𝘽𝙮 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙡 𝙂𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙨

Being a top student in the Philippines comes with immense pressure, as excellence is not just admired but expected. Behind every high grade lies a story of grit, resilience, and sacrifice.

For the Top 1 students of the various MMSU colleges, their journey through the university was not just about honors. It was a four-year voyage marked by grace, endurance, becoming, and unbecoming. 

And for these students, being called “number one” is merely a bonus. What truly matters is the quiet relief of finally arriving, of seeing the shore, and knowing they made it.

Let’s meet the bright minds who emerged at the top of their college for MMSU’s Class of 2025, and learn more about their stories of perseverance, growth, and what lies ahead.

𝗞𝗿𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗮 𝗥. 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮ñ𝗮𝗻𝗼
BA Sociology, magna cum laude
College of Arts and Sciences
Co-valedictorian, MMSU Class of 2025

Kryshna, one of the two co-valedictorians of MMSU’s Class of 2025, will graduate magna cum laude with a degree in BA Sociology. 

A native of Laoag City, she grew up quietly searching for peace and meaning, finding strength in the silence that once unsettled her. During the times when she felt like she was falling behind, it wasn’t grand gestures but quiet reminders of love, her mother’s voice, and her father’s silent presence that pulled her back.

“I’ll carry with me the quiet strength of consistency, the power of choosing to rise each day, not for recognition, but simply to honor the life and love that brought me here,” Kryshna said.

Her journey was not one of chasing greatness but of honoring life through consistency, kindness, and presence. These small but steady choices carried her through.

After graduation, Kryshna plans to pursue law school, bringing with her the heart of a sociologist, always listening, always understanding, and always remembering that behind every case is a life, a story, a person. She hopes to turn compassion into courage and use her education to fight for truth and justice.

𝗫𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗘. 𝗥𝘂𝗶𝘇
BS Computer Science, magna cum laude
College of Computing and Information Sciences
Co-valedictorian, MMSU Class of 2025

Xamantha, the top student of the College of Computing and Information Sciences and a co-valedictorian for this year’s class, graduates magna cum laude with a degree in BS Computer Science. 

A proud Department of Science and Technology scholar from Laoag City, she entered the program with no prior programming experience, but her willingness to learn shaped her entire college journey. She started from the bottom, but through constant discovery and growth, she rose to the top.

Among all the values she gained, resilience stands out the most. Xamantha believes it’s not how you begin, but how you finish, with bravery and heart. For her, college was a series of small acts of kindness, showing up for others, and choosing to keep going even when things felt uncertain. She knows now that growth takes time, and that’s okay.

“You don’t have to start strong to finish strong. I did not start college as the best; in fact, I struggled a lot in the beginning. But growth takes time,” she shared.

After graduation, she plans to pursue opportunities in the tech industry, ideally in software development or data analytics. What she will carry with her is the reminder that perseverance, not perfection, is what brings people across the finish line.

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗔. 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘇
BS Accountancy, magna cum laude
College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy

John, the top student of the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy, is a magna cum laude graduate of BS Accountancy. A native of Batac, he has spent the last ten years at MMSU, beginning with his time in the university’s Laboratory High School. For him, college was a quiet test of endurance, where growth happened not during applause, but in the discipline of daily effort.

He hopes others look beyond the assumption that success comes easily to the smart ones. For John, every achievement came at the cost of missed breaks, late-night reviews, and silent doubts. His quiet resolve, more than natural intelligence, is what saw him through.

“What most people don’t see are the sacrifices that went unnoticed. It was never just about being 𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘨—it was about showing up, staying consistent, and doing the hard things even when no one was looking,” John shared. 

His next goal is to pass the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination and secure a meaningful job. John believes the world is changed not only by those in the spotlight but by those who remain faithful to the process, even when no one is watching.

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗔. 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀
BSED English, magna cum laude 
College of Teacher Education

Hans, the top student of the College of Teacher Education, graduates magna cum laude with a degree in BSED English. Coming from a family of educators in Laoag City, he was shaped by the values of discipline, persistence, and service. His early doubts about his course gave way to passion as he immersed himself in the work and embraced the teaching profession with clarity.

