Paracale is a golden peninsula in the northern part of the province of Camarines Norte. It is a third class municipality, bordered on the north by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the municipality of Labo, on the east by the municipality of Vinzons, and on the west by the municipality of Jose Panganiban. It has a total land area of 19,480 hectares or 194.80 square kilometers (www.paracale.net). It has a population of 46,856 with 9816 households as of 2007 census. It is politically divided into 27 barangays. Paracale is partially an urban municipality.
Gold production is the signature of the place. Metallic minerals (gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc, bull quartz, iron lump and iron in laterite) and non-metallic minerals (silica sand, kaolin, diatomite, refractory clay and limestone) are found in abundance. These can be found in streams, in hills, and in most inconceivable places, beneath the houses and in the streets.
The place is surrounded by houses which are built in congested areas. Some were just makeshifts and patchwork of wood and galvanized steel. The roads are narrow which can only allow small vehicles like tricycle, jeepneys, and pedicabs to pass through. Commercial establishments are very few and can only be counted with the fingers. Most commercial establishments are videoke houses and gambling area located along residential parts of the town.
Paracaleño’s main source of livelihood is “Pagkakabod” or gold panning. Like an ordinary office job, the head of the family will leave the house for work in the morning and return hopefully with gold as the product of the day’s work. The wives are left to attend the children and other household chores.
With the abundance of gold and craftmanship of Paracaleños, the place can be the world’s leading maker of handcrafted gold jewelry products.
