Inventory of the Norma Tecson/Filipino American Council of San Francisco Collection SPC.2024.012
Karen Clemons
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2024-03
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Norma Tecson/Filipino American Council of San Francisco Collection
Creator:
Tecson, Norma B.
source:
Filipino American Council of San Francisco
source:
Filipino American Employment and Training Center
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2024.012
Physical Description:
3 boxes
Physical Description:
1.42 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1939-2005; undated
Date (bulk): 1980-2000
Language of Material:
English
, Tagalog
.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Filipino American Council of San Francisco
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.
One of the programs sponsored by the Filipino American Council of San Francisco, was the Filipino American Employment and
Training Center, whose purpose was to assist Filipino American youths and adults of San Francisco acquire gainful occupation
and develop skills through education, training, cross-cultural, and social services.
Sources:
"San Francisco Filipino Heritage Addendum to the South of Market Historical Context Statement" (2013) https://default.sfplanning.org/Preservation/central_soma_hrs/SOMA_Filipino_Heritage_HCS_Final_Report-031313.pdf
Filipino American Employment and Training Center brochure located in Box 1, Folders 4
Preferred Citation
Scope and Contents
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Norma Tecson
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.
Sources:
Box 1, Folder 8; Box 2, Folder 2
Agripino Estrella
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).
Sources: Box 2, Folders 4-5
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Filipino Americans
Philippines
Photographs
Filipinos -- United States
San Francisco (Calif.)
Emigration and immigration
Estrella, Agripino O.
Biscocho, Filomeno
Filipino American Council of San Francisco
Filipino American Employment and Training Center
box 1, folder 1
Filipino American Council of San Francisco
January 1970; March 9, 1993; July 21, 1995; July-August 1999; October 30, 2000; September 14, 2002; August 30, 2004; undated
Scope and Contents
Includes: Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual of the Filipino-American Council of San Francisco, Inc.; blank letterhead;
installation of officers [program]; notice of revivor; articles of incorporation; certificates of honor, appreciation, recognition,
and merit; letters of congratulations and commendation regarding 30th anniversary.
box 1, folder 2
Filipino American Council of San Francisco Autumn Serenade Concert Fundraising Event- ticket stubs, memorandum, venue information,
advertising
October-November 2004
box 1, folder 3
Filipino Senior Citizens Club of San Francisco- constitution and by-laws; "Fil-Am Senior Center Will Get a Facelift" (article)
Manila Bulletin USA
1994; June 2001
box 1, folder 4
Filipino American Employment and Training Center
January 1997; December 2002; March 2005; undated
Scope and Contents
Includes: 33rd Anniversary Graduation and Alumni Homecoming program; institutional approval certificates; brochure.
box 1, folder 5
Filipino American Employment and Training Center- participates lists cycles 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18-23, 26, 31; client intake
list program year 1997-1998
1984-1998
box 1, folder 6
Filipino American Employment and Training Center- certificates of appreciation; certificates of course and seminar completion
October 1994; April, July, October, December 1995; March 1996; July 2001; December 2002; July 2003; July 2004
box 1, folder 7
Norma Tecson- [Filipino American Employment and Training Center] Cycle 50 photographs and thank you notes
September 2000
box 1, folder 8
Norma Tecson- general file
October 1979; October 1982; March 1986; May 12, 1989; September 11, 1995; 1996; May 1998; August 15, 1998; circa 2005; undated
Language of Material: English, Tagalog.
Scope and Contents
Includes: appreciation award Hotel Nikko Manila Garden; Certificates of Recognition City of San Francisco, Bayanihan Cultural
Organization; Certificate of Honor, City of San Francisco; letter of congratulations, flyer, and article regarding naming
of "Giant in the Community"; Philippine Women's University degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Public Administration, Master
of Business Administration); resume
box 1, folder 9
Norma Tecson- lecture notes, course outlines for business and economic courses
1984; January 1986; circa 1980s
box 2, folder 1
Address book possibly belonging to Norma Tecson
undated
box 2, folder 2
Letters to Mr. and Mrs. Filomeno M. Biscocho
1985-1987
Language of Material: English, Tagalog.
Scope and Contents
Letters from children Marifil [no last name], Arthur Biscocho, Eddie Biscocho, Norma Tescon, Mila Estrella, Filomeno Biscocho
Jr., Jean Yllana, and Vicky Biscocho.
box 2, folder 3
Filomeno Biscoho- certificates and awards
1983; February 1987; September 1988; February 1995
box 3
Biscocho Family- Photographs, Negatives, and Postcards
1963, 1974-1999, 2005; undated
Language of Material: English, Tagalog.
Scope and Contents
Includes photographs and negatives of family gatherings; events; Filomeno Biscocho's funeral and gravesite; birthday parties;
Christmas; Las Vegas; trip to Germany; Miss Senior Citizen and senior citizens dance celebration events; Menlo Park; San Francisco
City Hall; Great America; the Aristocrat restaurant in the Philippines; Philippine Cultural Day; class photographs presumably
taken when Norma Tecson was a professor in the Philippines; Norma Tecson at work; images of the Biscocho family; and others.
This file also includes blank postcards and postcards sent to Norma.
box 2, folder 4-5
Agripino Estrella- medical records; United States Veterans Administration claim file
1939-1975
box 1, folder 10
Duran family certificates
1987
Scope and Contents
Certificate of Recognition- Salvador Duran (P.T.A., James Lick Middle School); Lionsa Margarita Duran- summer day camp, perfect
attendance, performance in academic enrichment center program, completion of wilderness adventure youth program, outdoor education
participant, backpacking participant; Valdemar Duran- summer day camp.
box 1, folder 11
"Foreign Policy Analysis, The 550 Book" by DeVere E. Pentony
1998
box 2, folder 6
miscellaneous file
January 1996; January 1998; November 1999; November 2006
Scope and Contents
ticket stubs for production of "Tailor from Chihuahua" Bishop Museum brochure featuring "New Exhibit! Filipino Americans in
Hawai'i: A Celebration of Courage, Service, and Achievement";
The Sun Reporter Vol. 55, No. 3 article "Blacks Battling for Share of Filmore Center"; United States certificate of naturalization for Irena
Caspellan Anunciacion;
New Mission News November 1999 issue.
