He was never pressured to prove anything, but he ended up proving everything — twice.

For 26-year-old Kharam Baricaua Molbog of Quezon, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, success didn't come from chasing validation, but more from peace, faith, and family.

In a world where many young minds grow up feeling the weight of expectations, Kharam’s story feels like a quiet rebellion. Guided by his family’s gentle words, “Wala ka nang kailangang patunayan,” he found strength not in fear of failure, but in faith and contentment.

That peace led him to make history twice.

Three years after topping the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination (MTLE) in 2022, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) graduate did it again, this time clinching the top spot in the October 2025 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) with a rating of 91.17 percent.

At 10 p.m. one Thursday night, after hours of waiting for the results of the October 2025 PLE, Molbog sat nervously with friends, a drink in hand to calm his nerves. When the results finally appeared online, he blinked twice.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. “I thought I was just drunk.”

But disbelief quickly turned into awe, and gratitude. He admits that being a two-time PRC topnotcher feels surreal.

“My first thought was, ‘Lord, sobra-sobra na po ito pero salamat po ulit.’ When I topped the MTLE three years ago, I thought that was already the pinnacle of my success. So when it happened again, I just felt immense gratitude,” he said.

HOW HE PREPARED

The PLE, he said, was a much tougher mountain to climb, covering 12 subjects compared to just six in the MTLE. Add to that was the pressure of people’s expectations.

“Being aware that all eyes are on me also added to the difficulty,” he said.

To prepare, he followed a strict routine of studying an average of 13 hours a day with only short breaks and naps in between. He also relied on a review schedule set by his review center to stay consistent and avoid backlogs.

“However, there were also a lot of days that I wasn’t able to meet that goal, and I just compensated for it by studying more or studying faster on other days,” he added.

At one point, Kharam even considered postponing taking the PLE. He wasn’t scoring in the top 20 during mock exams, and the thought of disappointing those rooting for him started to weigh heavy.

“During the review, there were days when I felt like I wasn’t doing enough, or that I’d never live up to expectations,” he said.

But the words of a friend, another two-time board topnotcher, reminded him that there’s no perfect time, only faith and persistence. So he stayed the course.

What also kept him going was prayer.

“Every night, I repeated the same prayer: ‘Lord, if the top spot is for me, thank You. But if it isn’t, please help me accept whatever the outcome is.’ That prayer reminded me that peace doesn’t come from being number one, it comes from knowing you gave your best and trusted Him with the rest,” he said.

PEACE, NOT PERFECTION

Returning home to his province, he found refuge in his grandmother’s care. In his old childhood room, the same place where he once told his mother he wanted to become a doctor, Kharam rediscovered his “why.”

“Somewhere along the way, I got so caught up in trying to be the best that I lost sight of that child who once dreamed so purely,” he said.

“Sitting in that room reminded me that this journey was never about being the best. It was about becoming the person that little boy hoped I’d be,” he added.

Behind every sleepless night was a support system that never demanded perfection.

“My family and friends never pressured me to be at the top,” he said.

“When they tell me, ‘Wala ka nang kailangang patunayan,’ it comforts me. It makes me feel like they’ll still celebrate me even when I’m not the best. And I think that’s what everyone wants,” he added.

That warmth and humility carried him through medical school, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, Meritissimus (99.17%), and Batch Valedictorian from the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. He also received the Rector’s Award for Academic Excellence and was a St. Dominic Scholarship recipient.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR KHARAM

For Kharam, the dream was always clear, to become a doctor.

“Medical Technology gave me a strong foundation in a lot of medical school subjects, especially microbiology and pathology, which allowed me to spend time studying other more unfamiliar subjects,” he said.

He’s now eyeing training in Internal Medicine, with plans to specialize in either Cardiology or Gastroenterology. But his recent exposure to Radiation Oncology has also piqued his interest.

“Right now, I haven’t decided,” he said. “Residency training [is next], but after I rest for a few months [first].”

And while he envisions starting his medical career in Manila, his heart remains in his hometown.

“I would love the opportunity to practice in my province. Growing up in Nueva Vizcaya taught me that access to healthcare is still a privilege. At the very least, I want to serve as proof that someone from a small province can dream big and make it,” he said.

ADVICE TO STUDENTS, FUTURE BOARD TAKERS

Molbog has one piece of advice: Focus on purpose, not pressure.

“Find something you love doing. Find your purpose, because passion changes everything. Once you’ve done that, don’t chase the top spot. Chase excellence and purpose. Study because you want to serve well, not because you want to outdo anyone,” he said.

“And when things get difficult — and they will — remember that you’re not alone. Anchor yourself in prayer, in gratitude, and in the people who love you. The goal is not perfection, but peace in knowing that you gave your all,” he added.

SOMETIMES, YOU NEVER HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING

When the results came out, disbelief turned into gratitude. “Top 1 ba talaga ako, or lasing lang ako?” he said. But behind the humor was a quiet truth — that peace had finally won over pressure.

The victory, he said, wasn’t his alone — it belonged to everyone who believed in him. From his parents who never pressured him, to his grandmother who cooked for him daily, to his girlfriend Alexandria Beatrice who stood by him through the doubts and breakdowns.

“This victory isn’t mine alone,” he said. “It belongs to everyone who believed in me, even when I doubted myself.”

He may have topped two national board exams, but for Kharam, true success isn’t about the medals or recognition. It’s about peace, purpose, and the people who believed in him.

Because sometimes, the greatest way to prove one’s self is knowing that you never have to.