Through The Waves Of Time

By Jun Asuncion

Dear Asuncion Family, young and old, near and far,

As we come closer to this beautiful day of our reunion, I invite you to pause and reflect with me—not just on what we will be celebrating, but on who we are, and where we came from,- and what we would possibly become.

The story of the Asuncion Clan begins not in modern cities or schools, but in the crossing of cultures and the quiet power of love and resilience. It began with the union of Mariano Kagalitan and Maria de La Paz, whose father,a wise apothecarist from ancient Middle Kingdom, sailed across oceans to the Philippines—perhaps not knowing then that he would also be involved in planting the roots of a family that would one day grow into the remarkable Asuncion clan. And in marrying Anastacia Michaela, a native Filipina, he did not just form a union—but became one of those who sparked a legacy.

That legacy carried through the Spanish colonial times in Manila, where our ancestors painted and sculpted, taught and healed, fought and led. In narrow alleys and open plazas, in homes filled with music and prayer, they planted the seeds of who we are today: a family of artists, of thinkers, of builders, of dreamers.

To our younger Asuncions: you are the next bearers of this rich legacy. Know this: you carry within you more than just a surname. You carry centuries of courage, creativity, sacrifice, and honor. You walk with the quiet strength of Mariano Asuncion, Sr.and those who came before him, the grace of Maria De La Paz and those who came before her. When you sing, paint, write, teach, lead, or love—you are echoing their spirit.

But with legacy comes responsibility.

This reunion is not just a celebration. It is a call to unity—a reminder that no Asuncion, from any corner of the Philippines or abroad, should ever feel forgotten or disconnected. We are one great tree with many branches, and it is our duty to reach out, to listen, to include, and to reconnect.

As we prepare for this reunion, let us carry with us the words of The Asuncion Hymn—which you can find on the Bulan Observer—a hymn where I tried to capture in words (and hopefully soon in music) the soul of our journey:

“Through the waves of time, you sail,
Connected souls, your bond won’t fail.
With fortune’s blessing and love’s embrace,
Asuncion clan, your legacy we embrace.”

Let us indeed embrace that legacy—with pride, with humility, and with love.

To our forebears, we say: thank you.
To the present generation, we say: stand proud.
And to the young, we say: carry the flame forward—together.

Mabuhay ang Pamilyang Asuncion!

Duterte, the Opium of the People.

( This is a re-post of the article published last May 5, 2016, before the carnage in Davao was then implemented nationwide when Rodrigo Duterte was elected President by the majority of the Filipino voters, supportes and fans, of which many of them became victims themselves of EJK, not to count the numbers of those who were frustrated  to have voted for him)

We have in Duterte a criminal and a full-pledged psychopath running for presidency. Many dictators in history became mass murderers only after they had seized power. But not with Duterte. He is already one before even elected. He admitted boastfully and a -matter-of-factly –  before millions of Filipinos and even watchers all over the world, that he killed people personally and that, if elected,  mass killings of people would be the order of the day. For after all, he believed that to be a president you must be a killer. The likes of Hitler, Stalin, Marcos, Saddam, al- Quaddafi would turn in their graves if they would hear Duterte. Indeed, these dead dictators and mass murderers would pale beside this psychopath made in Davao. These past dictators still displayed a trace of respect and good manners in front of the people and televisions. But not with Duterte. For him he is the biggest and the bravest for he decimated all the small drug criminals in Davao without due process of law. He is not just a lawyer- he is the law. For him, a drug addict and a drug dealer are the same so they must be killed.

Duterte of Davao, the mass murderer, pathological liar, corrupt mayor, plunderer, tax evader, drug user and drug dealer? A foul-mouthed dirty old man of Davao wanting to be the first communist- Muslim president in a predominantly catholic Philippines? No way. He deserves rather- and indeed as soon as possible- to be put in prison or be locked  in a psychiatric  hospital for he is a great danger to public safety- to women and children the most- and to public coffers.

