PalawanPay Marathon Run with a Purpose, Race for a Cause

“The Palawan Group has always been rooted in the core value of malasakit (compassion). Every kilometer conquered in the PalawanPay Marathon is a symbol of how far we are willing to go to be of service to Filipinos – to Palawenos. As we celebrate 40 years of service, it is our greatest honor to go back to our roots and give back to the communities that journeyed with us since the beginning.” ~Korina Castro-Fernando, Chief Human Resources Officer

As part of its 40th anniversary celebration, the Palawan Group of Companies (PGC) recently hosted the popular PalawanPay Marathon in Puerto Princesa City, which was made possible by its rapidly expanding e-wallet platform, PalawanPay.  More than 2,100 runners participated in the race, the most since it was renamed the Palawan Express Marathon in 2015.  Enthusiastic and resilient, runners from all over the Philippines, as well as a few from abroad, including Australia and the USA, signed up for the marathon.

The PalawanPay Marathon is more than just a marathon; it is a symbol of PGC's strong commitment to corporate social responsibility, as the event's revenues were used to buy an ambulance unit for El Nido Community Hospital.  It is expected that this donation will improve emergency response to medical emergencies in one of Palawan's most popular and visited municipalities.

PGC’s Secret to Success: Staying True to Its Core Values

This sentiment is echoed by PGC Chief Operations Officer and 2025 PalawanPay Marathon Overall Committee Head, Roberto Ben Castro,

“This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Palawan Group of Companies. Ang Palawan Group po ay nagsimula dito sa Palawan, at kasama namin kayo sa paglago. Ang tinatamasa nating tagumpay ay dulot ng ating mga Suki. Kaya naman sa ating pagbabalik-tanaw, itong ginawa nating pagtakbo ay hindi lamang para sa ating sariling kalusugan, kung ‘di para rin sa kalusugan ng isang komunidad. Ang PalawanPay Marathon 2025 ay nagbunga ng isang ambulansya na ido-donate natin sa El Nido Community Hospital.” (The Palawan Group of Companies traces its roots here in Palawan, and you, Palawenos, have been with us through the years. We owe you, our Sukis, the success we enjoy today. Now as we look back to our humble beginnings, we hosted this meaningful marathon not just to boost the health of our runners, but also the health of an entire community. The proceeds from PalawanPay Marathon 2025 will be used to purchase an ambulance unit that we will donate to El Nido Community Hospital). Minsan, kailangan pa ng pasyente na maghintay ng isang araw para mailipat sa mas malaking ospital dito sa Puerto Princesa. Umaasa tayo na ang ambulansyang ito ay makatutulong para mas maalagaan ang kalusugan ng ating mga kapwa Palaweno sa El Nido. (There have been cases where patients had to wait an entire day just to be transported to a larger hospital here in Puerto Princesa. We hope this ambulance will ensure better healthcare for our fellow Palawenos in El Nido).” ~Roberto Ben Castro, PGC Chief Operations Officer and 2025 PalawanPay Marathon Overall Committee Head

Hospital Administrator Ms. Rosana Sanoy and Chief of Hospital Dr. Robert Angelo A. Arrieta were present for the ceremonial key turnover.  The brand-new Toyota Hi-Ace, which will now be the hospital's very own ambulance, was symbolized by the ceremonial key.

40 Years, One Vision

As a component of the "Ikaw Pa Rin ang Number One: Palawan at 40" celebration, the PalawanPay Marathon honors forty years of devotion to their Sukis (loyal customers), founded on compassion, trust, and service.

More than just a commercial accomplishment, it underscores the company's goal to improve the lives of the communities we serve by providing Filipinos with dependable and easily available financial solutions.  As more than 2,100 runners crossed the finish line, they represented not only physical stamina but also the resilience of a business that is proudly running alongside its Sukis, para sa Pilipino (by Filipinos, for Filipinos), empowering communities and reaffirming that, despite its 40 years of existence, PGC is only just getting started.

ABOUT PALAWAN GROUP OF COMPANIES: 

The Palawan Group of Companies includes products and services such as Palawan Pawnshop, Palawan Express Pera Padala, Palawan ProtekTODO, Palawan Credit, and PalawanPay. A brand trusted by Filipinos for almost four decades, PGC is one of the fastest-growing financial institutions in the country. With its strength in remittance and pawning services, the company is the market leader in the industry and has over 70,000 branches, Pera Padala outlets, and PalawanPay Money Shops nationwide.

PGC offers a wide range of services, including pawning, domestic and international remittances, microinsurance, bill payment, electronic mobile phone loading, cash-in and cash-out of e-wallets, money exchange, ATM withdrawal, and cash disbursements. Additionally, the company sells jewelry and gold bars, catering to customers looking to invest in valuable assets. 

PGC introduced PalawanPay, an e-wallet app that allows users to send and receive remittances anytime, anywhere. PalawanPay is the company’s latest digital solution, offering faster, safer, and more convenient transactions. In addition to remittances, the app provides access to other financial services, including bill payments, mobile load top-ups, and scan-to-pay QR Ph codes. The app also features integrated functionality for pawn renewal, purchasing jewelry and gold items, ProtekTODO personal insurance, and claiming international remittances.

The Palawan Group of Companies is supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

For more information, go to Palawan Pawnshop and PalawanPay Websites.