The Palawan Group of Companies (PGC), a national leader in financial services, has officially kicked off its 40th-anniversary celebration. The company chose to begin the festivities with a special focus on its people. Specifically, they started by honoring their most loyal and dedicated employees. Indeed, PGC recognizes these individuals as the very heroes who laid the foundation of the Palawan Group.
As a central part of the Palawan Group Anniversary events, the company hosted the heartfelt “Gintong Lingkod Awards.” This special ceremony celebrated individuals who have reached their 20th, 25th, and 30th year of service. PGC honored them for their immense contributions. Furthermore, it recognized their unwavering commitment. They have consistently upheld the husay na Tatak Palawan (excellent Palawan trademark) and serbisyong Pusong Palawan (service from the heart of Palawan) throughout the years.
A Golden Tribute in Puerto Princesa
In a grand gesture of appreciation, the company flew the awardees and their families to its headquarters in Puerto Princesa City. There, each honoree received a much-deserved red carpet treatment. The company’s founders, current leaders, and key partners all attended the Gintong Lingkod Awards ceremony. Ultimately, the event intended to honor the awardees not just for their pivotal role in the business’s growth. It also celebrated them for genuinely living out the Palawan Group’s core values of humility and service.
Insights from Palawan Group’s Leadership
Palawan Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Korina Castro-Fernando, warmly welcomed everyone. In her remarks, she thanked the awardees. She called them the “founding ates and kuyas, ‘nangs and ‘nongs (big sisters and brothers).” She noted they lived out the Kulturang Palawan of integrity and sincere service. This applied to both sukis (loyal customers) and co-associates. Moreover, she emphasized that this unique culture serves as the solid foundation that led the company to where it is today. She also reiterated her deep appreciation on behalf of the Castro family. She specifically thanked the awardees for their faith in the company as it evolved. For instance, it grew from a single pawnshop in Puerto Princesa City into a globally recognized financial services provider. Today, the company is known for its serbisyong Matataag, Maaasahan, at Mapagkakatiwalaan (enduring, dependable, and trustworthy service).
Co-founder and Deputy Chairman Angelita M. Castro later echoed this deep appreciation. Holding back tears, the beloved “Nanay Angie” remarked, “Our awardees are not just witnesses to our history—they helped build it.” She further expressed, “kami man [ni Sir Bobby] ang nagsimula, hindi tayo aabot sa 40 years at sa tagumpay na tinatamasa natin ngayon kung hindi dahil sa inyo… Salamat, maraming salamat sa inyo.” (Sir Bobby and I may have started it, but we would not have reached 40 years and the success we enjoy today if not for you… Thank you, thank you so much.)
The Voices of Loyalty: Stories from the Awardees
The ceremony also featured select awardees delivering their own powerful speeches. These personal accounts detailed how being part of the Palawan Group impacted their lives. As a result, their stories earned a harmony of laughter, tears, and cheers from the audience.
More Than Just a Job
Flora Mae Salarzon, a 25-year service awardee, shared a particularly powerful testimony. “If the company didn’t compensate me well, I would have left a long time ago,” she remarked. “But when I say ‘compensated’, I don’t just mean salary. In fact, at Palawan, they enrich us mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. The company truly takes care of us as people, not just as employees.” She also added, “We learn how to balance our careers with our responsibilities at home. We also learn how to prepare for our future. That kind of support is rare, and I’m truly grateful.” Such programs that foster employee loyalty are critical for long-term success, a fact often cited by business experts from institutions like leading business schools.
A Deeper Sense of Purpose
Another 25-year service awardee, Ma. Criselda Emnace, emphasized how genuine malasakit (deep, empathetic care) for their Sukis served as the glue that holds the business together. She shared, “My job felt less like a job but more like a purpose. Specifically, I discovered more profoundly that the key business acumen in a business like ours is Customer Love. Therefore, I do my best to extend my services to customers the best way I know how.”
A Golden Token of Gratitude
As a tangible token of appreciation, the company gave each awardee a 24K Palawan Gold coin. A loved one accompanied each honoree to the stage to receive this special token. There, they received a warm embrace from the company’s leaders. This, in turn, created many moving moments throughout the event.
Ultimately, the Gintong Lingkod awards is a key part of the Palawan Group Anniversary celebration. More importantly, it reflects the company’s ongoing commitment. The company aims to nurture a workplace where employees feel valued and empowered. This truly embodies the spirit of Tatak Palawan and bayanihan.
About the Palawan Group of Companies
For nearly four decades, the Palawan Group of Companies has been a brand Filipinos trust. It grew from a single pawnshop into one of the country’s fastest-growing financial institutions. With its strengths in remittance and pawning, PGC is a market leader. Today, it has over 70,000 branches, Pera Padala outlets, and PalawanPay Money Shops nationwide. Its key services include Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express Pera Padala, and the PalawanPay e-wallet app. Notably, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas supervises all of these services.
For more information, you can visit the official Palawan Pawnshop and PalawanPay websites.