Why did Duterte become the opium of the people, at least among this SWS 33%? Why are they in favor of  him after he showed them nothing but his psychopathic personality profile, mediocre I.Q, speech disorder, obscenities, blood thirst,  misanthropy, etc. during these last weeks? Is this the kind of man who will save the entire nation from poverty, the man who would attract foreign investors, tourists, beauty queens, diplomats and scholars? Has the Filipino taste and idealism really deteriorated that much after six years of Aquino good governance? ” For a change, that’s why I’ll vote for him”, a neighbor told me. A change for the worst? Is this our idea of political and social change? How come that Filipinos nowadays favor more devolution than evolution, mediocrity than sophistication, barbarism than culture and education, dictatorship than democracy, defeat than victory, decline than progress, idiocy than intelligence, emotion than reason?

Are these devaluations of Filipino character mainly because of poverty? Can a Filipino not be poor and yet be intelligent, decent, informed and democratic at the same time?

Poverty should actually  propel the Filipinos to be more creative problem solvers  and intelligent in their choices and decision making  so they can upgrade themselves rather than downgrade themselves more. Or has this nothing to do with intelligence and creativity but with the Filipino character and traits? Like traits of fatalism, crab mentality, ningas cogon,  debt of gratitude, dependency? All these contribute to the tendency  to sabotage the nation: Are these 33% really democratic-tired, poverty- tired, government-tired that now they want nothing but quick fixes to their problems? Or they just want to sabotage themselves?

Or is the whole thing a sign of creeping colonial nostalgia when the Filipinos were ruled by the rod? A modern collective masochistic  longing for a  sadistic punisher? Is lasting freedom too hard for the Filipinos to bear? Democracy too abstract a concept to comprehend?

And what made Duterte be the monster of Davao? His faulty genes, the people of Davao or his long history as a mayor, a warlord? We can guess that all these have  contributed to the making of a Duterte monster. But surely not all, but the majority people of Davao have feared him and this inflated more and more his defective ego. And being long in absolute power this absolutely corrupted his being. The result is this monster of Davao who now wants more and become the monster of the Philippines. It’s only ISIS that he respects, besides Jose Maria Sison and Quiboloy.

In any case, these 33%, including the INC and some corrupt Bicol politicians found in Duterte what they are looking for: A punisher and a hero archetype with impish plans who would sabotage for them the whole nation if elected – with the help of his communist, Muslim rebels  and drug ring buddies. He would be the absolute ruler and- together with his friend Quiboloy, another psychopath made in Davao, he would resurrect the millions of Filipinos from poverty and ignorance.

When in fact Duterte  is the most anti-Filipino who has ever entered the political scene-  and he is the first and foremost anti-Davao citizen. He is an insult to the intellect of Davao people, to  all decent people of Davao and whole of  Mindanao! They should jail him for such a heinous crime.

It would be a gross negligence of duty and national treachery  on the part of all other sane and responsible political, military, civic and religious leaders of the whole nation not to stop him from entering  Malacañang if ever elected this coming May 9. Stop this psychopath by all means! Filipinos can still afford this kind of national revolution than the revolution that Duterte and cohorts are planning to do without congress and supreme court. Stop him now! Preserve Freedom and Decency.

————–

One in Bulan, one in Appenzell

November 9, 1920, my father’s birthday, Andres Sus Asuncion,Sr., son of Adonis Ramirez Asuncion. He was a public school teacher, the last assignment being in Barrio Magsaysay, Bulan, Sorsogon.

He left this world last November 3, 2005, six days before his birthday. However  I have always considered that dying is a form of being born in another world that we don’t see. So death anniversary is actually a birthday anniversary at the same time. It may sound not realistic in our normal terms, but my intution tells me so.

But there could be in this simple reflections of mine on life and death a deeper philosophical insight: the idea that death might be not an end, but a transition—a birth into another state of existence. This perspective captures the continuity of life, framing both birth and death as gateways, linking one existence with another in ways that may transcend our understanding. By viewing death as a “birth” into an unseen realm, my thoughts actually resonate with philosophical and spiritual traditions that interpret existence as cyclical or interconnected across multiple planes.

