Marvin Asuncion (73-A)

Brod Marvin and wife Mona with son Marvin Guillermo II...

When did you finish your studies at UP?

I completed my degree in B. S. Industrial Engineering from U.P in 1976 - a year late since I took a 1-year medical leave of absence from college in 1971, and came back to school during the First Semester of 1972, a few months before Martial Law was declared.

How was student life then during the Martial Law years?

Before Martial Law and even during my stay at U.P. High (now Comprehensive School) in the late 60's, it was a daily barrage of political handouts of leaflets and political materials. Both radical and moderate student groups were even politically attacking each other in addition to the usual anti-Marcos rhetorics, calling each other labels like "revisionist" or "Maoist-Leninist lap dogs". It was during the early part of 1972 (Pre-Martial Law) that our brod Mariano 'Noy" Andin (who was also a former high school classmate) invited me to a student march that started I think somewhere in Quezon Blvd Extension going to the historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo. Everyone in Noy Andin's group was calling me Ka Marvin - although that was the first time I met these people. Next day, some of my classmates at A.S. said that they saw my picture at the front page of the Manila Chronicle distributing leaflets during the march - a real surprise to my Dad when his office mate informed him about this. I was not really active politically but I was just invited by friends/classmates who were really politically active. I remembered my instructor in the Western Thought course during my second year, who always verbally attacked Marcos during the class. I specially remembered his explanation of the Machiavellian Theory that the "the end justifies the means" - which to him is the Marcos political strategy of the suppression of basic human rights and freedom in order to gain dictatorial control. The "Diliman Republic" culminated with a university-wide class boycott with the U.P. Diliman front entrance being blocked by desks and tables manned by student and faculty activists - and after a few days, Martial Law was declared. A few months after Martial Law, I was recruited by Noy Andin into the EMC2 Fraternity.

Who are brods that come to mind?

Basically, my contemporaries were the early 1970's brods, but I'm sorry if I can't remember everybody by names. The EMC2 distribution list has helped me recall the names of my batch names - namely, Alex Seneta, Danilo Villavicencio, Fermin Villapando, Jacinto (Boy) Mendoza, Jose (Joe) Montero, Jose Montenolla III, and Nilo Odal. I recruited Benjie Cariaso, who was also a classmate in I.E. When Joe Montero became our GQ, he lead the frat into two activities from different poles - student activism and parties.

Lots of brod's names in the EMC2 distribution list sounds familiar to me - like Joel Juico, Galo Garde, Pete Valdez, Philip Sioson, Gil Aguirre, Danilo Dungca,Tony Rapadas, Argie Frianeza, Vic Tablante, Enrico Martin, etc. I'm sorry if I can't remember all of the early and mid 1970's brods. I used to eat lunch with brods at Yakal and tambay at the Eng'g library since we didn't have an assigned frat tambayan at the college at that time.

We understand that you now reside in Detroit, Michigan and work for Wayne State University.  How is the family?

After college, I initially worked at NCR Corporation in Makati in 1976 as a programmer/analyst and left for Canada in April, 1978. I stayed in Canada for about 7 years and moved to the U.S. in July, 1985. Currently, I reside in a small city - about 30 minutes drive on the freeway south of Detroit. My wife Mona is originally from Tanay, Rizal and is a part-time LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and my only child M.G. (Marvin Guillermo II) is a 5'6" 15-year-old boy who will be a high school sophomore this coming September. He is a member of the high school swimming team in his freshman year, and enjoys playing his electric guitar since he was 11 years old. He also studied Tang-Soo-Do (Korean Martial Arts) since he was 9 years old but stopped early this year. I am currently working at the University Information Systems Department of the Computing & Information Technology Division of Wayne State University in Detroit (www.wayne.edu).

How do you spend you free times?

I try to be active physically by playing tennis once in a while when the weather permits it. I also like listening to music - both oldies but goldies from the 1970's and contemporary music in order to keep up with my teenage son's music. I used to play golf in the 80's but I didn't have close friends who played it so I permanently stopped it. Of course, I still play "gulp-gulp" once in a while socially (biro lang)… I guess when you grow old, you just tend to relax and socialized with friends during your free time.

What are your most memorable experiences with the fraternity?  Soirees?

Unknown to the rest of the country during Martial Law in 1973, U.P. students marched in front of the Main Library in protest of Martial Law eventhough student rallies were banned by the government. Of course the military and police forcibly stopped the rally using truncheons and whatever force they can muster and hauled off several students including brod Joe Montero who was our GQ that time into a military vehicle. On the brighter side, we had lots of parties with girls from different locations like Sigma Alpha Sorority, from U.P. women's dormitories and other schools. I used to be one of the "taxi driver" at the party since I can borrow my father's or cousin's car to drive the "chicks" that brods invite to the party. I remember brod Teddy Malabanan (the current Alumni BOD President) because he invited some nursing students from Ortanez Hospital School of Nursing for a frat party. Basta chicks natatandaan ko - pero di ko na matandaan ang mga pangalan. I remember driving a full car load of chicks from Sampaguita dormitory, but I wish I had the time to socialize longer since I was always driving people around during parties.

You visited our tambayan a few years ago?  You said it reminded you of your youth.  What message do you have to the younger brods?

I really enjoyed my college years when I joined the EMC2 Fraternity. I didn't have to buy any books at all since brods were willing to lend the books that they used from their previous engineering or even non-engineering classes. Fraternity activities had a mixture of social awareness and some socializing also. When brods excelled academically or did something good for the college or university, it made me so proud of being an EMC2 Fraternity member. The only thing I can say is that resident brods should take the opportunity to experience the camaraderie that the EMC2 Fraternity offers. When I visited the EMC2 tambayan sometime in June, 1995 - the first time after almost 20 years, I felt once again the camaraderie of brods when I introduced myself to the resident brods. Even now, it's good to be in contact via the net with the fraternity even with my being away from the Philippines.

Brod Marvin's 30th Anniversary message from the Anniversary Ball can be played from our 30th Anniversary link.  He can be reached through our fraternity mailing list at emc2list@emc2fraternity.org