Palawan Group Co-founder and Deputy Chairman, Angelita M. Castro, smiles warmly at the graduates as they handed a token and appreciation to the Castro family.
In a stirring tribute to perseverance and hope, the Palawan Group of Companies recently hosted a thanksgiving ceremony to honor the 2025 graduates of its flagship Palawan Group of Companies Scholarship Program (PGC-SP)—a celebration that perfectly captured the company’s enduring commitment to education as a cornerstone of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The intimate gathering brought together graduates from various universities, their proud families, and Palawan Group associates who stood by them as mentors, kuyas, and ates throughout their academic journeys. The atmosphere brimmed with joy and emotion as scholars shared personal testimonies of resilience, ambition, and the life-changing impact of education.
Palawan Group Co-Founder and Deputy Chairman Angelita M. Castro reflected on the program’s humble beginnings, sharing, “Napakahalaga sa amin ng pagbabalik ng mga biyayang natatanggap – ‘di lamang ng aming pamilya, kung ‘di nitong ating kumpanya. Kaya naman, nang unti-unting lumago ang Palawan Group, naisip namin, mainam na magtatag ng scholarship program. Ang aming buong pamilya ay nakapagtapos bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Nais rin naman makatulong makapagpabago ng buhay ng iba.”
(Giving back to the community is very important to us—not just as a family, but as the Palawan Group. When our business began to grow, we knew we wanted to build a scholarship program. All of us in the family were once scholars ourselves, and we wanted to change lives the way ours were changed.)
From scholar to Summa Cum Laude: Mae Kyla Tabla (third from left) poses with members of the Palawan Group Board of Directors (first from left: Bobbly L. Castro, Founder and Chairman; from fourth from left: Angelita M. Castro, Co-Founder and Deputy Chairman; Lisa Castro-Sabado, Chief Business Development Officer; Lilian Castro-Selda, Executive VP and Chief Financial Officer; Korina Castro-Fernando, Chief Human Resources Officer.
This year’s celebration carried extra significance as it coincided with Palawan Group’s 40th anniversary and the milestone graduation of its first-ever summa cum laude: Mae Kyla Tabla, who finished her BSBA in Financial Management at Palawan State University.
“The Palawan Group Scholarship Program instilled in me the perseverance to continue pursuing my education and my dreams, no matter how bumpy the road has been and will be,” Tabla said, expressing gratitude to the Board of Directors and Palawan associates who supported her journey.
Palawan Group Chief Human Resources Officer Korina Castro-Fernando urged the graduates to carry the spirit of giving forward.
“You made it to this day, and we, your Palawan Group family, are very proud of you,” she said. “Ang tanging hiling namin sa inyo, ibahagi ang biyaya at pag-asang inyong natanggap – sa inyong mga pamilya, at sa bayan. Maging mabuting tao, saan man kayo dalhin ng buhay.”
(Our only wish is that you share the blessings and hope you’ve received—with your families, your communities, and our country. Do well by doing good, and be kind wherever life takes you.)
For the Palawan Group, CSR has never been just about business—it’s about building futures. Since its inception in 1998, the PGC-SP has produced 778 graduates, many of whom are now licensed teachers, engineers, CPAs, and entrepreneurs. A number have even joined the Palawan Group, helping serve millions of Sukis across the country.
As the company celebrates four decades of service, its message to its scholars—and to the nation—remains clear: success is sweeter when it is shared.