Villarica, one of the country’s leading pawnshops, has continuously served the Filipinos with services that have evolved with the changing times.
Boasting of having one of the highest, if not the highest appraisal rates in the industry, the pawnshop has made itself as one of the most trusted go-to institutions especially in the time of the pandemic, with more than 600 branches nationwide that have remained open to provide instant cash.
Lester Villarica said, “From the beginning, my grandmother, Paz Villarica, has always mentioned to us that the reason for the business was to be of service. Her guiding principle, which she handed down to my father, Atty. Henry Villarica, has led us to push ourselves to create a balance of keeping the business healthy and at the same time, ensure that our countrymen enjoy the best value, the greatest of benefits, and above all the best service that we can offer.”
This guiding principle has led the pawnshop to establish internal control policies designed to safeguard the valuables of clients while under custodianship as it continued to employ a good number of security measures beyond those required by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, all in the name of better service.
The top executive pointed out that the core of the business is truly the desire to help customers get much needed funds in the most convenient way. This mission is evident in serving valued clients in a quick, convenient, and professional manner through expert valuation, reliable service, and accessible branches nationwide in order to support Filipinos in providing for families and loved ones when needed most.
“As we foresaw the need for our overseas Filipino workers to have a convenient way of sending money home to loved ones and for their loved ones to receive support reliably, in 2008 we began our remittance service as a partner of Western Union. And in 2013, we launched Villarica Cash Padala, a domestic money transfer service, and in the same year, began our foreign exchange services,” he said.
“The purpose of the pawnshop industry has transformed in the eyes of Filipinos. Pawnshops have evolved to become quick access locations for cash especially in underserved areas by banks and financial institutions which is why our vision is to make our presence felt in major cities and towns in the Philippines especially in Luzon.”
He explained that Filipinos have to be prepared for any eventuality and for any emergency, and the pawnshop remains steadfast in its commitment.
“As we celebrate our 67th anniversary, we will continue to provide the highest appraisal rate and the best terms and conditions to our clients in the spirit of healthy competition with other major players in the pawnshop industry, and our commitment to serve the Filipino people remains,” he noted.
