From left: Dr. Angelito B. Fernando; Korina Castro-Fernando, Chief Human Resources Officer; Bobby L. Castro, Chairman and Founder; Lilian Castro-Selda, Chief Financial Officer; Lisa Castro-Sabado, Chief Business Development Officer; and Karlo M. Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer, with brand ambassador Marian Rivera at the launch of the “Palawan for All” campaign.
Photograph by Patricia Ramirez for DAILY TRIBUNE
From its beginnings as a pawnshop to a broader financial group, Palawan continues to expand its services as it grows alongside Filipinos and the communities it serves, as Palawan Group of Companies President and CEO Karlo Castro shares the company’s journey and vision.
Photo courtesy of Palawan Group of Companies
Palawan Group of Companies brings together its physical branches and digital platforms through a “brick and technology” ecosystem designed to make financial services more accessible to Filipinos.
Photograph courtesy of Palawan Group of Companies
For more than four decades, Palawan Group of Companies has been part of the everyday financial lives of Filipinos. From helping families address immediate needs to supporting entrepreneurs as they build their businesses, the company has grown by understanding that financial priorities change as people move through different stages of life.
What began as a pawnshop business has expanded into a broader financial ecosystem offering services such as remittance, insurance, investments and business loans. Its journey reflects the changing needs of Filipinos who now seek not only assistance during challenging times, but also opportunities to protect what they have, grow their resources and prepare for the future.
After celebrating its 41st anniversary, Palawan Group of Companies introduced “Palawan for All,” a campaign that brings together the company’s range of financial services through its “brick and technology” ecosystem.
At its heart, Palawan for All is about making the company’s services relevant to Filipinos with different circumstances, aspirations and financial priorities. Whether someone needs to send money home, raise funds, protect their family, invest for the future or secure financing for a business, the campaign presents Palawan as a partner that can be there through different chapters of life.
“Palawan has grown alongside Filipinos we started with one service that help people meet very practical needs, pawning. We continued to evolved as the needs of our customers evolved. Today the Palawan Group brings together different brands and services that serves Filipinos in different ways and at different stages of their lives,” Palawan Group of Companies President and CEO Karlo Castro said.
A story that started with P40,000
The story behind Palawan for All is also rooted in the journey of the Castro family.
Palawan Group Chairman Bobby Castro has recalled how the company began with just P40,000 in capital. From that modest start, the family built a business that gradually became a trusted name in communities throughout the Philippines.
Today, Palawan Pawnshop has more than 3,800 branches nationwide, giving Filipinos in cities and provinces access to services close to home. The scale of its network is a reflection of how far the brand has come from its beginnings.
Yet, the company’s growth is not simply measured by the number of branches. It can also be seen in the expanding range of ways it serves Filipinos.
For the mothers who plan beyond today
For many Filipino households, mothers are at the center of financial decisions. They often manage the household budget, balance everyday expenses and think carefully about what the family will need in the years ahead.
They are also frequently the person everyone turns to when a major financial decision needs to be made. Their choices can affect not only what the family can afford today, but also what opportunities can be available tomorrow.
This understanding makes Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera a fitting brand ambassador for Palawan since 2025. As a mother herself, she understands how priorities can change when the responsibility extends beyond oneself.
“Noon single lang ako, iba ang priority ko. Ngayon parang ang iniisip ko hindi na lang para sa sarili mo, ano bang pwede kong gawin ko para sa mga anak ko. So nag eevolve din yun nagbabago, noon ipon ako, shop ako. Ngayon, ano pang pwede kong gawin para sa mga anak ko na makakatulong sa future nila.” (Before, I was single, so my priorities were different. Now, I find myself thinking not only about myself, but about what I can do for my children. Priorities evolve and change. Before, I saved for myself and shopped for myself. Now, I think about what else I can do for my children that can help with their future.)
Her experience reflects the way financial priorities evolve for many parents. Saving takes on a deeper purpose, spending becomes more intentional, and planning becomes connected to the people they hope to provide for.
That is the sentiment behind Palawan for All. It recognizes that there is no single financial journey. A young worker sending money home, a parent preparing for a child’s future, an individual looking to protect their family or an entrepreneur seeking funds to grow a business may all have different needs.
Palawan’s evolution from a P40,00 venture into the leading and most trusted financial group nationwide is a story of growing while answering those needs.
With Palawan for All, the company brings its services together with a simple proposition: wherever Filipinos may be in their financial journey, there should be a Palawan ready to serve them.
It is a legacy that began with one service, grew through generations and continues to make room for the many dreams, responsibilities and aspirations of Filipino families.
