Florentino Tecson

Florentino D. Tecson (March 16, 1906 – September 11, 1962) was a Filipino Visayan lawyer, politician, editor, writer, and labor leader from Cebu, Philippines. He edited pre-war Cebuano periodicals such as Bag-ong Kusog and published his own newspaper, Ang Mamumuo and a book of fiction, Lingawon Ko Ikaw. A known labor leader, he was the president of Federacion Obrero de Filipinas. He served as councilor of Naga and Cebu City and was appointed as Vice Mayor of Cebu City (1954–1955).

The Honourable Florentino D. Tecson
Vice Mayor of Cebu
In office January 28, 1954 – 1955
Preceded by	Carlos Cuizon
Succeeded by	Ramon Duterte
Personal details
Born	March 16, 1906 Naga, Cebu
Died	September 11, 1962
Nationality	Filipino
Alma mater	Cebu High School
Profession	Lawyer Editor Publisher Author

Early life

Florentino Tecson was born in Naga, Cebu on March 16, 1906.[1] He attended at the Cebu High School (now Abellana National School)[2] and became a lawyer on April 14, 1953.[2]

Career

Editor

While studying at the Cebu High School, he worked as compositor for Vicente Rama's Bag-ong Kusog, a Cebuano periodical. He later became its reporter and editor. Other pre-war Cebuano papers he edited were Ang Tigmantala, Nasud[1] (which was printed from 1930 to 1941)[3] and his own newspaper, Ang Mamumuo.[2]

Writer

A respected Cebuano writer,[1] he wrote under various pseudonyms including D' Ville, Victor Kutsero, F.D.T., F. Lorentino, Victor Florentin, and Tinoy-od.[4] He also won first prize in a literary contest by Bisaya magazine for his short story, Mga Kasingkasing Dagku (Magnificent Heart).[5] In addition, he translated Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.[1] Lingawon Ko Ikaw, his only published book of fiction, was a collection of 17 short stories that demonstrated realism and displayed his adept handling of stories of the rural life. While he criticized figures of society such as landlords, spouse, and politicians for their excess, absence or abuse, he lent the narrative with humor and depicted the poor in sympathetic light without being anti-capitalist.[5]

Labor movement

Tecson was also known as a labor leader.[1] He first got involved with the labor movement when he conducted a press coverage of an ongoing maritime workers' strike in 1934. He then became the auditor, vice president[5] and president of the Federacion Obrero de Filipinas.[2] Its other leaders included Jose Ma. Nava, Manuel Palacios, Zacarias Semenio and Jesus Ma. Nava.[6] On June 29, 1939, he was the group's delegate to national convention of labor unions in the country that was held in Manila Grand Opera House, and then he was elected as member of the convention's presidium.[7] Later, he formed his owned labor union called the Philippine Labor Federation.[5]

Politics

Like his contemporaries, journalism led him to politics. Earlier newspapermen like Vicente Rama, Vicente Sotto, and Sergio Osmeña belonged to the ilustrado class and were voted in elective government positions due to their influence on the reading public. More writers from middle class background like Tecson followed suit.[5] He once served as councilor of the municipality of Naga,[1] and then later he was elected member of the council of Cebu City on December 10, 1940.[8] On July 17, 1943, in the midst of World War II, he again was appointed and served in the same post as Member of the City Board of Cebu.[9] After the war, he assumed the same position in the City Board together with Honorata Hermosisima, Cecilio de la Victoria, Florencio Urot, Juan Zamora, Ramon Abellanosa, Numeriano Estenzo, and Alfonso Frias.[10]

On January 28, 1954, he was appointed Vice Mayor of Cebu City,[1][11] succeeding Carlos Cuizon. When the charter of City of Cebu was amended on June 8, 1955, the positions Mayor and Vice Mayor were no longer appointive and instead were filled through election. Tecson was replaced by the first elected Vice Mayor, Ramon Duterte.[12]

Later years

He died on September 11, 1962.[1][4]

Historical commemoration

• Previously known as San Jose Extension, the Florentino D. Tecson Street in Cebu City was named in his honor by virtue of the City Ordinance No. 1882. It starts from Gorordo Avenue and ends at Rahman Street in Barangay Kamputhaw.[2]

Published works

For a list of published works, please read his entry in the Cebuano Studies Center.[4]

Book

• Lingawon Ko Ikaw: Hugpong sa mga Sugilanon[13]

Further reading

• Alburo, et al. Sugilanong Sugboanon, Vol. 1: Cebuano Fiction Until 1940, Atene de Manila University Press (2009)

References

1. Mojares, Resil B. (1975). Cebuano Literature: A Survey and Bio-Bibliography with Finding List. San Carlos Publications Series A: Humanities Number Ten. Cebu City: University of San Carlos.
2. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (January 3, 2014). "Florentino D. Tecson, Cebu City". Retrieved May 24, 2019.
3. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (February 7, 2018). "The lawyer-writers of Cebu | The Freeman". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
4. "Florentino D. Tecson". Cebuano Studies Center. 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
5. Kintanar-Alburo, Erlinda. (2001). Sumad : essays for the centennial of the revolution in Cebu. Malate, Manila, Philippines: De La Salle University Press. ISBN 9715553893. OCLC 48559358.
6. Guevarra, Dante G. (1995). History of the Philippione Labor Movement. Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 9789712317552.
7. Guevarra, Dante G. (1992). Unyonismo sa Pilipinas (in Tagalog). Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 9789712318610.
8. "The pre-war councilors of the sister cities of Cebu | The Freeman". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
9. Philippines (1943). Official Gazette. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
10. Mojares, Resil B. "Today in the History of Cebu" (PDF). www.library.usc.edu.ph. University of San Carlos. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
11. "Cebuano Writers | Southeast Asia Digital Library". sea.lib.niu.edu. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
12. "Cebu City Officials". www.cebucity.gov.ph. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
13. Tecson, Florentino D (1957). Lingawon ko ikaw: Hugpong sa mga sugilanon (in Cebuano). Sugbo [Pilipinas]: Tecson Pub. House.