The Palawan Group of Companies has solidified its position as a pillar of the Philippine financial landscape, securing three prestigious distinctions at the 61st ANVIL Awards. The recognition marks a significant milestone for the group, affirming its commitment to stable, reliable, and trustworthy service (matatag, maaasahan, at mapagkakatiwalaang serbisyo).
Often referred to as the “Oscars” of the local PR industry, the ANVIL Awards — organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) — honors strategic communication excellence.
For Palawan Group, the triple sweep highlights a successful “bricktech” strategy that balances a legacy physical network with modern fintech solutions.
Gold for government relations: Solving the ‘last mile’
Palawan for Business receives the Gold ANVIL Award for the PR program, “Bridging Distances, Building Trust: B2B Partnership Delivering Inclusive Government Aid Across Remote Philippines,” recognized for advancing inclusive and accessible government assistance nationwide.
The highlight of the evening was the Gold ANVIL awarded to Palawan for Business in the Government Relations category. The winning program, “Bridging Distances, Building Trust: B2B Partnership Delivering Inclusive Government Aid Across Remote Philippines,” showcased a critical collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
By leveraging a network of over 3,500 branches, the group transformed select locations into micro-payout hubs for government aid. The initiative utilized:
- Mobile branches and payout caravans to reach island communities and remote barangays.
- Real-time monitoring and SMS alerts to ensure beneficiary confidence.
- Traceable disbursement models that reduced logistical burdens for DOLE while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
“These awards belong to our sukis who entrust us with their hard-earned money,” said Karlo M. Castro, President and CEO of the Palawan Group. “That trust inspires us to continue serving with sincerity, care, and integrity.”
Silver honors for the 40th anniversary “Suki” campaign
Executives and officers of Palawan Group of Companies, together with PR agency Browne Communications, following their two Silver wins in Marketing and Brand Communication and Financial Communication at the 61st ANVIL Awards.
The group also earned two Silver ANVIL awards in Financial Communication and Marketing and Brand Communication for its year-long 40th-anniversary initiative: “Ikaw Pa Rin Ang No. 1 sa Palawan.”
Working alongside PR agency Browne Communications, the campaign focused on real Filipino stories and tangible social impact, including:
- Education: Supporting 158 new scholars and celebrating the 2025 graduating class, which featured the program’s first-ever summa cum laude.
- Healthcare: Organizing the PalawanPay Marathon, which raised funds for an ambulance donated to the El Nido Community Hospital.
- Transparency: Hosting a Media Roundtable to strengthen journalist relations, alongside internal summits to recognize employees and valued collaborators.
A ‘bricktech’ future for 2026
The founders and board of directors of the Palawan Group of Companies, during the culminating event of its 40th anniversary, honoring four decades of trust, service, and commitment to millions of Filipinos.
As the group moves through 2026, it remains the market leader in pawning and remittance, boasting a massive footprint of 70,000 branches, Pera Padala outlets, and PalawanPay Money Shops nationwide.
Under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the group continues to evolve its digital arm, PalawanPay, which now serves 22 million users.
The e-wallet offers a “phygital” experience (pwede sa branch, pwede sa app), providing everything from bill payments and QR Ph transactions to pawn renewals and jewelry purchases.
Bernard V. Kaibigan, Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized that the awards are a reminder of the company’s core mission: “Our campaign was our way of thanking millions of Filipinos who rely on our services to provide for their families. These awards inspire us to keep finding ways to make life a little easier for every Filipino.”
