PalawanPay expands UP sports partnership beyond basketball

Insider Spotlight

• PalawanPay is expanding its backing of University of the Philippines varsity teams as UAAP Season 89 gets underway
• The partnership has grown from the UP Men’s Basketball Team in 2019 to women’s basketball and volleyball, swimming, judo and the UP Pep Drummers
• The Palawan Group is exploring support for UP’s track and field and tennis programs
  
  
  
  

PalawanPay is widening its support for University of the Philippines student-athletes, building on a partnership that began with the Fighting Maroons men’s basketball program in 2019.

The partnership was highlighted at the UP Fight x Palawan Group of Companies UAAP Season 89 Kick-Off on Sept. 2 and the UP Pep Rally on Sept. 4. The events brought together athletes, coaches, university officials, students, alumni and supporters ahead of the new season.

Developing Filipino values

PalawanPay’s involvement has expanded beyond men’s basketball to include the women’s basketball and volleyball teams, swimming and judo teams, and UP Pep Drummers. The Palawan Group is also exploring opportunities to support track and field and tennis.

The company said sports development aligns with values it wants to foster among young Filipinos, including discipline, resilience, excellence, teamwork and responsibility to others.

‘Fight for excellence’

“As we begin another UAAP season, it is important that we continue to support all our athletes and all our teams. They have worked hard to get here, and knowing that the UP community is behind them gives them the strength and confidence to represent the University and fight for excellence,” UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development deputy director Mo Gingerich said in a press statement.

Palawan Group CFO Lillian Castro-Selda, a UP alumna, said the partnership also reflects the company’s connection to the university. “We believe that supporting our athletes is one way of strengthening the UP spirit. It is one way of strengthening our pride in our University. And perhaps most importantly, it is one way of saying: We believe in you,” Castro-Selda said.

Family connection

The relationship began when a fellow UP alumna connected Castro-Selda with people behind the Fighting Maroons, eventually bringing Palawan Express Pera Padala aboard as a sponsor in 2019.

The partnership also carries a family connection: Palawan Group founders Bobby and Angelita Castro and their five children are UP alumni.

More than sports sponsorship

PalawanPay is positioning its UP partnership as more than sports sponsorship, using its expanding varsity support to associate the financial-services brand with perseverance, discipline and community while strengthening a relationship with one of the country’s most prominent collegiate athletic programs. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie  S. Narisma