In a heartfelt celebration of achievement and hope, the Palawan Group of Companies recently held a thanksgiving ceremony to honor the 2025 graduates of the Palawan Group of Companies Scholarship Program (PGC-SP). This is another testament to its long-standing commitment to education as one of the key pillars of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.
The thanksgiving lunch brought together graduates from various universities, their proud families, and Palawan Group associates who have been instrumental in supporting the scholars throughout their academic journey, serving as their ates, kuyas, and mentors. Emotional testimonies were shared, highlighting stories of ambition, resilience, and the transformative impact of education.
In her remarks, Palawan Group Co-Founder and Deputy Chairman, Angelita M. Castro, said, “Napakahalaga sa amin ng pagbabalik ng mga biyayang natatanggap – ‘di lamang ng aming pamilya, kung ‘di nitong ating kumpanya. Kaya naman, nang unti-unting lumago ang ang Palawan Group, naisip namin, mainam na magtatag ng scholarship program. Ang aming buong pamilya ay nakapagtapos bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Nais rin naman makatulong makapagpabago ng buhay ng iba.” (Giving back to the community is very important to us – not just to our family, but to the Palawan Group. When the business started growing, we knew we wanted to build a scholarship program. All of us in the family received the gift of education by being scholars ourselves. So we wanted to also do something to change lives).
This year’s celebration carries an even more special meaning as it coincides with the company’s 40th anniversary and features a historic first: the graduation of PGC-SP’s first-ever summa cum laude, Mae Kyla Tabla, who earned her BSBA major Financial Management from the Palawan State University. Expressing gratitude to the Palawan Group Board of Directors and associates, she said, “The Palawan Group Scholarship Program instilled in me the perseverance to continue pursuing my education and my dreams, no matter how bumpy the road has been and will be.”
Palawan Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Korina Castro-Fernando, advised the graduates to continue reaching for their goals, and to give back to their families and to the country. She remarked, “you made it to this day, and we, your Palawan Group family is very proud of you. Ang tanging hiling naming sa inyo, ibahagi ang biyaya at pag-asang inyong natanggap – sa inyong mga pamilya, at sa bayan. Maging mabuting tao, saan man kayo dalhin ng buhay.” (Our only ask is that you give back – share your blessing, to your families, to your communities, to the country. Do well by doing good, and be kind wherever life takes you.
For the Palawan Group of Companies, CSR is not just about business. The Palawan Group of Companies Scholarship Program was established in 1998 and has produced a total of 778 graduates – many of whom are now licensed teachers, engineers, certified public accountants, and entrepreneurs. A great number has also joined the Palawan Group in its pursuit of serving more Sukis throughout the country.
ABOUT PALAWAN GROUP OF COMPANIES:
The Palawan Group of Companies includes products and services such as Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express Pera Padala, Palawan ProtekTODO, Palawan Credit, and PalawanPay. A brand trusted by Filipinos for almost four decades, Palawan Group is one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the country. With its strength in remittance and pawning services, the company is the market leader in the industry and has over 70,000 branches, Pera Padala outlets, and PalawanPay Money Shops nationwide.
Palawan Group offers a wide range of services, including pawning, domestic and international remittances, microinsurance, bill payment, electronic mobile phone loading, cash-in and cash-out of e-wallets, money exchange, ATM withdrawal, and cash disbursements. Additionally, the company sells jewelry and gold bars, catering to customers looking to invest in valuable assets.
Palawan Group introduced PalawanPay, an e-wallet app that allows users to send and receive remittances anytime, anywhere. PalawanPay is the company’s latest digital solution, offering faster, safer, and more convenient transactions. In addition to remittances, the app provides access to other financial services, including bill payments, mobile load top-ups, and scan-to-pay QR Ph codes. The app also features integrated functionality for pawn renewal, purchasing jewelry and gold items, ProtekTODO personal insurance, and claiming international remittances.
The Palawan Group of Companies is supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
For more information, go to Palawan Pawnshop and PalawanPay Websites.
