Written by: Jocelyn Vallevvjl

Gold is the definitive symbol of wealth, such that owning something made of it always makes a strong impression. What a lot of people don’t know is that purchasing this precious metal, even in its purest form at 24 karats, can be quite affordable.

The stunning 24K collection of Palawan Gold features meticulously crafted pieces inspired by the elegance and richness of Palawan’s biodiversity.

The Palawan Group of Companies, whose core business is Palawan Pawnshop, has made buying gold even more accessible through its latest product, Palawan Gold.

The concept is not very different from the tingi (micro retail) practice, said the company’s chief commercial officer, Sheila Shalduga, at the media roundtable held Nov. 11. Thus, the tagline, “Afforda-Gold.”

Palawan Group of Companies Executives during the Palawan Gold Launch (L-R): Jeff Dimaano, Integrated Marketing Communications Head; Angelita Castro, Co-Founder & Deputy Chairman of the Board; Bobby Castro, Founder and Chairman; Karlo Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer; Sheila Shalduga, Chief Commercial Officer and Rona Juan, Palawan Gold Brand Manager.

Palawan Gold, as explained by brand manager Rona Juan, comes in Seven denominations: 1 gram, 2 grams, 3 grams, 5 grams, 10 grams and 20 grams. A set made up of 1, 2 and 3 grams is also available. Each one is 24 karats.

The stunning 24K collection of Palawan Gold features meticulously crafted pieces inspired by the elegance and richness of Palawan’s biodiversity.

Though referred to as “gold bars” during the presentation, they look more like golden pendants or lapel pins. Each denomination has a unique design bearing the image of a bird that’s endemic in the province of Palawan. The designs, Juan pointed out, are based on the photographs taken by Attorney Carlo Gomez, a lawyer who’s into birdwatching.

Palawan Group of Companies Executives during the Palawan Gold Launch (L-R): Jeff Dimaano, Integrated Marketing Communications Head; Angelita Castro, Co-Founder & Deputy Chairman of the Board; Bobby Castro, Founder and Chairman; Karlo Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer; Sheila Shalduga, Chief Commercial Officer and Rona Juan, Palawan Gold Brand Manager.

The 20-gram denomination bears the image of the Palawan Peacock Pheasant, which also happens to be seen in the province’s official seal. Next, the 10-gram unit with the Palawan Hornbill; the 5-gram unit with the Blue-Headed Racket-Tail; the 3-gram unit with the Blue Paradise Flycatcher; the 2-gram unit with the Sunbird; and 1-gram unit with the Blue Eyecatcher.

Plans are in the offing to make another collection, which will likewise pay tribute to Palawan’s rich biodiversity, so this becomes the start of a series to be released annually.

Palawan Gold is also open to requests for customized designs to celebrate special occasions (wedding, anniversary) or mark milestones (service awards, achievements), and even as personal gifts, as long as the requirements for placing orders are met.    

Good investment

Beyond aesthetics, Palawan Gold makes for a good investment, said the company’s chief operating officer, Karlo Castro, as the value of gold itself generally appreciates with instances of fluctuation here and there. This can be checked online from various financial websites.

Karlo Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Palawan Group of Companies

To illustrate, the price per gram was pegged at P5,600 during the event. There was already a P350 price increase from when the product was launched just last September, at P5,250.

That’s why, Shalduga and Juan told Lifestyle at the event, the best time to buy gold is now, as the price could be higher in the coming days. How? They said to simply head to any of the 600 Palawan Pawnshop branches, where the product is initially available, and a dedicated staff member will attend to your needs.

A more convenient way is to purchase is by downloading the PalawanPay app and make your transaction there. You will automatically get a P50-discount, just like when you buy at a branch and you have a loyalty card. If the gold’s price remains at P5,600, you will only pay P5,550 for one gram. Then double that amount if you’re getting two grams. For higher denominations, you’ll simply multiply the base price by the number of grams.

Angelita Castro, Co-Founder and Deputy Chairman of the Board, and Bobby Castro, Founder and Chairman of the Palawan Group of Companies, at the Palawan Gold launch event.

You can also avail of Palawan Pawnshop’s Bili-Sangla service if you’re short of cash to buy gold in its full amount. You just need to shell out the downpayment and then settle the rest of the amount in hulugan (installment) basis. Afterward, you’ll get the item.

When the need for cash arises later on, you can pawn or sell your gold at any authorized entity, but easier at Palawan Pawnshop.

Castro explained, “Since we produced this and know the purity, we can push the appraisal rate higher than the usual. Our appraisal rates are actually high already compared to most in the industry.”

ADVT.

This article is brought to you by Palawan through Browne Communication.vvjl

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