Description
The Norma Tecson/Filipino American Council of San Francisco Collection (1939-2005; undated) contains three boxes and one linear
foot of material presumably belonging to Norma Tecson, a former executive director of the Filipino American Employment and
Training Center in San Francisco, CA. and includes participation lists, certificates, a brochure, thank you notes, by-laws,
memorandums, letters, programs, and other documents mostly related to the Filipino American Council of San Francisco, Filipino
American Employment and Training Center, and Filipino Senior Citizens Club of San Francisco. Also included in this collection
are Norma Tecson's personal materials including an address book; lecture notes and course outlines for business and economic
courses; letters sent to her parents Mr. and Mrs. Filomeno M. Biscocho from Norma and her siblings; awards and certificates
belonging to Filomeno; and family photographs taken at gatherings, events, trips, and Filomeno's gravesite and funeral, as
well as images taken of Norma at work at the training center and presumably while she was a professor. Lastly, this collection
contains medical records and a United States Veterans Administration claim file regarding Agripino Estrella-an United States
Army Forces in the Far East (USAFEE) POW veteran; Duran family certificates; a copy of "Foreign Policy Analysis, the 550 Book";
and other material.
Background
The Filipino American Council of San Francisco was founded in 1969 as a non-profit organization. Some of the programs developed
were on-to-the job training for new immigrants, a senior citizen referral and lunch program, and a community nutrition program.
During the 1970s it was headquartered at 1175 Folsom Street (along with the Filipino American Political Association) and 335
Valencia Street. At some point, it moved to 3416 19th Street; but there is currently no information as to if the council
exists as of 2024. Norma B. Tecson (1945-2010) was the executive director of the Filipino American Employment and Training Center. A native of
the Philippines, Tecson immigrated to California in 1989 to care for her twin sister who was ill with cancer. While living
in the Philippines, Tecson was a professor of economics at the Philippines Women's University and former officer in charge
of economic development in the Filipino government. When first immigrating to San Francisco, Tecson was unable to find employment
so she took an entry level position in father Filomeno M. Biscocho's (1910-1999) travel agency. She then began volunteering
for the Filipino American Employment and Training Center and rose to the position of executive director the following year.
Tecson has three degrees from the Philippine Women's University: Bachelor of Arts Degree (1979); Masters of Public Administration
(1982); and Masters of Business Administration (1986). Members of the Biscocho family include: Marifil [last name unknown],
Arthur Biscocho, Eddie Biscocho, Mila Estrella, Filomeno Biscocho Jr., Jean Yllana, and Vicky Biscocho.Agripino Estrella (1902-1968) was a POW veteran who served in World War II in the United States Army Forces in the Far East
(USAFEE). Estrella was incarcerated at Camp O'Donnell, Capas in Tarlac (Philippines). After his release he was confined to
a hospital in the Philippines for a year. He reported back to his unit stationed at Camp Murphy in Quezon City around 1946.
Estrella was reprocessed by AFWESPAC (Philrycom) and then given honorable discharge under USAR by reasons of physical disability
insurance. Agripino was married to Natividad T. Estrella (nee Pelipa) and they had one son, Nestor Estrella (1935-1995).
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
There are no access restrictions on this collection.