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The Dominican Laity in the Philippines is generally divided into two (2) provinces: those belonging to the Dominican Province of the Philippines (established in 1971), and those belonging to the Province of the Holy Rosary (established in 1587).

What are Lay Dominicans?
Formerly called the Order of Penance of St. Dominic, Third Order Secular of St. Dominic or Dominican Tertiaries, Lay Dominicans are Catholic lay men and women who have been incorporated into the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and who undergo continuous formation according to the Dominican way of life. The Dominican Laity is almost as old as the Order itself, tracing its first Rule from Brother Munio de Zamora, OP, Master of the Order, in 1285.

In the 1970s, the General Chapter of the Dominican Order legislated in favor of abandoning the terms "First," "Second," and "Third Orders." The Third Order Secular is now properly referred to as the Dominican Laity. The traditional three branches of the Dominican Order, together with other entities attached to or affiliated with the Order (e.g. Secular Institutes, Dominican youth movements, etc) are now collectively known as the Dominican Family.

Dominican Province of the Philippines
The Dominican Province of the Philippines (DPP) was established on December 8, 1971. It was formed specifically for Filipino Dominicans. Up to this time, Dominicans in the Philippines belonged to the Holy Rosary Province, established in 1587, which was composed of the first Dominicans who founded missions in these islands.

Provincial Council of the Dominican Laity
On the provincial level, the Dominican Laity is governed by the Prior Provincial, presently Rev. Fr. Napoleon B. Sipalay Jr., OP. He is represented by the Provincial Promoter of the Laity, currently Rev. Fr. Honorato C. Castigador, OP. The Provincial Promoter is an ex-officio member of the Provincial Council of the Laity, composed of perpetually-professed Lay Dominicans elected by qualified voters and representatives during the national conference of Lay Dominican Fraternities. The current president is Dr. Belén Lorezca-Tangco, OP, who was reelected in 2016.

Directory of Lay Dominican Fraternities
An umbrella website featuring a complete directory of Lay Dominican Fraternities in the Philippine Province is underway. The Young Thomasian Professionals (YTP) Lay Dominican Fraternity has been entrusted with this work by the Prior Provincial when they approved the group's official website last December 2016. The YTP Lay Dominican Fraternity, based in the University of Santo Tomas (Manila), will be managing this provincial website for the Laity as part of its Social Media Apostolate. The YTP Lay Dominican Fraternity is under the guidance of its formator, Dr. Belén L. Tangco, OP, president of the Dominican Laity Provincial Council.