Second Secretary Consul Jomar “Jom” T. Sadie of the Philippine Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, knows firsthand that balancing graduate studies at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) with his responsibilities as a diplomat, husband, and father has never been easy. Yet, his educational journey has become a source of inspiration for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who attended the University of the Philippines Ventures for International and Transformative Academia (UP VINTA) Learning Caravan in Papua New Guinea.
UPOU Master of Arts in Nursing Program Chair Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes discusses the learning opportunities to participants visiting the UP VINTA booth.
Prof. J. Aleta Villanueva, Program Chair of Diploma in and Masters of Arts in Social Studies Education, shares information about UPOU academic offerings with a participant.
Held on 6-7 June 2026, the UP VINTA Booth and Learning Caravan engaged a total of 116 OFWs from the manufacturing, education, and healthcare sectors. More than 50 participants attended the Learning Caravan, where Consul Jom shared his personal experiences of balancing higher education with the demands of work and family life, encouraging fellow Filipinos abroad to pursue lifelong learning despite the challenges.
Anything worth having is worth working hard for
As a father, husband, Consul, and doctoral student, Consul Jom candidly described his UPOU journey as “mahirap” (difficult). His reflection resonated with many OFWs in Papua New Guinea who similarly strive to balance their careers, personal responsibilities, and aspirations for professional growth.
Consul Jom serves as Second Secretary of the Philippine Embassy in Port Moresby while pursuing the Doctor of Communication (DComm) degree at the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) of UPOU. Despite the demands of his diplomatic work, he continues to pursue graduate education through the University’s flexible open and distance e-learning (ODeL) system.
Reflecting on his experience, Consul Jom shared that the support of his classmates played a significant role in helping him adjust to UPOU’s online learning environment. Through group chats, they exchanged reminders, clarified assignments, and gradually built friendships that extended beyond the virtual classroom.
“Meron po kaming group chat ng mga kaklase ko. Doon kami nagtatanungan na ‘Saan ba isa-submit ‘yung assignment?’ […] Tapos after ng semester na ‘yun, magkakaibigan na kami,” Consul Jom shared while reminiscing about his experiences with his classmates.
(“We had a group chat with my classmates where we would ask questions like, ‘Where do we submit the assignment?’ Then, by the end of the semester, we had already become friends.”)
While grateful for the flexibility that UPOU provides, he also acknowledged that balancing graduate studies with family responsibilities, professional duties, and other personal commitments remains challenging. Nevertheless, he emphasized that meaningful goals require perseverance, “But, anything that is worth having is worth working hard for,” he said.
Concluding his message, Consul Jom encouraged participants to take the first step toward achieving their educational aspirations, “If you are determined to be an alumni of UP, if you are determined to have your second course, your master’s, your PhD—it starts here, it starts in your heart.”
Consul Jomar Sadie delivers his message to participants of the UP VINTA Learning Caravan, sharing his educational journey at UPOU.
Through his personal story, Consul Jom highlighted both the opportunities and the realities of pursuing graduate education while living and working overseas. His experience underscored how UPOU’s ODeL system can provide a flexible pathway for Filipinos abroad who wish to continue their education alongside their professional and personal responsibilities.
Written by Maryrose Alingasa | Edited by Lorena Jean Saludadez, Anna Cañas-Llamas, and Primo Garcia