Imagine the moment of birth: it is a sudden entry into a vast, mysterious world, a place unknown to us prior to arriving. In that sense, death might be seen similarly—a moment of passing into a reality beyond the grasp of our current senses and intellect. In this framework, just as our physical birth brings us from the unknown into a tangible, visible life, our death could similarly carry us from this visible world into an unseen realm, one with its own mystery and potential for being.

This perspective challenges the conventional view of death as a final cessation of existence. Instead, death becomes a pivotal transformation, a return to the unknown or the unseen, and even the beginning of something new. We often consider life to be defined by physical presence, sensory experience, and measurable events. But if death is a “birth” into another world, then existence may not be limited to the visible and measurable. My  father’s passing might then be perceived as both an end to his physical journey and the beginning of a different journey—one that remains invisible to us but might be just as real within a broader sense of life.

In this light, a death anniversary could indeed be thought of as a kind of birthday—a day marking not only loss but the possibility of rebirth. This view offers comfort by suggesting that life, in some form, continues, and it aligns with beliefs that life and death are part of an ever-ongoing cycle. Celebrating a loved one’s “birth” into the next realm could add meaning to the day, honoring both the life they led here and the continuation of their journey beyond.

In expanding on this idea, we might ask: if birth and death are both transitions, what is the nature of the soul or essence that crosses between worlds? What does it mean to live if every end is a beginning and every beginning an end? This perspective suggests that life is a series of transformations, connected by an unseen thread. To contemplate death as a birth is to trust in the enduring mystery of existence, to hold that every threshold may lead to another—an endless journey through different expressions of being. In that sense, the essence of a person might persist beyond the visible, offering a comforting view that, though unseen, they are never truly absent…

The second gravestone below belongs to the Swiss writer Robert Walser (April 15, 1878- December 25, 1956). The newspaper article was written by a 22-year old Swiss columnist Lara ALina Hofer. Here, she describes poetically her difficult search for the grave of Robert Walser which resonates perfectly with my search for my father’s gravestone last year when I was in Bulan with my wife Mila. Like Lara, we went through bushes and lots of other graves and help from some people around to locate our father’s resting place, overgrown with bushes, grass and trees. It  was a touching moment whe we finally found him.

A Quiet Home For The Departed Asuncion Relatives

  1. Adonis Ramirez Asuncion
  2. Amada Sus Asuncion

Adonis Ramirez Asuncion
Bulan, Sorsogon, Civil Cemetery
Amada Sus Asuncion
Bulan, Sorsogon, Civil Cemetery

3. Andres Sus Asuncion, Sr.

4. Pacita Nepomuceno Asuncion

Andres S. Asuncion, Sr.
November 9, 1920- November 3, 2005 Location: Bulan Civil Cemetery
Pacita N. Asuncion
October 12, 1929- June 30, 2020 Location: Sta. Maria della Strada Parish Columbarium
Quezon City

5. Kenerino Ramirez Asuncion

6. Leonor Manas Asuncion

Kenerino Ramirez Asuncion and Leonor Manas Asuncion
Bulan Civil Cemetery

   My Two Old Friends

         

In the quiet dawn, I walk the path of old,
Two friends beside me, their wisdom untold.
Tai Chi, the river, so gentle, so kind,
Karate, the mountain, with focus and mind.

Years have woven, their threads in my soul,
A tapestry of strength, a story whole.
In youth, I sought, the power within,
Now over sixty, I see where I’ve been.

Tai Chi flows softly, like whispers in the breeze,
Unveiling the secrets, with effortless ease.
Karate strikes fiercely, with passion and might,
Still, winning without fighting, that’s the noble path.

In the balance of both, I found my own way,
In the silence of dawn, Kamaytao joined my day.
My body, my temple, stands light yet strong,
My mind, a flowing river, where inner waves belong.

Through decades of practice, through sweat and through pains,
These two steadfast friends have quieted my breathing.
My life energy vibrant, my heart light as air,
A testament to training, to passion and to self- care.

Though the way is long, with distractions not far from home,
I stayed true to my path, in this digital life.
For Tai Chi, the flowing, and Karate, the firm,
Have anchored my Kamaytao being, through each twist and turn.

