WINNING | Palawan grows finance reach through loyalty

Insider Spotlight

• Palawan Group honored 61 employees with 20 to 30 years of service
• Executives linked employee retention to nationwide expansion goals
• Company says culture of service helped build customer trust
• Awardees received certificates and 24-karat Palawan gold
  
  
  

Palawan Group of Companies is doubling down on employee loyalty as it expands its footprint in financial services, signaling that long-term workforce retention remains central to its growth strategy amid rising competition in digital finance and remittance services.

The company’s emphasis on culture and tenure comes as financial institutions face increasing pressure to retain talent while accelerating digital transformation. 

Palawan Group recently recognized 61 employees who reached 20, 25, and 30 years of service during its “Gintong Lingkod: Pinagtibay ng Panahon, Pinakinang ng Dedikasyon” ceremony in Puerto Princesa City.

Why it matters

The recognition program gathered employees and their families at the Princesa Garden Island Resort on April 15, with founders, board members, and senior executives highlighting the role of long-serving associates in helping establish the company’s nationwide presence.

Palawan Group chief human resources officer Korina Castro-Fernando said the company’s employees continue to uphold “Kulturang Palawan” through integrity and sincere customer service.

“We are fortunate because while we work for our families, we are also able to contribute to our beloved Philippines. We are able to help communities, support our fellow Filipinos, and make a difference in people’s lives. In every transaction or service, we reach lives and bring hope,” Fernando said in a press statement on May 11, 2026. 

The bigger picture

Palawan Group has evolved from a pawnshop operator into one of the country’s fastest-growing nonbank financial services providers, backed by more than 70,000 branches, Pera Padala outlets, and PalawanPay Money Shops nationwide.

Its digital arm, PalawanPay, now serves 22 million users, reflecting the company’s “bricktech” strategy that combines physical branches with app-based services.

Co-founder and deputy chair Angelita Castro credited employees for sustaining the company’s customer-first culture through decades of expansion.

“What makes me most proud is not just how long you have stayed, but how you have carried yourselves through the years. You embody integrity, dedication, and genuine care for one another, for our company, and above all, for the customers and communities we serve,” she remarked.

Awardees received certificates alongside 24-karat gold tokens corresponding to their years of service. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma