Driving transformation: Palawan Group charts the future of finance
THE financial services landscape is changing rapidly, with digital payments, fintech, economic pressures, and evolving consumer expectations reshaping how Filipinos manage money. These shifts were explored during the two-day Palawan Marketing Summit 2026 in Pasig City, themed “Build to scale: Shaping the future.”
Now in its second year, the summit brought together industry experts, marketing leaders, and Palawan executives to discuss fintech, financial inclusion, regulation, the economy, consumer behavior, and technology.
The first day examined digital payments and financial inclusion, with Lito Villanueva of FinTech Alliance.PH and RCBC, Atty. Bridget Rose Mesina-Romero and Kristine Orlina of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sharing insights on innovation, regulation, and access. Discussions noted that digital payments accounted for 57.4 percent of retail payment volume in 2024, while emphasizing the importance of trust, financial literacy, and accessibility.
FINANCIAL MATTERS Karlo Castro, president and CEO of Palawan Group of Companies, speaks at the Palawan Marketing Summit 2026. PHOTO FROM PALAWAN GROUP
Economic perspectives came from Marco Miguel Javier of BPI Global Markets and Patrick Tuohy of Goldstrom.
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The second day focused on Filipino consumers, featuring insights from Boston Consulting Group, Social Weather Stations, Kantar, NielsenIQ Philippines, TikTok Philippines, and other experts on consumer behavior, media, Gen Z, and AI.
For Palawan executives Karlo Castro and Bernard Kaibigan, understanding these shifts is essential to creating relevant, trusted, and accessible products and experiences for customers.
