At the Palawan Group of Companies, leadership isn’t just a title — it’s a promise to serve.
This belief came to life during the Palawan Group Leadership Conference, held on September 26 at The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan, where more than 200 executives, area managers, and corporate leaders gathered to reflect, learn, and renew their commitment to serving millions of sukis nationwide.
With the theme “Onward, Upward, Together,” the conference celebrated four decades of serbisyong Palawan while looking ahead to the next chapter of growth, anchored in customer experience and leadership excellence.
Palawan Group: Raising the bar for leadership
Managers from across the Palawan Group of Companies gathered at the Leadership Conference to reflect, learn, and strengthen their commitment to serving millions of “Sukis” nationwide
In his opening remarks, Chief Operations Officer Roberto “Bobbit” M. Castro set the tone for the day with an inspiring call to action.
“Growth doesn’t pause. Excellence doesn’t settle,” he said. “Now, as we celebrate four decades of serbisyong Palawan, we’re not just looking back with pride — we are preparing for something higher, something greater, something more meaningful than everything we have achieved thus far.”
The event gathered the Palawan Group’s leadership team, including Founder and Chairman Bobby L. Castro, Co-founder and Deputy Chairman Angelita M. Castro, Vice Chairman and CFO Lilian Castro-Selda, President and CEO Karlo M. Castro, COO Roberto “Bobbit” Castro, CHRO Korina Castro-Fernando, and CBDO Lisa Lou Castro-Sabado — a united front steering one of the country’s most trusted financial institutions into its next phase of growth.
Developing the leaders of tomorrow
Palawan Group executives (from left): Korina Castro-Fernando, Chief Human Resources Officer; Lilian Castro-Selda, Vice Chairman and CFO; Karlo M. Castro, CEO and President; Bobby L. Castro, Founder and Chairman; Angelita M. Castro, Co-founder and Deputy Chairman; Lisa Lou Castro-Sabado, Chief Business Development Officer; and Roberto Ben “Bobit” Castro, COO — united in purpose and guiding the organization to new heights.
In one of the event’s highlights, Chief Human Resources Officer Korina Castro-Fernando officially launched the Palawan Group Leadership Development Program, a key initiative designed to strengthen leadership capabilities across the organization.
She emphasized that investing in people remains central to Palawan’s success:
“Our people are the heartbeat of this organization. This program is our commitment to continuously nurture their growth, ensuring that every Palawan leader is equipped with the mindset, heartset, and skillset needed to lead with purpose.”
Group HR Head Val Santos explained that the new program is anchored on the company’s Leadership and Core Competency Profile, providing a clear roadmap for developing adaptable and empathetic leaders in an ever-changing business environment.
“This dual launch is more than just a milestone — it is a strategic enabler of the organization’s growth,” she said.
Learning from industry trailblazers
Renowned speaker Francis Kong inspired Palawan Group managers to lead with purpose, urging them to turn adaptability and innovation into daily habits.
The conference also featured a thought-provoking talk by renowned inspirational speaker Francis Kong, who encouraged Palawan’s leaders to embrace adaptability and innovation as daily habits.
“In times of rapid change, leaders must embrace agility and innovation—not as buzzwords, but as daily disciplines,” he shared. “The ability to adapt quickly while finding better ways to serve is what will separate good leaders from great ones.”
A fireside chat further enriched the discussion, featuring Rami Chahwan, President and Country CEO of Pickup Coffee, and John Velasco, COO of Mr. DIY, Growth Advisor at Angkas, and Executive Director of Creador. Both shared insights on how customer experience can drive growth across industries — a perspective that resonated deeply with Palawan’s customer-first culture.
Onward, upward, together
Palawan Group leaders united for a powerful group photo symbolizing their shared journey of resilience, teamwork, and commitment to making financial services accessible to every Filipino
Throughout the conference, the recurring message was clear: Palawan’s success lies in the shared purpose and resilience of its people. The event culminated in a group photo of the company’s executives and managers — a visual symbol of teamwork and unity in pursuit of a common goal: to make reliable and affordable financial services accessible to every Filipino.
As Palawan Group marks its 40th anniversary, its leaders remain focused on the journey ahead: investing in people, strengthening leadership, and continuously improving the Suki experience.
More than a corporate milestone, the event underscored Palawan’s enduring philosophy—that leadership is a continuous journey built on collaboration, growth, and malasakit for both customers and communities.
“Not all heroes wear capes,” said President and CEO Karlo M. Castro. “Often, they wear the badge of leadership and carry the responsibility of guiding others toward excellence.”
For the Palawan Group, the climb continues — onward, upward, together — with millions of Sukis at the heart of every step forward.