Now as I stand, in the twilight’s soft gleam,
I thank my two friends, for this beautiful dream.
The soft and the hard, the yin and the yang,
In harmony together, Kamaytao’s sweet song sang.

With youthful energy, in this seasoned frame,
I honor my journey, I cherish the same.
For Tai Chi and Karate, two old friends indeed,
Have nurtured my spirit, fulfilled every need.

Happy Birthday, Sister Marissa

A song for our one and only Sor Marissa Asuncion

(Verse 1)

On this special day, we sing with joy,

For Sister Marissa, our hearts employ.

A life of love and kindness, so bright,

Spreading God’s message, day and night.

(Chorus)

Happy birthday, Sister Marissa dear,

Your laughter and love, we hold so near.

For all your care and the joy you bring,

With love and gratitude, we sing.

(Verse 2)

You’ve kept our family, strong and true,

With every reunion, love shines through.

A beacon of hope, in times of strife,

You’ve blessed us all, with your light in life.

(Chorus)

Happy birthday, Sister Marissa dear,

Your laughter and love, we hold so near.

For all your care and the joy you bring,

With love and gratitude, we sing.

(Bridge)

In your gentle ways, we see God’s grace,

A precious soul, in every embrace.

We celebrate you, on this special day,

With hearts united, we all say:

(repeat Chorus)

Centennial Independence Day Celebration

That was June 12, 1998 when we had acted and sung like Katipuneros, Revolutionarios, Freedom Fighters in Zurich.

That was 26 years ago. I hope in this way to reconnect with those once young, creative and dynamic warriors and friends wherever they are by now. Hoping they will see this post of our program at that time in Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland.

Ang ating Dasal

(words & music jun & mila asuncion. Ito ay handog namin sa darating na Asuncion Clan reunion)

Intro:

Ihanda ang sariling mabuhay ng tahimik

Sa piling ng Maykapal, ang buhay ay kayamanan

Pagkat may patutunguhan.

Bridge:

Malayo man at mahirap ang daan

Ito ay tahakin, lumakad ka kaibigan.

Chorus:

Likas ng tao ang matakot sa daan

Hindi alam kong saan patutungo.

Huwag mabahala, kaibigan

Pagkat ika’y hindi nag-iisa

Kung tatanggapin mo siya

Ng buong puso’t kaluluwa.

Outro:

Siya ang may-alam

Daang ating patutunguhan

Hawak Niya ang ngayon, bukas at kahapon.

(repeat Chorus and Outro /… End )

Hymn Of The Asuncion Clan

composer: jun asuncion

Verse 1)
In ancient Land’s embrace, Ming Mong Lo’s tale,
To Philippine shores, destiny set to sail.
A union formed, a legacy begun,
Asuncion roots in Manila’s Spanish sun.

(Chorus)
Oh, Asuncion clan, through time you stride,
Artists and Healers, in life’s vast tide.
Soldiers and teachers, a resilient crew,
United in strength, forever true.

(Verse 2)
Spanish echoes linger, in Manila’s past,
Artistry flourished, a lineage cast.
Through the brush strokes, and notes that play,
Asuncion spirit, endures to this day.

(Chorus)
Oh, Asuncion clan, through time you glide,
Musicians and painters, side by side.
Teachers impart wisdom, soldiers stand tall,
In the rhythm of life, you conquer all.

(Bridge)
Waves of time, both beauty and rough,
Asuncion bond, resilient and tough.
Connected souls, a family so strong,
In the symphony of life, you all belong.

(Verse 3)
From humble roots to a clan so grand,
A mosaic of talents, across the land.
Through challenges faced and victories won,
Asuncion legacy, forever spun.

(Chorus)
Oh, Asuncion clan, through waves you roam,
In the vast sea of life, you find a home.
Blessed with fortune, counting on each other,
An eternal bond, like no other.

(Verse 4)
Let the hymn of Asuncion rise,
A tale of resilience, reaching the skies.
May the waves of time, gentle or rough,
Guide the Asuncion clan, with love enough

Bulldog Blues

(Blues in A minor)

(Verse 1)

I’m a man with a burden, carried it far too long,
Since my childhood days, been singing the same old song.
People’s cruel words, they cut me to the bone,
Called me Bulldog, left me feeling so alone.

