When the pandemic hit, life as we knew it came to a screeching halt. For 17-year-old Mhico Aish Cortel, a senior at Tunasan National High School in Muntinlupa City, the endless days of quarantine boredom were just too much to bear.
But what started as a pastime to escape the pandemic blues turned into an extraordinary journey.
Last month, Mhico did something no one saw coming—he snagged the gold medal in the Solo Color Guard Male Senior Class category at the Asian Music Games held in Jember, East Java, Indonesia, according to the Muntinlupa City government.
The international tilt is the crown jewel of the Asian Marching Band Confederation, where the best of the best gather to showcase their musical and visual prowess.
Mhico’s pre-pandemic world didn’t involve twirling flags or mastering rifle spins. He’s actually a musician, jamming on the lyre, xylophone, and trombone as a member of local bands Saint Joseph Band 98, Flag Arts, and Sandugo Drum & Lyre Corps.
How did he transition from playing instruments to twirling flags and rifles? It was all thanks to a friend, a color guard enthusiast, who introduced him to the cool world of marching arts during those long, seemingly never-ending lockdowns.
He recalled whiling away the time practicing tricky stunts with their flags and rifles in their backyard.
“Kapitbahay ko siya kaya doon kami sa compound naming nagpa-practice. Hindi ko rin akalain na makapag-compete ako bilang isang color guard sa ibang bansa pa at irepresent ang ating bansa,” he gushed about this unexpected turn of events.
Watch his award-winning performance:
