The Anglican Communion Office has just received the news that the Philippines Independent Church ordained its first woman priest in February. The Revd Rosalina Villaruel Rabaria was ordained priest on 9 February at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Providence and Guide in Albasan, Numancia, Aklan.
The ordination was performed by Bishop Abdais de la Cruz, the former Supreme Bishop of the Church who had himself once opposed the ordination of women to the priesthood. The Philippine Independent Church is in full communion with all the Churches of the Anglican Communion.