As a young novice, Philip fled together with king Béla IV and the royal court to the Dalmatian coast after the disastrous Battle of Mohi and stayed there until the withdrawal of the Mongols from Hungary in 1242. He was first referred as provost of Dömös in 1246. Additionally, he also functioned as chancellor and confessor for Queen consort Maria Laskarina, holding both offices until 1248. As chancellor, he participated in reparcelling process of lands beyond the Drava. He also judged in favour of the Bakonybél Abbey during a lawsuit, when refused to recognize the social status of abbey's servants as church serfs and maintained their status of "udvornici". The narration of a 1250 royal charter recounts Philip was already commissioned to take part in a diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Bohemia, when he was provost. He also escorted Béla's daughter Elizabeth to the Duchy of Bavaria in about 1247, where she later married to Henry XIII, Duke of Bavaria.