Bulacan, who lays the golden jewelries

Bulacan, who lays the golden jewelries
by: Mary Mica Derutas, Deb Domingo, Jamie Karen Hernandez

  No one may have thought that the lost goose who lays the golden egg have been laying by in the premises of Meycauayan City in the province of Bulacan since early 16th century .

  The Philippines is considered as one of the leading producers of gold in Asia and has been identified among the emerging profitable business in the country.

  Meycauayan City- dubbed as the ‘fine jewelry capital of the Philippines’ is rich in stones and expensive metals. In Meycauayan, Bulacan there are 2,000 establishments that involves the making and selling of jewelries in the town and most of them are found in the streets of Brgy. Calvario. 

  One of them is the Jewelry shop owned by Hernanie “Aga” Adina who has been in the industry of jewelry since he was 21 years old, it was a family heirloom from his mother who has been handling the business since 1970, their family witnessed how the jewelry industry in Bulacan transformed.

  Years ago, Adina said there are exporter with Chinese products and there are financers who buy finished product in other countries.

  “Mayroong financer na nagtitinda, bumibili ng finished product sa ibang bansa. [Nung] nagtagal nagkaroon na ng mga mangagawa sa Meycauayan, nagagaya/nakokopya na ng mga platero yung mga gawa ng ibang bansa. Doon nagstart ang production sa alahas ang Meycauayan.”

  But the jewelry industry is not always shining shimmering and splendid for they also faced a lot of challenges. One of the challenges that they have faced through those years is the downfall of jewelry making in the town.

  As the years gone by, jewerlies are becoming understated because people now a day will prefer to purchase gadgets and other stuff more convenient rather than jewelries.
 

   Adina also shared how the economy affect the business of jewelry shops in Meycauayan. Products before are less expensive that he came up to the conclusion that if the value of gold outgrow, the number of gold makers decrease because they will not reach the needed capital and will cause its downfall.

  Beth Imperio, 62, has been serving Gold and Silver in Brgy. Calvario since 2006. She said that before that year, they earned more income because they only sell silver. Imperio also stated that their profit isn’t always the same.

  “Hindi pare-pareho, kung pangkaraniwan mga nasa 5,000 [pesos]. Malakas na iyon ha, kahapon walang benta.” Imperio stated.

  Gold and Silver also sells per piece jewelries that may range to 100 php to 1,000 php and price may also vary based on the demand design of the buyer.

  A group of local jewelry-makers organized Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Association (MJIA). MJIA has been active partner of the government in the development of the industry in Meycauayan.

 Hence, even if the industry of fine jewelry in the City of Meycauayan has been flickering, they are still trying to preserve their place as the center of jewelry-making in the Philippines.

  Jewelry making means a lot to the people of Meycauayan for their work  is as precious as the treasured pot of gold and the industry of jewelry making will continue to relive, refine, rekindle with fire and shine.