The Dominican Province of the Philippines has a new Prior Provincial in the person of Reverend Father Filemon I. Dela Cruz, Jr.
In a Facebook post, the Dominican Province of the Philippines said Dela Cruz was canonically elected by the brothers gathered in the 12th Provincial Chapter in Caleruega, Philippines on January 17, 2021.
"The election was confirmed by the Master of the Order on the same day," read the post.
Born in Manila to Mr. and Mrs. Filemon and Cezarina dela Cruz, he entered the Dominican Pre-Novitiate in June, 1980, and was vested with the habit of the Order on May 11, 1983.
He made his simple profession on May 11, 1984 and his solemn profession on May 11, 1987.
He was ordained to the priesthood on April 30, 1992 by Most Rev. Camilo D. Gregorio, DD, then Bishop of Bacolod.
He studied in Espiritu Santo Parochial School in Santa Cruz, Manila and earned his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the Philippine Dominican Center of Institutional Studies (PDCIS) in 1986, his canonical degree of Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (SThB) in 1991, and his Masteral degree in Theology (MA) in 2006 from the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
In terms of ministries, Dela Cruz was Master of Students in 1992-1996; Master of Novices in 1996-2000; Promoter of the Dominican Clerical Fraternity in 2012-2014; Provincial Councilor in 2012-2016; Socius of the Prior Provincial in 2014-2016; he served in many ministries in the University of Santo Tomas from 2001-2017; and was Superior of the Dominican community of the Rumah Santo Tomas in Surabaya, Indonesia, from 2017 to 2020.
Prior to his election, he was a newly assigned brother to the House of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs in Navotas.
The Dominican Province of the Philippines said Br. Dela Cruz will serve as Prior Provincial for the next four years.