02/12/2025
🎓 Gratitude Address (PhD Journey)
By: Enrile B. Sumarrago, PhD, LPT
St. Paul University Manila – Batch 2025
“Before I say anything else, I want to take this opportunity to give all the glory and honor back to God!”
His Excellency Raymond R. Balatbat, Philippine Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh;
Sr. Felicitas Bernardo, SPC, Dean of the Graduate School of Education & Liberal Arts, St. Paul University Manila;
Proud parents, beloved families, honourable guests, friends, and most importantly the graduates of Batch 2025, A pleasant afternoon to all of you!
The graduates of Saint Paul University Manila-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Batch 2025, today is our Day!
I stand before you today not because I am the most accomplished among the graduates, but because resilience and determination carried me through my PhD journey. Some may have wondered about my place here, but I ask for your openness as I share my story. It is this journey—marked by challenges, perseverance, and unwavering commitment—that brings me here to express my deepest gratitude on this special occasion.
As a graduate of the Doctor of Philosophy program and a newly licensed professional teacher, I am truly humbled. This moment is not only a personal triumph; it is a testimony to faith, perseverance, and God’s amazing grace.
My journey to earning my PhD in Educational Leadership and Management was never easy. It was a road marked by failures, rejections, and moments when I almost surrendered. Before receiving these titles—PhD and LPT—I went through years of heartbreaks, including failing the Licensure Examination for Teachers many times.
It was painful.
It was frustrating.
And I asked myself: “Lord, hanggang dito na lang ba ako?”
Each failure wounded me deeply and made me question my worth. But every time I fell, I prayed harder.
And every time I wanted to quit, I remembered my late father’s words: “Anak, mag-doctor ka… para may maipagmamalaki tayo sa pamilya.” His dream became my courage.
Then came the pandemic in 2020. Like many others, I faced anxiety and the fear of losing my job. During those silent nights, I wondered what would happen if I were sent home with nothing to look forward to.
But in the midst of that uncertainty, God opened a new door. While working abroad—worried and far from home—I learned about the doctoral program of St. Paul University Manila. I saw colleagues in KSA pursuing their doctorate there, and out of curiosity—and perhaps a bit of desperation—I inquired.
In December 2022, I enrolled with only 500 Saudi Riyals and a heart full of hope.(Saan ba aabot ang 500.00 Saudi Riyals mo?)
At first, everything seemed fine. I passed my comprehensive exam, proposed my dissertation title, and began writing Chapters One and Two. I felt confident—until my proposal defense came
From that moment, the journey tested me. My first dissertation proposal was rejected, and it shattered me. I reached the point where I almost gave up on my research completely. That was my first heartbreak in my doctoral journey. I cried, I questioned myself, and I almost quit
But then I remembered my father’s words. He once told me, “You should pursue your doctorate so our family can have a doctor—someone I can be proud of.”
He wanted me to continue what his brother, a DepEd District Supervisor, had achieved.
Those words became my motivation. Every time I wanted to quit, I heard his voice in my heart:
"Anak, kaya mo ‘yan. Don’t stop."
So, I stood up again. I reached out to Sister Feli, who helped me reconstruct my Statement of the Problem based on Dr. Brian Bantugan’s journal article.
I rewrote everything — and when I defended again, my paper was not rejected anymore. Just revisions.
The endless revisions from the panel felt overwhelming. Every correction made me doubt my ability, my strength, and even my calling. But in that moment of weakness, God whispered to my heart: “Not yet. Keep going. — until it was finally approved.
While preparing my dissertation for final defense, I was also reviewing for the Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) for Teachers in Al Khobar, scheduled for June 8, 2025.
From March 1 to June 8, I was juggling both — reviewing at night, editing my dissertation by day.
When I attended my final validation on March 28, I didn’t even realize it was already my final defense!
After my presentation, Dr. Chen told me that my paper was ready to proceed to the next level and congratulated me. I initially thought I still needed to schedule a final defense since that day was supposed to be my final validation—but it turns out that was already my Final Defense! This was confirmed when Doc Prince said, “Congratulations! You made it!
