The Palawan Group of Companies has launched the “PalawanPay Trilogy Marathon 2026,” a three-leg nationwide race series aimed at promoting health, wellness, and community engagement, while raising funds for emergency medical support in underserved areas.
The initiative is organized in partnership with RUNRIO and the University of the Philippines Office of Athletics and Sports Development (UP OASD), bringing together leaders from the private sector, sports, and academe to encourage active lifestyles and deliver social impact through running.
Proceeds from the marathon series will be used to purchase fully equipped ambulances for Aklan and South Cotabato, reinforcing the event’s advocacy of turning fitness participation into tangible community support.
Nationwide race series across three key cities
The PalawanPay Trilogy Marathon promotes fitness while turning every run into meaningful community impact.
The Trilogy Marathon will be staged in Manila, Cebu, and Puerto Princesa, with each leg designed to engage runners of varying fitness levels while promoting inclusivity in sports.
The series will kick off in Manila on August 9, 2026, at the University of the Philippines Diliman, featuring 1KM, 3KM, 5KM, 10KM, and 16KM categories for beginners, casual runners, and competitive participants.
The second leg will be held in Cebu on September 27, 2026, in Mandaue City, where organizers will introduce longer distances, including a 21KM half marathon, to challenge more experienced runners.
The final leg will take place in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on October 18, 2026, featuring the full range of race categories, including the 42KM marathon, serving as the culmination of the nationwide series.
“Every kilometer can make a difference”
Last year’s PalawanPay Marathon resulted to a fully-equipped ambulance which was donated to the El Nido Community Hospital.
Palawan Group CFO Lilian Castro-Selda said the initiative reflects the company’s belief in partnerships that extend beyond business.
“At Palawan Group, we believe that forging meaningful partnerships is essential in helping us reach more people and create deeper, more lasting impact,” Castro-Selda said. “This partnership with RunRio and UP OASD is born out of a shared goal: to encourage more Filipinos to be active, healthy, and well-rounded.”
She added that the collaboration aims to bring services and advocacy closer to communities “whether they live in bustling cities or in remote barrios.”
RUNRIO founder Coach Rio de la Cruz also emphasized the event’s social purpose, noting that proceeds from registration fees will directly fund ambulances for partner community hospitals.
He said the initiative aims to ensure faster emergency response in underserved areas, underscoring the importance of combining sports with social responsibility.
Building on previous community impact
Palawan Group Chief Human Resources Officer Korina Castro-Fernando says the PalawanPay Marathon Trilogy goes beyond health and wellness by bringing communities together.
The PalawanPay Marathon has previously supported healthcare initiatives, including the donation of a fully equipped ambulance to the El Nido Community Hospital, demonstrating how participant contributions translate into real-world impact.
Palawan Group CHRO Korina Castro-Fernando said the trilogy expands this mission by uniting communities through a shared purpose.
“This is more than just promoting health and wellness; it is about coming together to create real, lasting impact,” she said. “Every step we take, every kilometer we run, can make a difference in someone else’s life.”
Fitness with a purpose
The PalawanPay Trilogy Marathon 2026 unites communities through fitness and purpose, encouraging runners of all levels to take part in wellness and meaningful social impact.
With its expansion to three major regions, the PalawanPay Trilogy Marathon 2026 positions itself as more than a sporting event. It blends fitness, community engagement, and philanthropy, encouraging runners of all levels to participate in an activity that contributes to a broader social cause.
Registration for the marathon series is now open. Interested participants may sign up through the official registration channels provided by the organizers.
About Palawan Group of Companies
The Palawan Group of Companies has served Filipinos for over four decades, offering services including pawning, remittance, microinsurance, e-wallet services, and other financial solutions through Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express Pera Padala, and PalawanPay.
Its e-wallet platform, PalawanPay, now serves over 22 million users nationwide, offering digital payments, bill payments, QR transactions, and other financial services under its “bricktech” model—combining physical branches with digital accessibility.
The company operates under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
