Tess R. Alarcon

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Founder/ Executive Director Emeritus *

Teresita graduated from the University of the East with a Bachelor of Science in economics and finance. She retired from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after 23 years of service. She also worked with the United Nations in New York and Procter & Gamble. After the death of her husband Aurelio B. Calderon, she established a memorial scholarship fund in her husband’s honor at the LaSalle University in Manila, Philippines which has benefitted hundreds of scholars. She also turned over thousands of his book collection which is now called the Calderon Filipiniana Library. Now married to Pablito Alarcon, they founded Feed the Hungry, Inc. in 1983.  As Executive Director, Tessie has been the guiding spirit of the organization. Her tireless efforts have brought Feed the Hungry, Inc. international recognition including one of the Philippines highest civic awards – the Presidential Lingkapil (Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino) Award in 1998. In 2007, the organization was a finalist in the North America ABS-CBN Gawad Geny Lopez Jr Bayaning Pilipino sa America.

Beside devoting countless hours to Feed the Hungry, Inc., Tessie finds time to volunteer in other organizations. She is a board member and treasurer of the Progressive Alliance of Filipino-Americans, Inc., member of the Asean Circle in Washington, D.C., and former adviser/officer of the College of Holy Spirit Alumnae Association. She has served as president of the Filipino Association of the World Bank and IMF. She is a former board member of the Alliance for the Control of Tuberculosis in Children and the Foundation for the Aid to the Philippines. Her civic contributions have been recognized through various awards including the Dakila Award of Washington D.C. for outstanding community leader, award recipient of the Chicago Hall of Fame, Twenty Outstanding Filipino-American awardee in the U.S., and first recipient of the World Bank/IMF Filipino Association Outstanding Member Award.