The Palawan Group of Companies recently held a Thanksgiving celebration to honor its scholars who completed their academic journeys this year. This year’s batch produced 120 graduates, including one Magna Cum Laude and eight Cum Laude honorees, bringing the total number of alumni under the program to 900 since it began in 1998. Many of the program’s alumni have gone on to become licensed engineers, educators, certified public accountants, and corporate professionals, with 104 now working across various departments within the company itself.
Titled Pagkilala at Pasasalamat Para sa Ating mga Iskolar, the event brought together all 120 graduates, each accompanied by a loved one, in a celebration designed to honor not just their academic achievements but the determination and hard work that carried them through to this milestone. The gathering also served as an opportunity to recognize the graduates’ families and to reaffirm the Palawan Group’s ongoing commitment to empowering Filipino communities through education.
For the Palawan Group, investing in education represents more than financial assistance — it is viewed as an investment in the country’s future. Palawan Group Chairman and Founder Bobby L. Castro spoke to this in his remarks, describing education as something that creates opportunity, transforms lives, and uplifts communities, and expressing his belief that every scholar the company supports represents a key to a better future for the Philippines. He added that the company sees itself as an active participant in nation-building, with education serving as one of its most powerful tools for meaningful impact. He told the scholars that the program asks nothing in return, only that they continue to grow and better themselves, so that one day they too might help educate the next generation of Filipinos.
The Palawan Group of Companies Scholarship Program (PGC-SP) remains the company’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, reflecting its broader commitment to creating lasting, positive change in the lives of Filipinos. Over the years, the program has helped deserving students pursue higher education and achieve their goals despite financial hardship, with a broader aim of nurturing future leaders and responsible citizens who can contribute to the country’s progress.
This year’s celebration also spotlighted stories of perseverance among the graduates, whose individual journeys served as a reminder of how education, paired with determination and support, can transform lives and open new doors.
In her address, Palawan Group Deputy Chairman and Co-Founder Angelita M. Castro spoke warmly of her joy in seeing the scholars reach this milestone, while encouraging them to remain responsible and devoted to their parents. She told the graduates that although she had been asked to deliver an inspirational message, it was truly they who inspired her, having persevered toward the finish line driven by the dream of giving their families better lives. She urged them to continue loving their families, to keep striving to improve their lives, and — as they step into their professional futures — to remain kind, act with integrity, and stay grounded in compassion for others.
As the Palawan Group continues to grow and serve millions of Filipinos, the company reaffirmed its commitment to extending opportunities that uplift communities and empower future generations.
Speaking on behalf of her fellow graduates, Nicha Mae Diamante, a BS Accountancy graduate of Palawan State University, said that a diploma holds little meaning unless one’s education is used to help others and improve their communities. She encouraged her fellow graduates to remain honest and act with integrity, wherever their dreams may lead them.
As a proudly Filipino-owned enterprise, the Palawan Group maintains that nation-building begins with investing in people — and that education remains one of the most meaningful investments a company can make.
This article is brought to you by Palawan Group of Companies.
