PALAWAN Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala president and CEO Bobby L. Castro received the Doctor of Humanities Honoris Causa from the University of Baguio for his achievements in the fields of entrepreneurship and community service.
Castro transformed PPS-PEPP into the leading brand in the pawnshop and domestic money remittance industry with 3,554 company-owned branches and outlets, and 6,560 partner locations. The Palawan brand is present in all regions, provinces, cities and 1,177 out of 1,488 towns in the Philippines and employs 14,542 direct and 554 indirect associates, making it one of the biggest employers in the country, and is also one of the biggest backers of sports in the country.
“To be honored by an esteemed university in the Cordilleras for the work I have been doing in the field of entrepreneurship and community service gives me, my family, my company and my province of Palawan so much pride. This is an affirmation that our company’s vision, mission and values in providing financial services to the underprivileged sectors of our society is much appreciated,” said Castro, who has led PPS-PEPP over the past 36 years.
“This is also a recognition of the work we do in trying to help uplift the lives of our people, through our support for education, sports development and environmental protection,” he said.
“This is also a recognition of the work we do in trying to help uplift the lives of our people, through our support for education, sports development and environmental protection,” he said in a message to the 335 graduates of Batch 2021, university officials led by president Engr. Javier Herminio Bautista, former president Dr. Reynaldo C. Bautista Sr. and former Baguio City mayor Peter Rey Bautista.
Castro and his wife Angelita purchased Palawan Pawnshop in 1985 for P40,000. Before this, he ventured into small businesses such as selling wild Palawan honey, furniture making, selling baby diapers and toddler needs.
“These small businesses taught me valuable lessons, steeled me in facing difficulties and setbacks, and challenged me to achieve higher goals,” said Castro, who was involved in promoting social justice as a student of the University of the Philippines in the 1970s. He finished high school at the Philippine Science High School in Diliman where he met his wife.