(Chorus)
Oh, I’m crying out in pain, but no one seems to hear,
What can a little boy do but secretely drown deep in tears.
I’m haunted by memories of the past,
In this bluesy delta, feeling lost at sea, so vast.

(Verse 2)
Their laughter echoed in my ears, like a bitter refrain,
Every time they mocked me, I felt the sting of shame.
I tried hard, butI couldn’t shake their scorn,
Left me feeling broken, like a rose with thorns.

(Chorus)
Oh, I’m crying out in pain, but no one seems to hear,
What can a little boy do but secretly drown deep in tears.
I’m haunted by memories of the past,
In this bluesy delta, feeling lost at sea, so vast.

(Verse 3)
Now I’m older and wiser, but the scars remain,
Still haunted by the echoes of their cruel disdain.
But I won’t let them dictate what I am.
I’ll rise above the pain, like a lone bluesman in a jam.

(Outro)
But I’ll keep on singing, letting my soul unfold,
In this beautiful delta, where the blues take hold.
Finding solace in my music, letting my spirit soar,
My guitar will end all these, and I’ll find freedom ever more.

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junasun

A Dream Rekindles The Dark

I

In the echoes of shared laughter, we once roamed,
Brothers entwined in a home that felt like home.
Guided by parents’ love, each unique, yet the same,
In their eyes, we found our singular claim.

II

Mom, with her wisdom, said, “Each one needs his way,”
Nurturing us distinct in the light of the day.
But time played its trick, scattering our band,
Life’s winds blew us far from the promised land.

III

Now, silence echoes in spaces once filled with kin,
Aching hearts yearn for what used to have been.
With parents gone, the axis of our unity ceased,
Leaving us adrift, our bonds somewhat released.

IV

Separated, distant, longing for what’s amiss,
Wishing for moments lost in the memory’s abyss.
In the quest for what’s lost, a soul seeks in vain,
Hoping for connection, to rekindle the chain.

V

The void of what could have been, a bittersweet tale,
A yearning heart’s song, an unfinished trail.
Lost opportunities, a melody of the past,
Reminders that time’s die is cast.

VI

Yet in the midst of this melancholy, a spark,
A yearning to bridge, to rekindle the dark.
For even as paths diverge, hope’s ember gleams,
A prayer for reunion, within distant dreams.

——+

Warrior’s Blues

(words and music: jun asuncion)

I
I’ve been through the fire and the rain,
Lost some friends, gained some pain.
But I’m stll standing, I’m still here,
This loneliness is nothing to fear.

II
I’ve been through the ups and downs,
Lost my parents’ other children along the way.
But I’ll walk this lonely path with my head held high
For I carry my father’s name, my solid pride.

Chorus:

If it be my fate that I stand alone one day,
I’ll embrace with grace this destiny.
I’ll face this truth and no one else I’ll blame,
The warrior in me keeps me stronger ever more.

III
Here today, gone tomorrow, they say.
The truth that all must face at the end of day.
But I find solace in the memories of my parents so dear,
For, be it in deeds or in thoughts, never had I betrayed them, that’s clear.

IV
My destiny is here to stay, so let it be,
In this moment I live, so I flow with it.
Sorrows and pain they journey with me,
They will be my best friends by the break of day.

(repeat chorus)

Childhood Song

It came to my mind in a moment of reflection how inspiring and life-strengthening it is indeed to have spent my childhood and teenage years in our Asuncion Family compound in Canipaan, Bulan, Sorsogon with my grandparents, uncles aunties plus a host of relatives and friends coming in and out all those years. I realized how blessed I was then to have shared my young life with all those loving people in the compound. I cherish those memories and sometimes wished to turn back the hands of time and be there again. The truth is, this is possible only mentally. The song below is proof that I was there. I dedicate it to this Asuncion Family compound which I so dearly love. / jun asuncion

(Verse I)

In the fields of youth, we roamed so free,

Unburdened hearts and dreams in our sleeves.

