The Ministers of the Infirm (Camillians) found its way to the Philippines some 34 years ago. Yes, we've been around since 1974. You might want to know how we landed here.

It all began with a dream. In the 1960s, Fr. Mario Vanti, MI dreamed that one day the Order of the Ministers of the Infirm would be established in the Philippines. The dream became more vivid in the mind of Fr. Antonio Crotti, MI while he was Superior of the Taiwan Vice-Province in the 1970s. He envisioned that among the Catholic men folk in the Philippines, a "nucleus of local vocations could be created to carry out the Camillian charism."

The dream began to unfold in the 1970s. In 1974, the first Camillians touched down in Manila. They were two Italian religious sent to the Philippines for further studies. Two Camillian Italian scholastics followed soon after. They were sent to complete their theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City.

The first community multiplied into several other houses. With the progressive spread of Camillian presence in the country and in Taiwan, the Vice Province became large enough to gain full-pledged Province status. On January 1, 1997, the first Province of the Order of St. Camillus in Asia was constituted. Known as the Far East Province, it was composed of Taiwan and the Philippines.

Six years later, a decision of the General Consulta in Rome, formally promulgated on July 1, 2003, set forth the establishment of the Philippine Province with Taiwan as Delegation. Then, a year later with seven members of the Philippine Province assigned in Sydney and Perth, the Philippine Province established the Australian Delegation.

The administration of the Philippine Province is exercised by the Provincial Superior and his Council. For the current three-year term 2010 - 2013, the Provincial Superior and the Council Members are:

• Fr. Rolando J. Fernandez, MI (Provincial Superior)
• Fr. Evan Paul A. Villanueva, MI (Provincial Vicar and Provincial Procurator)
• Fr. Marcelo L. Pamintuan, Jr., MI (Councilor)
• Fr. Renante T. Sentillas, MI (Councilor)
• Fr. Charly T. Ricafort, MI (Councilor)