Jaehwa Bernardo

University of Santo Tomas graduate Kharam Molbog clinched first place in two medical licensure exams. Photos courtesy of Molbog

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For two-time board exam topnothcer, 'rest is productive'

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761011066166Kharam2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>University of Santo Tomas graduate Kharam Molbog clinched first place in two medical licensure exams. Photos courtesy of Molbog</div>When Kharam Molbog topped his first Professional Regulation Commission licensure exam, it was an unexpected triumph born of a “leap of faith” after a series of setbacks. His second, however, was a deliberate climb — a determined bid to reach the summit once more.The University of Santo Tomas (UST) graduate was the highest scorer in the October 2025 Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE) with a 91.17% rating and in the August 2022 Medical Technologist (MedTech) Licensure Examination, where he achieved 91.9%.“What keeps me grounded as a person is &#x27;yung childhood dream ko talaga of becoming a doctor. So, whenever I feel demotivated or parang I feel like walang purpose, I just try to remember my whys,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.(What keeps me grounded as a person is really my childhood dream of becoming a doctor. So, whenever I feel demotivated or purposeless, I just try to remember my whys.)Molbog’s close relationship with his grandfather — and the latter’s battle with cancer — inspired his dream of becoming a doctor at a young age.“Pinaka-inisip ko talaga is &#x27;yung sarili ko when I was young, kasi it was his dream to become a doctor, na parang I wouldn&#x27;t want to disappoint him,” he said.(I really thought about my younger self the most, because his dream was to become a doctor, and it’s like, I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.)Molbog saw himself as a “late bloomer,” as he only started getting stellar grades in the latter half of his time at the UST Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Medical Technology.From barely cracking into the top 100 in his batch as a freshman to clinching first place by his third year, Molbog finally found his rhythm.But his advancements came to a screeching halt when he was diagnosed with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, which forced him into a year-long recovery period, preventing him from taking the MedTech licensure exam with his batchmates.<div>Major setback</div>For Molbog, that phase was one of the hardest years of his life, but also “one of the most meaningful.”“After years of being in motion, of always having something to do, I was being forced to slow down and even stop,” He said.While proud of his peers — all of whom passed the exams — Molbog couldn’t help but feel a tinge of dismay and self-doubt, believing he had already missed his moment.“There was a part of me that was kind of disappointed in myself. I felt like my plans had been derailed. And, it made me feel less,” he said.In time, Molbog made peace with the pauses that life had repeatedly placed in his path.“I was reminded that rest is productive, that rest is not wasted time. Sometimes, rest is what prepares you for the next step,” he remarked.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761011155087Kharam.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>Molbog was resolute in taking the test the following year; however, as fate would have it, all licensure exams were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.“Parang it was a sign na huwag nang mag-take. I decided at that point na hindi na ako magte-take, kasi parang practically speaking, what&#x27;s the point pa, di ba?” he said.(It seemed like it was a sign not to take anymore. I decided at that point that I wasn&#x27;t going to take it anymore, because practically speaking, what&#x27;s the point, right?)<div>‘Leap of faith’</div>Despite knowing he would have very little use for a MedTech license as he always intended to be a doctor, his unfinished business with the exam, along with everyone else’s expectations, gnawed at Molbog.“Eventually, I decided to just take it, just to get it over with. It also felt like I was leaving a chapter of my MedTech journey unfinished,” he said.The exam coincided with the first month of his third year in medical school, but Molbog was sure of his priorities.“I just tried my best to study during the two-month na vacation. Tinake ko na lang (I just took it), parang leap of faith, because I was really focused on studying for med school, since that was really my priority at that time,” he said.Overcome with disbelief, Molbog teared up upon hearing the results of the exam. What was meant to be closure for his MedTech journey had become national news. And only two years later, in 2024, he triumphed yet again.He closed his school life with a flourish by graduating summa cum laude and valedictorian from the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, as he noted falling short of attaining the highest Latin honor during his undergraduate studies.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761011164325Kharam3.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div>All eyes on him</div>However, the joy and pride that came with his successes were accompanied by debilitating pressure.Molbog recalled studying comfortably for the medical technologist exam, as there were no expectations. But this was not the case for the PLE.“Yung MedTech, it was two years after my batch na &#x27;yun. So, parang wala nang nag-aabang sa &#x27;kin. Like, no one&#x27;s waiting for my name == I don&#x27;t have to appear in the list of topnotchers or the list of passers,” he said.“In contrast to the Physician Licensure [Exam], na parang all eyes were on me talaga. Because, of course, all my professors know, all my friends know, all my seniors in the hospital, they all know that I was gonna be taking the board.”As the PLE exam drew closer, Molbog grew more suffocated by the pressure from others and himself, resulting in his failing to make the top 20 scorers of a mock exam in his review center.The experience, however, earned him a newfound outlook -- that studying too hard to the point of burnout would only do more harm than good for his performance. So, he decided to take a step back and ease off the pressure.“I was also beginning to learn to accept na if ever the results are not what I hoped for, na I would accept whatever the outcome is. So, I guess, &#x27;yun talaga ang nag-change ng mindset ko.”Despite loosening the reins on himself, he was determined to fulfill the dreams of his younger self, who curiously observed the medical practitioners during his grandfather’s hospital visits.<div>What’s next?</div>After nine years of relentlessly pursuing his dream, Molbog has finally sought rest -- this time on his own accord -- while he decides on his area of specialty.“It&#x27;s a decision that I have to live with for the rest of my life. Kasi right now, I feel like I&#x27;m too tired and exhausted to make a decision, and I don&#x27;t want to make a decision while I&#x27;m tired,” he said.In the meantime, the two-time board exam topnotcher plans to teach at review centers as he mulls over his choices.Molbog said he is eyeing a specialty in internal medicine, particularly cardiology and gastroenterology, or radiation oncology, which deals with treatment for cancer patients.

University of Santo Tomas graduate Kharam Molbog was the highest scorer in the October 2025 Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE) with a 91.17% rating and in the August 2022 Medical Technologist (MedTech) Licensure Examination, where he achieved 91.9%.

University of Santo Tomas graduate Kharam Molbog was the highest scorer in the October 2025 Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE) with a 91.17% rating and in the August 2022 Medical Technologist (MedTech) Licensure Examination, where he achieved 91.9%.

For two-time board exam topnotcher, 'rest is productive'

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For two-time board exam topnotcher, 'rest is productive'

Mei Lin Weng,

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

Published October 21, 2025 12:06 PM PHT

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Updated October 23, 2025 06:34 PM PHT

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Kharam Molbog

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October 2025 Physicians Licensure Examination

August 2022 MedTech Licensure Examination

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