Palawan Group CMO Bernard Kaibigan led a powerhouse fireside chat with BSP’s Elicia Camille Molina, Grow Capital Managing Partner Paul Joseph Garcia, and Mabuhay Capital CEO Lito Sibayan on shaping the future of finance and innovation.
The Palawan Group of Companies has officially entered a new chapter—one fueled by innovation, collaboration, and the transformative power of technology.
At the vibrant Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City, Palawan staged its inaugural Marketing Summit, aptly titled “Palawan NEXTGEN: Marketing in the Age of AI, CX, and Innovation.” The two-day event drew a powerhouse lineup of thought leaders from global titans like Google and TikTok, top institutions such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), and trailblazers in advertising, fintech, and consumer research.
The goal? To spark bold new ideas that will shape Palawan’s future marketing strategies and reinforce its place at the forefront of the country’s evolving financial landscape.
A platform for visionaries
Karlo M. Castro, President and CEO of Palawan Group, emphasized that the summit served as a catalyst for stronger strategies built on shared ideas.
“This summit is a platform for dialogue—a space where we can exchange ideas, learn from each other, and build stronger strategies together,” said Palawan Group President and CEO Karlo M. Castro. “In today’s fast-moving environment, open collaboration is the key to staying effective and competitive.”
Castro emphasized that the company is determined to harness technology, especially artificial intelligence, to craft smarter campaigns and deliver more meaningful, personalized customer experiences. “Ultimately, every step we take and every innovation we drive is dedicated to one purpose: creating more value for our Sukis,” he added.
Day 1: Mapping the market of tomorrow
The summit kicked off with the theme “Foundations of Growth: Finance Industry and Consumer Trends.” Conversations went beyond buzzwords—diving deep into macroeconomic shifts, evolving media habits, and the fast-changing expectations of a younger, digitally native audience. These insights will guide Palawan’s “brick-tech” model, which seamlessly integrates its 3,500-strong Palawan Pawnshop–Palawan Express Pera Padala network with its digital arm, PalawanPay—now trusted by over 21 million users.
The Palawan Group Marketing Team is committed to taking part as the company takes the lead in shaping the future of financial services for millions of Filipinos.
Day 2: Harnessing the power of AI
If the first day set the groundwork, Day 2 looked straight into the future. Under the theme “AI: The Future of Palawan Marketing,” sessions spotlighted how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing customer experience, product innovation, and marketing creativity. Experts showcased cutting-edge tools and strategies from global platforms, reflecting Palawan’s bold vision to leverage AI in reaching and serving millions of Sukis nationwide—and eventually, worldwide.
Shaping the future together
As the summit closed, Palawan Group Chief Marketing Officer Bernard Kaibigan called on the attendees to reflect on their collective responsibility: “We didn’t just talk about trends, AI, and customer experience. We reimagined the future of financial services—and the role Palawan will play in shaping that future. With 3,500 branches and over 21 million users, we are not just witnesses to change. We are the drivers of it.”
A defining milestone
More than a series of keynotes and panels, the Palawan Marketing Summit became a crucible of collaboration—uniting the company’s marketing, sales, operations, and customer service teams under one vision. By blending the wisdom of industry leaders with Palawan’s relentless drive for innovation, the event marked a defining milestone for the company.
At its heart, the summit underscored Palawan Group’s mission: to wield technology and innovation not as ends in themselves, but as tools to deliver deeper value, greater financial inclusion, and more meaningful service to millions of Filipinos.
