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Sunday, Jun 01, 2025
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Palawan Group of Companies Achieves Seven Stevie Global Awards for Financial Inclusion Efforts
Recognition at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards underscores PGC’s commitment to accessible financial services in the Philippines.
The Palawan Group of Companies (PGC) achieved significant international recognition at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, securing seven major awards, including two Gold Stevies for Excellence in Innovation and Brand Development.
This accolade is a testament to PGC’s mission to promote financial inclusion and provide Filipinos with affordable, fast, and hassle-free financial services.
The awards ceremony took place on May 13, 2025, at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, honoring top companies across the Asia-Pacific region for outstanding achievements in creativity, technology, and service.
The 2025 awards featured over 1,000 nominations from 29 markets, evaluated by a panel comprised of esteemed CEOs, entrepreneurs, and academic leaders.
Among the judges were notable figures such as Sean Rooney, Co-Founder of Amire in Sydney, who has collaborated with major global brands, Jae-woong Yoo, an expert in public relations with decades of experience in South Korea, and Dr. Richard Huzhaoyang, recognized for his expertise in branding and advertising from Soochow University in China.
PGC garnered two Gold Stevies for Excellence in Innovation in Financial Industries and Innovation in Brand Development.
These honors reflect the company’s leadership in creating a customer-centric ecosystem through its digital e-wallet service, PalawanPay.
PGC employs a bricktech strategy, combining its vast network of over 3,500 Palawan Pawnshop and Palawan Express Pera Padala branches with the convenience offered by PalawanPay, thus enabling accessible financial services across the nation.
Additionally, PGC won a Silver Stevie for its impactful marketing campaigns in Innovation in Cross-Media Marketing and another Silver for the Innovative Use of Technology in Customer Service.
Its insurance offering, Palawan ProtekTODO, was recognized with a Bronze Stevie for Innovation in Brand Development, having provided coverage to over 5 million Filipinos.
Furthermore, Palawan Pawnshop received a Bronze for Innovation in Digital Transformation in Financial Services due to its launch of online pawn renewal services and gold jewelry sales via PalawanPay.
The company completed its award achievements by securing the People’s Choice Stevie Award for Favorite Company in the Finance industry, which was determined by the votes of over 37,000 global participants.
CEO of PalawanPay, Third Librea, expressed the company's gratitude for the recognition, stating that the awards reflect the innovation and dedication to customer service that shape their mission.
Bernard Kaibigan, Group Marketing Head at PGC, highlighted that PGC has focused on making financial services accessible to all Filipinos, particularly those unbanked or underbanked, emphasizing the importance of their efforts to facilitate meaningful change in the financial landscape.
This accolade is a testament to PGC’s mission to promote financial inclusion and provide Filipinos with affordable, fast, and hassle-free financial services.
The awards ceremony took place on May 13, 2025, at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, honoring top companies across the Asia-Pacific region for outstanding achievements in creativity, technology, and service.
The 2025 awards featured over 1,000 nominations from 29 markets, evaluated by a panel comprised of esteemed CEOs, entrepreneurs, and academic leaders.
Among the judges were notable figures such as Sean Rooney, Co-Founder of Amire in Sydney, who has collaborated with major global brands, Jae-woong Yoo, an expert in public relations with decades of experience in South Korea, and Dr. Richard Huzhaoyang, recognized for his expertise in branding and advertising from Soochow University in China.
PGC garnered two Gold Stevies for Excellence in Innovation in Financial Industries and Innovation in Brand Development.
These honors reflect the company’s leadership in creating a customer-centric ecosystem through its digital e-wallet service, PalawanPay.
PGC employs a bricktech strategy, combining its vast network of over 3,500 Palawan Pawnshop and Palawan Express Pera Padala branches with the convenience offered by PalawanPay, thus enabling accessible financial services across the nation.
Additionally, PGC won a Silver Stevie for its impactful marketing campaigns in Innovation in Cross-Media Marketing and another Silver for the Innovative Use of Technology in Customer Service.
Its insurance offering, Palawan ProtekTODO, was recognized with a Bronze Stevie for Innovation in Brand Development, having provided coverage to over 5 million Filipinos.
Furthermore, Palawan Pawnshop received a Bronze for Innovation in Digital Transformation in Financial Services due to its launch of online pawn renewal services and gold jewelry sales via PalawanPay.
The company completed its award achievements by securing the People’s Choice Stevie Award for Favorite Company in the Finance industry, which was determined by the votes of over 37,000 global participants.
CEO of PalawanPay, Third Librea, expressed the company's gratitude for the recognition, stating that the awards reflect the innovation and dedication to customer service that shape their mission.
Bernard Kaibigan, Group Marketing Head at PGC, highlighted that PGC has focused on making financial services accessible to all Filipinos, particularly those unbanked or underbanked, emphasizing the importance of their efforts to facilitate meaningful change in the financial landscape.
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