Because Gregory raised the issue that was certainly in the back (or front!) of many other people’s minds about there now being two jurisdictions working in The Philippines, I’m pleased to offer more details that have become available from a priest in Australia (third-hand … or fourth? … from another web forum):
What is happening in the Philippines is great news of the Holy Spirit’s actions, so it is a little disappointing that some people jump to conclusions without even finding out the facts first. What happened to Orthodox charity and “believing the best”?
The facts are that the negotiations between the EP {ie, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople} and Met. Paul and {the Patriarchate of} Antioch have been long and far more complex than stated here. Secondly there is a very cordial working agreement, not animosity as suggested here at times. Thirdly, in no canonical sense have non_Orthodox been made “vicars”, however, that term has been used out of respect for current evangelical leaders position.
Fourthly, while everyone is aware of the problem of the overlapping of jurisdictions (we have it here in Australia too), Antioch (and the EP) work pragmatically *now* despite this, while working to resolve this uncanonical situation in the *future*.
Fifthly, the services have been modified to make them Orthodox. Antioch has always had a broader range of services than some other jurisdictions. Really, assuming that a bishop would overlook this is a sad reflection on lay distrust of bishops.
People should not read bad motives, uncanonical intent nor unOrthodox actions into anything that has happened.
Next time you want to know things, please do not post such questions on the internet- ask Met. Paul first, then this will save many wasted hours of passing around uninformed opinion and sheer gossip. Gossip is not Orthodox. Those who asked genuine questions without gossip should also email Met. Paul or whoever in future. Otherwise you can just add to speculation and feed the argumentative types 
in Christ,
Fr. John D’Alton, Antiochian Orthodox, Australia,
writing as a priest, not in any official capacity for the archdiocese.
Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!
El Massieh kahm! Hakken kahm!
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April 26, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Thank you for publishing this.
{Edited by Moderator}
As His Eminence Metropolitan Paul Saliba, Primate of the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand recently wrote:
“The work of the Lord is moving in the Philippines , with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and nothing can stop it.”
May God bless the the Orthodox faithful in the Philippines!