Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Andy M. Tecson - Violinist

Andy Tecson is a man with many talents. Aside from singing as tenor with the Philippines Concert Choir, he also plays the violin, guitar and mandolin. Tecson has likewise built a reputation for himself as a professional photographer, a financial planner, an insurance consultant, and an accountant. An active community leader, Andy has been actively involved in the association of FilAms from his hometown in Nueva Ecija, having served as the past president of Cabiao USA.

Having studied violin at an early age, Andy was already an accomplished violinist when he entered the University of the East (UE) to take up Business Administration, major in Accounting. While in UE, he played second violin in the UE Symphony Orchestra.

In 1972, Andy immigrated to the US. In LA, he became a successful financial and insurance consultant, several times awarded as Agent of the Year by the Sotiangco Insurance Agency. He has also qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table for 15 years and has thus been considered a Lifetime Member of the prestigious circle.

Andy eventually married another musician, Elizabeth Fortun, a graduate of Music from UST and a piano and music teacher. They had four children: Cecile, a visual effects film artist; Armando, also a photographer like his dad; Samuel, film sound engineer; and Joseph, multi-media artist.

Aside from his success in the insurance business, Andy has also excelled in the field of photography. His training started with his father, Lauro Tecson, who was an accomplished artist and protégé of Philippine National Artists, Fernando Amorsolo; besides being a portrait painter and photographer. Andy is a member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and Wedding Photographers International. He is also the founder and past president of the Filipino-American Photographers’ Club-Los Angeles "Salamin", and the chief photographer of Asian Journal Publications. His photographs have been featured in the covers of magazines and newspapers like the People Asia and Inside Wedding magazines. Andy has been awarded by Reflections as Photographer of the Year and he did the wedding album of Lea Salonga and other celebrities.

Andy’s love for music has developed through the years. He has been a guest violinist at the annual dinner program of the Philippine Consulate during Independence Day celebrations. He is also a part of the Music Ministry in St. Brendan Catholic Church in LA, playing his violin and mandolin during Wednesday novenas and the annual Simbang Gabi. Likewise, he plays during community and social gatherings of family and friends, like birthdays and weddings.