He likens college to Santiago’s journey in The 𝘈𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵, a process of discovery and fulfillment. Through leadership in the student press and success in writing competitions, Hans found both his voice and purpose. He believes in the power of daily decisions, joining, reading, and reflecting, as acts that prepare a person for greater things.

“The world is vast, filled with limitless possibilities and opportunities, so why should we box ourselves into doubts, uncertainties, and discouragement? Grasp the opportunities within your reach,” Hans’ mantra during college.

After graduation, Hans plans to take the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers in September 2025. He hopes to teach with purpose and use his voice to empower the next generation of learners.

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝗲 𝗠. 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
BS Computer Engineering, magna cum laude
College of Engineering

Marc Louie, fondly known as Juno, is the top student of the College of Engineering, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in BS Computer Engineering. A curious and organized learner from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, he made it his mission to understand unfamiliar concepts and grow through writing and involvement in SIRMATA, MMSU’s official college student publication.

“I sit back and realize how far I have come since entering college and smile at the little things that made the journey memorable. I'd pull inspiration from those and try to start fresh,” he said.

He describes his journey with the phrase, “Nothing is true, everything is permitted,” a belief that life is built on constructs and that we gain freedom when we learn to define success on our terms. 
For Juno, humility mattered. Having once felt invisible, he made it a habit to make others feel seen.

After graduation, Juno plans to start working to build his career and help his parents retire peacefully. For him, success doesn’t need to be loud; it only needs to be real, grounded in love and quiet gratitude.

𝗖𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗟. 𝗔𝗴𝗯𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗼
BSIT major in Electronics Technology, cum laude
College of Industrial Technology

Cy Genesis, from Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, graduates cum laude with a degree in BS Industrial Technology major in Electronics Technology. Inspired by his parents, his mother, a public school teacher, and his father, a self-taught technician, Cy pursued a course his father once dreamed of. For him, trusting God’s plan gave meaning to every hardship.

He believes in the value of active listening, not just hearing to respond, but listening to truly understand others. That empathy, he says, strengthens both character and community. He also reminds others that medals don’t define worth, humility and kindness do.

“What truly matters in the long run often isn't the grand gestures or the loud pronouncements, but the quiet, consistent efforts and attitudes that shape our character and our communities,” Cy believes.

Cy Genesis plans to expand his small gadget repair business and pursue graduate studies. Eventually, he hopes to return to MMSU as an instructor, bringing his quiet wisdom full circle.

𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗦. 𝗢𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹
BS Pharmacy, cum laude
College of Health Sciences

Kyla, a cum laude graduate from the College of Health Sciences, is the youngest of three and the first pharmacist in her family. What began as a practical choice for scholarship opportunities turned into a passion, with each day in the pharmacy program shaping her like a compound in a drug–tested, refined, and purposeful.

She believes that, like medicine, people are made for specific purposes. What matters most is not how fast others excel, but knowing you’re crafted for a path uniquely yours. For Kyla, strength came not just from knowledge but from kindness, resilience, and quiet support.

“I hope people see the value of kindness in the little things, encouragement given without expecting anything in return, and the quiet resilience it took to keep going every single day,” Kyla said.

After graduation, she will begin reviewing for the Pharmacist Licensure Exam while looking for a job to support herself. 

𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗔. 𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘁
BS Agriculture, cum laude
College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development

Althea, from Badoc, Ilocos Norte, graduates cum laude with a degree in BS Agriculture. As a student leader and volunteer, she spent her college years immersed in extension programs, international exchange, and advocacy work. To her, college was a series of trials that led to growth.

She hopes people remember the unseen moments: quiet perseverance, true friendships, and the strength it takes to keep going. Hard work, she believes, pays off, and when something is difficult to achieve, the reward is even sweeter.

Althea plans to take the agriculture board exam and dreams of becoming part of the academe, where she can give back by mentoring future agricultural advocates.

For these college valedictorians, they were not merely chasing grades; they were figuring things out, just like everyone else. They had rough weeks, quiet breakdowns, and moments when quitting felt easier than pushing through. But they kept showing up, even when it was hard. And that’s what made all the difference.