History of Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Association (MJIA)
In 1985, the then National Cottage Industry Development Authority (NACIDA) (thru the effort of Ms. Modesta Baluyot) under the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) gathered the five (5) groups of jewellers in Meycauayan to unite them under one group. With 34 chartered members, the group was finally organized under the name, Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Association, Inc. (MJIA) on August 20, 1985 for the purpose of developing the jewelry industry in Meycauayan, thus, making it the center of jewelry making not only in Central Luzon but also of the whole Philippines. It was registered with Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 1986 with SEC Registration No. 136608 as a non-profit organization. Since then, its has grown into a strong, cohesive and unified organization with 113 members.
The first president of the association, Mr. Justiniano de Guzman, did his best to unite manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and traders in Meycauayan. His efforts were fruitful. Unfortunately, Mr. De Guzman has to quit the presidency due to health reasons.
In 1990, being the vice-president, Mrs. Cecilia Ramos, took the presidency. Aide from continuing the thrust and objective of her predecessor, Mrs. Ramos injected ideas and value to the membership to make the association more united and strong.
During her incumbency, Ms. Ramos led MJIA membership into various projects, program and activities. Technology mission were conducted in Baguio, Paracale, Camarines Norte, and Acoje mining to learn filigree making, antiques/ethic design production and jade lapidary.
In 1985, the then National Cottage Industry Development Authority (NACIDA) (thru the effort of Ms. Modesta Baluyot) under the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) gathered the five (5) groups of jewellers in Meycauayan to unite them under one group. With 34 chartered members, the group was finally organized under the name, Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Association, Inc. (MJIA) on August 20, 1985 for the purpose of developing the jewelry industry in Meycauayan, thus, making it the center of jewelry making not only in Central Luzon but also of the whole Philippines. It was registered with Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 1986 with SEC Registration No. 136608 as a non-profit organization. Since then, its has grown into a strong, cohesive and unified organization with 113 members.
The first president of the association, Mr. Justiniano de Guzman, did his best to unite manufacturers, retailers, suppliers and traders in Meycauayan. His efforts were fruitful. Unfortunately, Mr. De Guzman has to quit the presidency due to health reasons.
In 1990, being the vice-president, Mrs. Cecilia Ramos, took the presidency. Aide from continuing the thrust and objective of her predecessor, Mrs. Ramos injected ideas and value to the membership to make the association more united and strong.
During her incumbency, Ms. Ramos led MJIA membership into various projects, program and activities. Technology mission were conducted in Baguio, Paracale, Camarines Norte, and Acoje mining to learn filigree making, antiques/ethic design production and jade lapidary.
The objective of the project known as “Alahas Gawang Meycauayan is to prove that Meycauayan can produce world class products. The collection (reproduction of Philippine Antique Jewelries in gold and silver) was exhibited at the 12th Manila FAME Gift & Housewares Market Week held at Philippine International Convention Center last October 26-30, 1990. The association’s selected jewelry collection was awarded the most coveted Katha Award for Best Production Design. It was such a wonderful feat of having won such prestigious award on its debut in National Exhibition like the Manila FAME, to the envy of others who had been aspiring for the award for quite a long time.
Last June 6, 1990, a cooperative was organized by Mrs. Cecilia Ramos, the Meycauayan Jewelry Industry Multi Purpose Cooperative or MJIMPCI (who first prospect name was “Kooperatiba ng Mag-aalahas sa Meycauayan”). Its was established to form a primary non-agricultural multi-purpose cooperative whose objectives and purposes are: 1) to create funds in order to grant loans for productive and providential purposes to its members; 2) to provide goods, services and other requirements of the members. Now, MJIMPCI has granted 87 loan applications amounting P 2,7000,000.00.
MJIA represented by RICEL’S JEWELLERY owned by Mrs. Ramos joined Fine Jewelry selling Mission a) to Osaka in September 1990 b) Tokyo International Gift Show in September 1991. The main objective of the participation is just to observe the market but resulted to actual sales and appreciation for jewelries made in Meycauayan, Bulacan Philippines. This was the association first attempt to penetrate the export market, which has proven that Meycauayan made jewelry has potential in the export market.
The association initiated dialogues with the Bureau of International Revenue, thus softening the Bureau’s stand against jewellers in Meycauayan. It entered also into a comprise agreement with the BIR last February 1989 that 1) cleared some of its members of its tax liabilities from 1980-1985; 2) generated additional revenue to the government; 3) resulted to a true classification of Meycauayan jewellers. The continuing dialogues with the BIR has paved the way for the resolution of the industry status as an “underground industry” into a more legitimate status in the future.
In 1991, another association was organized by MJIA for the purpose of extending financial assistance to the members. It was registered at SEC in May 15, 1991 under the name of Meycauayan Mutual Guarantee Association, Inc. or MMGA. MMGA is created by Cottage Enterprise Finance Program (CEFP) of DBP. The goal of CEFP is to give borrower access to credit financing with minimum collateral. MMGA is composed of 30 selected members of MJIA. Mrs. Ramos was elected Chairman and Mrs. Modesta Rubio as President.
In 1992, there was a re-organization in the leadership of MJIA. Mrs. Cecilia Ramos was elected Chairman of the Board while Mrs. Araceli Sarabia was elected President of MJIA.
