THE EVOLUTION OF A BEAST

For more than two decades, the ESNCHS Marching Band has carried a name that commanded respect. Long before “show-style” reached the city, the Beast was already different. Rooted in a military-inspired tradition, the band blended drum corps structure with ROTC discipline, creating a sharp and commanding presence in every parade and competition. 

Even in its early years, the group refused to look like everyone else, using tambourines instead of batons, dual flags instead of one, and tenor toms when most bands had none. The look was bold, the sound was powerful, and the reputation was earned. The ESNCHS Marching Band became a dominant force in the community, known for excellence, precision, and consistency, setting the standard for what a high school marching band could be.

Slowly, the marching scene began to change. Across the region, drum and lyre corps inspired by Drum Corps International became the norm, but the Beast chose a different path. Rather than follow trends, the band looked across the world to the electrifying energy of HBCU marching bands in the United States. 

Inspiration poured in from Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South, North Carolina A&T State University’s Blue & Gold Marching Machine, Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul, Alabama A&M University’s Marching Maroon & White, and Bethune-Cookman University’s Marching Wildcats, among many others. 

This new direction brought transformation at every level, from drum majors drawing influence from the iconic J5 to majorettes and color guards merging into one powerful auxiliary. Tambourines were dropped for freehand movement, visuals became explosive, and the music shifted toward soul, funk, and intensity that could move an audience and make them feel something.

In 2024, with a brand-new identity and an untested style, the Beast stepped into the Civic Military Parade and Inter-School Marching Band Competition against five experienced drum and lyre corps. The result was historic, as the band proudly finished in third place and proved that show-style could thrive in a space where it had never existed before. That performance marked more than a ranking; it was a statement that a new era had arrived. 

That same year, videos of the band traveled beyond Borongan City and into global spaces, drawing attention from members of the HBCU community who reached out with encouragement and support. What began as inspiration quickly became connection, and the ESNCHS Marching Band embraced its role in honoring the culture that shaped this new direction.

Today, the Beast continues to build an ever-evolving program rooted in discipline, creativity, and cultural exchange. The band actively seeks international collaborations, creates opportunities for students to learn from performers around the world, and preserves the legacy that carried it through more than 20 years of excellence. 

By uplifting its past and training its next generation with purpose and pride, the ESNCHS Marching Band is shaping a future where Borongan City stands connected to a global marching community. This is more than marching. It is culture, identity, and legacy in motion. 

If discipline built us, then show defined us.