MANILA, Philippines – Once again, Kharam Baricaua Molbog of Barangay Quezon, Solano has etched his name in history, bringing immense pride and glory to the province of Nueva Vizcaya as he claimed the top spot in the October 2025 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE).
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Kharam Molbog |
A mind of brilliance and perseverance, Molbog had already proven his excellence when he dominated the 2022 Medical Technologist Licensure Examination (MTLE), and now, he has done it again — this time as the topnotcher of the prestigious medical board.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) summa cum laude graduate and Medicine Class of 2024 valedictorian, Molbog obtained a remarkable rating of 91.17%, topping 4,570 new physicians out of 5,900 examinees, as announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
“I come from the small town of Solano in the province of Nueva Vizcaya where I was born and grew up,” Molbog said, recounting his humble beginnings.
“I do not come from a family of doctors, nor do I come from a rich family… I was also not a very stellar kid growing up. I am just an ordinary person,” he humbly shared during his valedictory address.
“People have always referred to me as a late bloomer,” he added, revealing that he was never among the top students in elementary and high school and even failed to pass the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).
Determined to change his story, he worked tirelessly through college — from ranking 100th on the Dean’s List to eventually becoming number one, proving that progress, no matter the pace, is still progress.
His journey, however, was not without challenges. He battled extrapulmonary tuberculosis that left visible scars on his neck, forcing him to take a gap year, and later survived a tricycle accident during clerkship that left him with a seven-centimeter forehead wound.
“We are all crippled by something… but by no means are we crippled beyond repair.”
For his extraordinary achievements, the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya will once again honor him with ₱200,000 under its Topnotchers Incentive Ordinance — the same amount he received after topping the 2022 MedTech board exam.
“No dream is too big, no effort is too small, and no sacrifice will be in vain,” Molbog said — a shining testament that even a so-called late bloomer can rise to become one of the nation’s brightest healers.
— The Summit Express