Palawan Group of Companies Marks 40th Anniversary, Continues Mission to Empower Filipinos

Palawan Group of Companies executives raise a toast to 40 years of shared success, trust, and service excellence.

In a heartfelt celebration of enduring partnerships that help empower four decades of trusted service, the Palawan Group of Companies hosted its highly anticipated Partners’ Night on August 5 and 6, 2025, at the Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Bridgetown, Quezon City. The two-day gathering brought together key business partners, sub-agents, suppliers, agencies, affiliates, senior leaders, and valued stakeholders for recognition, gratitude, and renewed commitment to the company’s mission of empowering Filipinos through accessible and reliable financial services.

The Palawan Group honored its outstanding partners who have consistently embodied the brand’s core values of being “Matatag, Maaasahan, at Mapagkakatiwalaan” (dependable, reliable, and trustworthy), recognizing their significant contributions to uplifting Filipino communities. Awards such as Loyalty, Outstanding Service Partners, Growth Driver, Breakthrough Sales Award, to name a few, were awarded to key partners. The event also proudly reflected the company’s mission of uplifting Filipino identity on a global stage, with guests donned in Modern Filipiniana, helping champion “Gawang Pinoy, para sa Pinoy” (made by Filipinos, for Filipinos).

A Celebration of Heritage, Service, and Collaboration

The celebration kicked off on August 5 with a spotlight on Palawan’s Business-to-Business (B2B) arm—officially rebranded as Palawan for Business—alongside its ProtekTODO partners. A key moment of the evening was the unveiling of a teaser for the much-anticipated Palawan for Business, an innovative rebrand that marks the company’s next chapter in meeting the evolving needs of enterprises and institutional partners.

Chief Business Development Officer Lisa Castro-Sabado delivers an inspiring message on the transformative journey of Palawan for Business

Chief Business Development Officer Lisa Castro-Sabado opened the evening with a heartfelt message: “As we celebrate 40 years of Serbisyong Palawan, we want to honor you, our business partners, for being with us in this journey. At B2B, we serve not just as a channel but a catalyst, developing scalable, efficient solutions that are rooted in reliability and Pusong Palawan.”

She emphasized that in just three years, the B2B team has worked with over 1,700 partners, delivering services like disbursement, bills payment, QRPH, and microinsurance through ProtekTODO, which has already insured nearly 5 million Filipinos.

Chief Operations Officer Bobbit Castro shares his pride in the company’s growth and its commitment to empowering Filipino communities

On August 6, the celebration entered its second day with a powerful tribute to Palawan Group’s partner network, recognizing the essential groups that have fueled its 40-year journey of service and innovation. The morning opened with the Suppliers Recognition program, honoring the behind-the-scenes champions who help ensure Palawan Group’s daily operations run with excellence. From logistics and equipment to IT, creative and media agencies, printing, and security services, these long-time partners have provided the company with the infrastructure needed to grow consistently and serve over 10,000 branches and authorized agents nationwide.

In his welcome remarks, Chief Operations Officer Roberto Ben “Bobbit” Castro emphasized the irreplaceable role that suppliers play in sustaining Palawan Group’s excellent standards: “Hindi po namin maaabot ang tagumpay na ito kung wala ang inyong suporta at pakikiisa (We would not have achieved this success without your support and solidarity),” he said. “You are part of the backbone that keeps our operations running smoothly, our services reaching millions, and our Sukis receiving the very best. Today is your day—maraming salamat po (thank you).”

Echoing this sentiment, Chief Human Resources Officer Korina Castro-Fernando added: “In HR, we often talk about building strong teams. But tonight reminds me that our team extends far beyond our offices. It includes all of you — partners who share our work ethic, our values, and our heart for service. Your support allows us to reach more Filipinos, especially those in the grassroots”

Chief Human Resources Officer Korina Castro-Fernando honors partners as an extension of Palawan Group’s dedicated team, united by shared values and service

The afternoon shifted the spotlight to global collaboration during the International Partners Summit, a milestone gathering that brought together leaders and remittance allies from across the world. These international partners have enabled Palawan Express Pera Padala to become a trusted channel for millions of Filipinos abroad, providing secure and affordable options to send money home.