That moment — that surprise — was one of my proudest days. SPUM is known for being very strict, and yet, by God’s grace, I made it through.
By April 2025, my dissertation was ready for printing. But just when I thought the battle was over, the publication stage came—and it brought another wave of revisions. Twice, my manuscript was returned for corrections. Twice, I felt the same anxiety and exhaustion. I told myself,
But I held on. I remembered my father’s dream. I remembered God’s promise. And after weeks of waiting and praying, my dissertation was finally approved and ready for publication. That moment felt like a thorn was lifted from my chest.
Then came the Special Professional Licensure Examination — June 8. I was tired, anxious, and overwhelmed.
While taking the test, I realized that almost none of what I reviewed came out!
I went home feeling crushed. I said to myself, “Maybe I failed again. Maybe it’s time to go home to the Philippines for good.”
But you know what?
God’s timing is always perfect.
As Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
God has His perfect timing for every milestone in our lives. Our role is to seek His presence and follow His will, embracing patience as we wait for His plans to unfold. Waiting is never easy—in fact, it took me years to truly trust in God’s perfect timing.
On June 27, 2025, the results were released. At first, I didn’t believe it when (Ma’am Nikki Catanus) messaged me saying, “Congratulations, Sir Enrile, you passed!”
I immediately searched online — and there it was.
My name. On the list of passers.
I couldn’t stop crying. After so many years of trying, after all the sleepless nights and painful failures — I was finally an LPT.
I called my wife, but she thought it was a prank! I laughed and said, “No, it’s true! I passed!”
That day, I realized — all the delays, all the rejections, were part of God’s design.
Because in the same year that I earned my Doctor of Philosophy, I also became a Licensed Professional Teacher.
Today, my heart is overflowing with gratitude.
To my adviser, Dr. Prince Germano, I owe a profound debt of gratitude for his dedication, mentorship, and constant support, all of which have been vital to the success of my research.
To my panelists—Dr. Encarnacion Dychangco, Dr. Brian Bantugan, Dr. Christian Prado, and Dr. Francis Calilan—thank you for your guidance, patience, and high standards that have shaped us into better scholars.
I am also deeply grateful to Sr. Felicitas Bernardo, SPC, the Dean of the College of Education Graduate School, for her inspiring leadership and encouragement, which have been a continuous source of motivation and strength.
Friends, my story is proof that failure is not the opposite of success — it is part of it.
When you fail, it doesn’t mean the end of your story. It means God is still writing it.
To my family, especially my wife—thank you for believing in me even when I doubted myself.
To my father in heaven—your dream has finally come true.
To my fellow graduates of batch 2025—WE MADE IT!
Despite the challenges, despite the distance, despite the countless revisions and sleepless nights—here we are, standing proudly as Paulinians who embody excellence, faith, and service.
A Paulinian, a Shining Star!
Let this moment remind us that dreams do come true when we keep moving forward—one step, one prayer, and one act of courage at a time.
In closing, I want to leave you with this message:
Never give up on the dream that God has placed in your heart.
You may fail many times, you may feel lost or tired — but remember, His timing is perfect. If He did it for me, He can surely do it for you.
Above all, I thank God for sustaining me through every rejection, every revision, and every moment I almost gave up. This achievement is more than a title; it is a testimony of faith, endurance, and God’s grace.
Thank you, and may we all continue to shine as instruments of God’s faithfulness and love.
Batch 2025, as we leave these halls and enter the world beyond, may we continue to embody determination, excellence, and integrity. Let our resilience and ambition reflect the values that shaped us at Saint Paul University Manila. May every action we take demonstrate our strength of character and our identity as proud Paulinians.
Let us faithfully uphold the Paulinian tradition and live by our motto: Caritas Christi Urget Nos — “The Love of Christ Impels Us.”
To God be all the glory! SHUKRAN!
P.S.
* Super Kaba
Doc Alicarl - contributor
Boost my confidence before going to stage( Doc Becca,Doc Luz, Doc Edgar, Doc Bernard,Doc Amerah, Maam Nikki )
Took Photos : Sir Macky
