Educator, Author, Social Worker, and First Woman Senator of the Philippines.

~oOo~

Name: Geronima Tomelden-Pecson

Birth:

• Date: December 19, 1895
• Place: Barrio Libsong, Lingayen, Pangasinan

Death:

• Date: July 31, 1989

Spouse:  Potenciano Pecson, her fellow student at the state university

Parents:

• Father: Victor Tomelden
• Mother: Pacita Palisoc

Achievements and Distinctions:

• Earned certificate as a secondary school teacher in 1919;
• Earned degree in Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of the Philippines in 1935.
• Taught in varous public and private schools until December 1941.
• Private secretary to President Jose P. Laurel. In 1946.
• Assistant Executive Secretary of Pres. Manuel Roxas in 1946.
• Senator from 1948 to 1954.
• Led many different social, civic and cultural organizations.
• Known in civic circles as a “super-social worker”
• Member of the UNESCO Executive Committee in 1950-1954 and in 1958-1962.
• Headed the Programme Commission of the Executive Committee of UNESCO and served as the Philippine delegate to the UNESCO General Assembly in 1950, 1951, 1959, 1960, 1964, and 1980.
• Received numerous awards and recognitions, including but not limited to the following:
• Press Association’s Legion of Honor Award from the President of the Philippines
• Pro Patria Presidential Award
• 1964 Outstanding Award for excellent service in Philippine education
• Presidential medals and citations for “educational statesmanship through legislation” and for being the “first Filipino and first woman elected to the executive board of UNESCO”
• Conferred the following Doctorates, all Honoris Causa:
• Doctor of Pedagogy, Philippine Women’s University, 1949
• Doctor in Humanities, Centro Escolar University, 1977
• Doctor of Humanities, University of the Philippines, 1979
• Doctor of Education, Philippine Normal College, 1988
• Founder and Administrator, Foundation for Youth Development of the Philippines 1955-1989.

Related Links:

• Senate of the Philippines – Senators’ Profiles
• Wikipedia (Tagalog)

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