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The freshmen, comprising the program’s 29th batch, were formally welcomed during a confirmation program at the company’s Puerto Princesa City head office on Aug. 31. The Palawan Group of Companies Scholarship Program has produced 900 graduates since it was established in 1998.
Why it matters
The initiative started with only 10 scholars and expanded alongside Palawan Pawnshop’s business. Its graduates include certified public accountants, lawyers, engineers, teachers, social workers, psychometricians and agriculturists.
As of June 2026, 104 scholarship graduates were employed by Palawan Group, showing how the program has also developed talent that eventually joined the company’s workforce.
“That is 900 changed lives. 900 na mga batang nangarap lamang noon, at sa tulong po natin, ay sila naman ang nagpapaaral ng kanilang mga kapatid ngayon. (Those are 900 young people who once only dreamed, and with our help, they are now the ones sending their siblings to school),” Palawan Group of Companies chair and founder Bobby L. Castro said in a press statement.
Beyond tuition
For the current school year, the program supports 455 second- to fourth-year college scholars at Palawan State University and Western Philippines University, including students taking five-year Architecture programs.
The scholarship also provides career orientation, workplace readiness, industry exposure, internships and skills development. Scholars can participate in mental health and wellness initiatives, community involvement and volunteer opportunities as the company seeks to prepare them for employment and civic participation.
Scholars run in the family
The program traces its roots to the Castro family’s own experience with scholarships. Bobby Castro, his wife and their five children were scholars, an experience that helped inspire the couple to establish the initiative.
“Scholar tayo noon; naging scholars din ang lahat ng mga anak natin. Panahon na para tayo naman ang tumulong sa iba. (We were scholars once, and all our children became scholars as well. Now, it’s our turn to help others),” Castro recalled.
Palawan Group deputy chair and co-founder Angelita M. Castro said the initiative also embodies the company’s “Pilipinas, Mahal Kita” value.
“Para sa amin, ang pagmamahal sa bayan ay di lang salita kundi ito ay sa gawa, sa gawa at pamamaraan upang makapagbigay ng oportunidad sa ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na sa mga kabataan. (For us, love of country is not just expressed in words, but through actions and concrete ways of creating opportunities for our fellow Filipinos, especially the youth),” Castro said. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
