Maria Asuncion Bagolor Bangcoy was born on August 14, 1948 in Pooc Oriental, Tubigon, Bohol to parents Pancrasio Bangcoy and Epifania Bagolor of Pooc Oriental, Tubigon, Bohol. She finished her Elementary Education at Tubigon Central Elementary School in 1960. She graduated at Holy Cross Academy for her secondary Education in 1964. Asuncion, “Bicbic” to her friends was a working scholar at the University of San Carlos after graduating from Holy Cross Academy in 1964. She took up and finished Secretarial Science at USC and also earned her Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Business Administration in 1969. From 1966 to 1968, she worked as an administrative assistant to the squadron commander of the U.S Air Force in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.

Then the U.S. Air Force at Mactan was transferred to Clark Air Base in Pampanga, Asuncion did not continue her work there due to the disapproval of her mother. She then worked as a social secretary at the Cebu Lions Club in 1969. She transferred to Mobil Oil Philippines Computer and Programming Department in 1970-73. She applied at the Canadian Embassy in Makati, MM due to her work experience ay Mobil Oil Philippines, she was accepted and worked at the Unemployment Insurance Commission – Federal Government on March 11, 1974. She was given a one year French Language Immersion. After the training she was appointed assistant to the Director on administration and Program Services Bilingual. Then she was assigned to the Regional Economic Expansion, Federal Government. She was one of those accepted as Foreign Service Secretaries. According to Asuncion for one to apply for a Canadian Citizenship one has to stay in Canada for at least three years.

Finally she was accepted at the External Affairs, Canada in 1980. Later became known as Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada. Asuncion was the first Filipino to join as rotational Foreign Service Employee meaning of rotational is one can be sent abroad outside of Canada. She also earned the distinction of being the first Filipina and First Boholana for that matter to be an assistant to a Canadian Ambassador. Asuncion was assigned to the Canadian Mission to the U.N. in New York in 1981 to 1983. Some of her foreign assignments include Islambad, Pakistan, Lagos, Nigeria, Moscow, Russia, Bonn, Germany, Amman Jordan and Kuwait. She was assigned to the Canadian Embassies of these countries as an attaché. Maria Asuncio Bagolor Bangcoy retired from the Canadian Government Foreign Service in 2007.

Even already retired, her love for work did not deter her to apply as a volunteer worker at the Living Arts Center, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She was the first Asian Volunteer of the year in 2013 in the said Arts Center. This comely lass from Pooc Oriental, Tubigon, Bohol is also a good Samaritan. She is supporting two dozen scholars at Holy Cross Academy and a dozen more scholars at the Tubigon West Central High School. She visits her ancestral home once every three years. She lives in Ontario, Canada. She has three other sisters and a brother also residing in Canada. Her advice to the Boholano youth is simple. Work hard and study hard. She finally quipped “The harder I worked, the luckier I get”. (By CELSO R. MANTE- Tubigon, Bohol)