Melbourne College of Divinity – Melbourne University in Australia. He received his MA in Pastoral Ministry from the Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) of Our Lady of the Angels Seminary (OLAS) in Quezon City, and his Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Sociology from Mount Carmel College in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

He is currently pursuing his  Ph.D. in Organizational Development (major in Transformative Spirituality) at the Southeast Asia Inter-Disciplinary Institute (SAIDI).

Fr. Joseph Roque, O.Carm.

– Second Councilor

 Elected as Second Councilor during the 4^th Provincial Chapter in March 2023, Fr. Joseph joins the Provincial Council for the first time while assuming his role as Provincial Bursar for a second term.

An accountant by profession, Fr. Joseph was solemnly professed as a Carmelite in 2017 and was ordained into the priesthood in 2020. He completed his Master in Arts in Pastoral Ministry from the Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) in Quezon City.

In line with his responsibilities as Provincial Bursar, Fr. Joseph serves as Convenor of the Finance Commission, Administration & Finance Director of the Institute of Spirituality in Asia (ISA), as well as board member of the Young Carmel Philippines Foundation (YCPF),

He is also a member of the Health Care Commission, the Initial Formation Commission, the Pahingalayan Development Committee, the Property Inventory and Documentation Commission, and the Carmelite Mission and Development Office (CMDO).

Fr. Rhen Caculitan, O.Carm.

– Third Councilor

 Fr. Rhen joins the Provincial Council for the first time, after being elected during the 4^th Provincial Chapter in March 2023.

A seasoned formator, he was appointed to be part of the San Alberto Carmelite Formation Center in 2006 while still a deacon. Following his priestly ordination, he was assigned as Assistant Formator of the Student Friars Community in 2009, then eventually became Rector of the same community in 2011. He also served as Director of the National Vocation Animation Team (NVAT) from 2009 to 2012.

After six years in formation work, he was sent to Rome for further studies. There, he completed the Baccalaureate in History and Cultural Heritage of the Church and Licentiate in Cultural Heritage programs of the Church from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He is currently on the faculty of the Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) in Quezon City.

At present, Fr. Rhen continues as Parish Priest of the St. Jude Quasi-Parish in Bgy. Nayong Kanluran, Quezon City. He also serves as Provincial Archivist, Research and Publications Director of the Institute of Spirituality in Asia (ISA), Assistant to the TOC Delegate for Clerics, and Convenor of the Spirituality Commission, as well as member of the Apostolate Commission and the Pahingalayan Development Committee.

Fr. Christopher Labrador, O.Carm.

– Fourth Councilor

 Now on his second consecutive term as a member of the Provincial Council, Fr. Chris was elected Fourth Councilor at the 4^th Provincial Chapter in March 2023.

As a seminarian, he served as Extended Councilor representing the Student Friars during the previous triennium. He obtained his MA in Theology, major in Pastoral Ministry, from the Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) and took his profession in 2021. He was ordained into the priesthood the following year.

Despite being a young friar, Fr. Chris has been entrusted with important leadership responsibilities in the Province. He currently serves as Director of the Carmelite Mission and Development Office (CMDO) and Carmel Care Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI), as well as Convenor of the Property Inventory and Documentation Commission and the Pahingalayan Development Committee, as well as a member of the Titus Brandsma Wellness and Spirituality Center Development Committee.

As Assistant Director of the Student Friary, Fr. Chris holds membership in the Initial Formation Commission (IFC).

Br. Brandon Bahayanan, O.Carm.

– Extend Councilor – Student Friars

As a simple professed friar, Br. Brandon was elected as Extended Councilor representing the Student Friars at the 4^th Provincial Chapter in March 2023.

Before joining the Carmelites, Br. Brandon obtained his Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the Bukidnon State University, where he majored in literature and communication. He also completed his academic requirements for a degree in Master of Arts in Education, major in Guidance and Counseling, from the University of Makati. He also holds a TESDA National Certificate in Contact Center Services.

He is currently a member of the Saints Elijah and Elisha Student Friary community and is enrolled in theological studies at the Inter-Congregational Theological Center (ICTC) in Quezon City.

Angela Blardony Ureta, a.O.Carm.

– Extended Councilor – Associates

Sis. Anjie was accepted as a full-pledged Associate of the Order of Carmelites – Philippine Province in 2010.  Since becoming an Associate, she has served three times  as Extended Councilor of the Provincial Council, including the current triennium.

At present, she is Director of the Carmelite Center for Social-Pastoral Communication (CCSPC) and a member of the Spirituality Commission. She also serves as board member of the Titus Brandsma Media Awards (TBMA).

As a media professional, Sis. Anjie has worked in the broadcast industry for over three decades as an executive producer and head writer of multi-awarded television and radio programs for ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, ABS-CBN News Channel, the Manila Broadcasting Company (DZRH), Marianas Media in Guam, and Jesuit Communications.

In 2017, she obtained her MA in Theology, major in Social-Pastoral Communication, from the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School in Manila, where she graduated cum laude.

She currently works as an independent writer, book author, lecturer, executive coach, and strategic communication consultant.