The Palawan Group of Companies is strengthening its engagement with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong as it seeks to expand access to remittance and digital financial services for Filipinos living abroad.
The company recently participated in Flores de Mayo celebrations along Chater Road in Hong Kong, using the event as an opportunity to connect with the city’s large Filipino community and promote its remittance solutions, including its digital wallet platform, PalawanPay.
The initiative comes as remittances remain a critical pillar of the Philippine economy.
According to the Department of Migrant Workers, more than 200,000 Filipinos are currently based in Hong Kong, many of whom work as domestic helpers and caregivers and regularly send money home to support their families.
For fintech and financial service providers, this growing overseas market represents a significant opportunity to expand digital cross-border payment services while addressing demand for faster, more affordable, and more convenient remittance channels.
“Behind every remittance is a Filipino who chose to be far from their loved ones just to give them a better future. We never take that sacrifice lightly,” said Lisa Castro-Sabado, Chief Business Development Officer of the Palawan Group of Companies.
“At the Palawan Group of Companies, we make sure their support reaches home through a service that is mura, mabilis, at walang kuskos-balungos, so every family feels that love without delay,” she added.
Digital remittances gain traction among OFWs
IMAGE CREDIT: PalawanPay
The event highlights the increasing convergence of traditional remittance services and digital financial platforms in serving overseas Filipinos.
While cash-based remittance channels remain widely used, financial institutions are increasingly investing in digital solutions that allow users to send, receive, and manage funds through mobile applications.
Palawan Group‘s digital offering, PalawanPay, forms part of this strategy. The platform enables users to receive remittances, pay bills, purchase mobile load, make QR Ph payments, renew pawn transactions, and access other financial services through a single application.
The company said PalawanPay is now used by more than 22 million Filipinos, reflecting growing adoption of digital financial services across the country.
The move aligns with broader efforts within the Philippine fintech sector to expand financial inclusion by combining physical branch networks with digital channels — a model often referred to as “bricktech.”
Under this approach, customers can transact either through physical outlets or mobile applications, providing greater flexibility for both overseas senders and recipients in the Philippines.
Expanding support for global Filipinos
Flores de Mayo in Hong Kong brought Filipinos together in a meaningful celebration of faith and heritage, where participants enjoyed cultural moments and engaging on-ground activities.
During the Flores de Mayo celebration, the Palawan Group hosted community activities and information sessions designed to engage OFWs while raising awareness about available remittance services.
The company said its participation was part of its ongoing “There Na” campaign, which recognizes the sacrifices made by overseas Filipinos and highlights the role of reliable financial services in helping families stay connected across borders.
As competition intensifies among banks, e-wallets, and remittance providers, firms are increasingly looking beyond transaction speed and pricing to build stronger relationships with overseas Filipino communities.
For companies such as Palawan Group, maintaining a presence in major OFW hubs like Hong Kong could play an important role in driving adoption of both traditional remittance services and digital financial products.
The company currently operates one of the country’s largest remittance and pawnshop networks and continues to expand its digital ecosystem as demand for cross-border financial services grows among Filipinos worldwide.