Our laughter echoed through the golden sun,

A time of innocence, where dreams had begun.

(Verse II)

But as the years passed, the world turned gray,

With challenges and hardships in our way.

Yet, deep within, a spark remains,

A light from childhood that forever sustains.

(Chorus)

Oh, the beauty of childhood, a precious sight,

An inspiration in the darkest night.

Through the trials we face, we’ll find our way,

For the spirit of our youth will never fade away.

(Verse III)

With every stumble and fall we endure,

The echoes of our past keep us secure.

Imagination’s wings still carry us high,

As we spread our dreams beneath the endless sky.

(Verse IV)

In moments of doubt, we’ll look back and see,

The fearless child that once danced freely.

The memories ignite a fire so bright,

Guiding us through the toughest fight.

(Bridge)

In the tapestry of life, both joy and sorrow blend,

But our inner child reminds us, our strength has no end.

With wonder in our hearts, we’ll journey through the storm,

For the lessons from our youth will keep us safe and warm.

(Verse V)

Let’s cherish the magic that once we knew,

When dreams were born and skies so blue.

In the face of struggles that may arise,

We’ll hold onto the innocence in our eyes.

(Verse VI)

For every heartache, we’ll find relief,

In memories of games and boundless belief.

With the spirit of our youth by our side,

We’ll embrace life’s journey with arms open wide.

(Chorus)

Oh, the beauty of childhood, a precious sight,

An inspiration in the darkest night.

Through the trials we face, we’ll find our way,

For the spirit of our youth will never fade away.

(Outro)

So, as we walk this road, let’s never forget,

The child within us is a constant asset.

With the essence of youth, we’ll overcome strife,

And bask in the hope that reignites our life.

/

junasun

Blues For Ma

(For my dearest mother Pacita)
(Blues in E major /by jun asuncion)

Verse 1:
I’ve been searching high and low,
For the place where my mama lays,
I’ve been traveling far and wide,
Through the nights and through the days.

Chorus:
It’s been a long, lonely journey,
Trying to find my mama’s grave,
But I finally found today,
The place where she rests in peace.

Verse 2:
It’s been three long years of pain,
Since the day that she passed on,
And I’ve been searching ever since,
For the place where she is gone.

Chorus:
It’s been a long, lonely journey,
Trying to find my mama’s grave,
But I finally found today,
The place where she rests in peace.

Verse 3:
I’ve been walking through the rain,
And I’ve been walking through the storms,
I’ve been searching high and low,
For the place where she would go.

Chorus:
It’s been a long, lonely journey,
Trying to find my mama’s grave,
But I finally found today,
The place where she rests in peace.

Verse 4:
Now I stand here at her grave,
And I feel a sense of peace,
For I know that she’s in heaven,
And her soul has found release.

Chorus:
It’s been a long, lonely journey,
Trying to find my mama’s grave,
But I finally found today,
The place where she rests in peace.

Outro:
I’ll always cherish the memories,
Of the love that she gave to me,
And I’ll never forget the journey,
That brought me to where I need to be.

Find Our Wings And Learn To Fly


(Jazzblues Ballad in F major7/ jun asuncion
jazz& blues album)

In life, we all have family ties,
Togetherness that we hold so dear,
But when respect is lost things can go awry,
And loved ones can become unclear.

The bonds we shared can slowly fade,
As time and events take their toll,
And we’re left feeling so betrayed,
As we try to keep our hearts whole.

But we must learn to let them go,
And find the strength to move ahead,
To find our own path, make it so,
And let the past remain unsaid.

For letting go is the key,
To finding peace and happiness,
And though we may feel lost and free,
We’ll find our way through this mess.

We’ll take control of our own fate,
And let our spirits soar up high,
And though it may be hard and late,
We’ll find our wings and learn to fly.

Our family ties may never mend,
But we’ll find love in other ways,
And in the end, we’ll learn to bend,
And find the strength to face new days.

So let us hold our heads up high,
And face the moment with a smile,
For though our family ties may die,
We’ll find our own path, all the while.