Novitiate Community Spring of Carmel

JULY 5, 2026

ACCEPTANCE TO THE NOVITIATE: With hearts filled with gratitude and joy, a meaningful liturgical celebration was held last July 5 at the Spring of Carmel Novitiate. Five men were officially accepted into religious life with the Order of Carmelites through the Rite of Initiation, opening a new chapter in their journey of spiritual formation.

The new Carmelite novices are: Br. Mark Anthony Manuel Javines from Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur; Br. Blain Andro Castanas Alondres from Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte; Br. Phil Xandry Aparece from Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental; Br. Francis S. Sandig from Langca, San Joaquin, Iloilo, and Br. John Baha F. Lasdin Jr. from Siloy, Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

Presiding over the acceptance rite was Rev. Fr. Roberto Noel Rosas, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Philippine Carmelite Province of St. Titus Brandsma, who welcomed the brothers warmly and encouraged them to embrace this stage of their formation with courage and trust in God.

Upon receiving the Carmelite habit, the new novices committed themselves to a life of prayer, fraternity, and service, living out the Order’s rich spirituality and charism. They were entrusted to the Novice Master, Rev. Fr. Esmeraldo Reforeal, O.Carm., who will guide and accompany them throughout their novitiate year.

In his homily, Fr. Dodo shared the reminder: “Novice means no vice” — urging the formands to let this season shape their hearts fully to the Carmelite way on their journey toward God.

The celebration was attended by many well-wishers, including Carmelite friars and student friars from different communities, representatives from the TOC of Project 6, co-workers, relatives, friends, and neighbors from the Gloria III Homeowners Association.

(Contributed by Fray Asper S. Perlas, O. Carm.)

June 27, 2026: Brothers came to comfort a brother who lost a brother. The brother is grateful to his Carmelite brothers.

An orientation for our new novices - Phil Xandry, Blain, Mark Anthony, John and Francis - was held on June 22-25, 2026; at the Spring of Carmel Novitiate. Thank you mga kapatid for responding.

6/14/2026

True compassion looks beyond its own suffering. It is incredibly heartwarming to see Fr. Boy Ramos leading us in prayer for his neighbor at the Heart Center who is in critical condition, a beautiful moment of one patient lifting up and praying for the other. Even in illness, the heart never stops caring.

(Permission was granted by the daughter of the patient to share this photo with a sticker on his face)

The community of Spring of Carmel visited our hospitalized brother, Boy Ramos, O.Carm. Some members of the community took turns with the students to serve as watchers of Fr Boy. We pray for Kuya Boy’s immediate healing.

Contributed by: Fr Dodo Reforeal, O.Carm.

Photos during the Welcome Ceremony in the Spring of Carmel Novitiate, 22 Anahaw, Culiat, Gloria 3 Subd, QC

6/5/2026 Grateful to God for 33 years in Carmel. My profession as a Carmelite Friar started 33 years ago today.

6/4/2026 First Community Meeting. We are now complete! We are pink and blue! This is the first meeting of the Spring of Carmel community of Brgy. Culiat, Quezon City. The meeting was productive, filled with spirit and hope.

Last June 4, 2026, Spring of Carmel Novitiate welcomed its new community members. On the same day, the recomposed community had its first meeting. The community decided on the different community officers:

Prior and Coordinator on Safeguarding – Fr Esmeraldo Reforeal, O.Carm.
Secretary, Chronicler and Bookkeeper – Fr. Sirenio Jaranilla, O.Carm.
Bursar and Household Coordinator – Bro. Lolito Noja, O.Carm.
JPIC Coordinator and Laudato Si Coordinator – Fr. Boy Ramos, O.Carm.
Sacrist and Health Care Coordinator – Bro. Arnel Bodota (Probationary Member)

A Eucharistic Celebration was the venue of thanksgiving and welcome for the new members. We also welcomed the new novices. The following are their profiles:

MARK ANTHONY MANUEL JAVINES, 37 years old, grew up in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur and currently resides in Zamboanga City. He finished his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at Saint Michael’s College in Iligan City. Mark have worked almost a decade as call center agent and as Pharmacy Assistant for almost 2 years in a local Pharmacy in Zamboanga City. In Carmel, he found his calling. He hopes that the Lady of Carmel will nurture his vocation as he enters the auspices of the Spring of Carmel Novitiate.

BLAIN ANDRO CASTANAS ALONDRES is 39 years old and hailed from the City of Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte. He considers himself a backtracker of how things are supposed to be, because he started working before he was able to finish his college degree. He spent a short stint of his career as Call Center agent, and had to do some sidelines like acting on television, modeling on commercials, and theatre workshops. He involved himself with the Church as an active Lay Missionary worker and honed his skills in BEC organizing. He was a devotee and member of Divine Mercy movement which later led to his discovery of the Carmelites during the Pandemic period when all activities were put on halt. Now, that the next stage of formation is calling, all he hopes for is to remain grateful to this vocation to the Order and he prays for Our Lady’s guidance to grow and be part of it until the day when the Good Master Himself will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, receive your reward.” (Mt.25:21) Deo Gratias!

PHIL XANDRY APARECE 36 years old from Governor Generoso Davao Oriental, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He earned his associate degree in Philosophy in the Rogationist Seminary in Cebu and two years of Theology in Kenya with the Missionaries of Africa. He used to work as a purchaser at a manufacturing company. After working for two years, he dreams of becoming a priest and decided to join the Order of Carmelites. After learning that he was given the chance to pursue his novitiate, he felt elated.

FRANCIS S. SANDIG, 27 years old from Barangay Langca, San Joaquin, Iloilo the last municipal town of Iloilo in the southern part of the province. He finished his Bachelor of Arts in communication minor in philosophy at St. Paul’s Seminary last 2021-2022. After his college journey, he decided to stop from formation to rest for four years. While on sabbatical rest, he worked as a volunteer staff in the parish and became the coordinator of the altar servers, volunteer catechist to the different schools served by the parish. His three years outside the seminary deepened his relationship with God that drove him to continue his formation. He is grateful to God of being given a chance to experience the life in Carmel. He hopes that his heart will be shaped to the loving hearts of Jesus and Mary.

JOHN BAHA F. LASDIN Jr., 39 years old, was born in Siloy, Calamba, Misamis Occidental. Presently, his family resides in Zambaonga City, a graduate of Bachelor Science in Criminology. He took up Associate of Philosophy in Cebu; and also, finished his theological studies in Miranilla, Quezon City. He taught in college as a part-timer criminology professor for two years. He is grateful that Lord, Jesus Christ, has called him to continue his vocation in the Order of Carmelites. As he begins his formation in the Spring of Carmel Novitiate, he entrusts himself to God so as to emulate him as his Teacher and Model. He entrusts himself under the loving arms of our Lady of Carmel as his protectress.