Rafael Asuncion comes from the long line of Asuncion artists, namely Justiniano, Mariano, Leoncio and Jose Maria. This present-day Asuncion completed his Fine Arts degree from UST in 1951 and is a Master of Fine Arts graduate of the Asean Institute of Art.
The illustrious professional career of Asuncion span a period of over four decades distinguishing himself from assistant art director to creative director of some of the biggest advertising agencies in Manila. A recipient of many top awards both as an art director and illustrator, he was also a founding member of the Art Association of the Philippines and a president of the Art Directors Club of the Philippines. Asuncion is likewise credited with designing a dozen commemorative stamps and the 10, 50, and 500 Philippine peso banknotes and coins-flora and fauna series with two other artists.
As a painter, Paeng had a number of solo exhibitions and numerous group shows. He is currently a Fine Arts professor at the College of the Holy Spirit since 1986, and at the U.P. College of Fine Arts from 1979-1989 where he was also credited with designing the college’s official seal. The Asuncion artistic lineage does not end with Rafael. His children are also artists and so the saga continues.
