19 May 2016 - Philippine Embassy personnel representing Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Victoria Bataclan, joined around a hundred Belgian benefactors and sponsors in an exclusive concert of the Masaya Choir of the Virlanie Foundation at the “Trefhuis” hall at De Lovie in Poperinge, Belgium on May 14.

Twenty-three children and young adults, aged 10 to 23, from the different Virlanie Homes delighted the audience with their refreshing renditions of inspirational songs as well as Filipino folk and ethnic songs from Luzon (Manang Biday, Pen pen di sarapen, Kalesa), Visayas (Ang alibangbang, Ili-ili tulog anay, Waray-waray) and Mindanao (Pong-pong piyangaw). 

Ms. Ma. Lourdes V. Hermo, Choirmaster, skillfully steered the group throughout the concert and displayed the youth’s passion for music as they sang, danced and even imitated animal sounds.  Ms. Hermo, an alumna of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, was a professor of music at St. Scholastica’s College and was a former Choirmaster of the Ateneo College Glee Club. Ms. Hermo was assisted by Margarette Kean Villarin, a Bachelor of Music, Cum Laude graduate of St. Scholastica’s College, Manila.

Ms. Najee Chua, Choir coordinator, said that the choir was created in August 2004 when they had to perform at a benefit dinner in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover. Since then, the choir had sung at more than 70 events. This year’s tour, their third in Europe, would cover 13 cities in Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland.

Mr. Albert Barroot and Ms. Johanna Vandamme, President and Secretary General of Enfance Tiers Monde, respectively, and organizers of the concert in Belgium are happy that the reactions to the choir’s performances were all positive and overwhelming.  They saw the concerts as another way to develop the children’s self-esteem, assertiveness and confidence.  These children were either street children who now live in Virlanie Homes or children from urban poor communities.

Among the choir’s achievements are spring tours in France (2013 and 2015) and Belgium (2015); performance at the visit to the Philippines of French PM Jean-Marc Ayrault and his wife in 2012; World Choral Day 2012; and performance at a reception to honor Andrea Casiraghi, member of the Royal Monegasque family in 2006.

The Virlanie Foundation is a non-government organization helping street children in Metro Manila.  It was founded in 1992 by Dominique Lemay, a French social worker who was, in April 2014, awarded Knighthood in the French Legion d’honneur for his 26 years of work with the street children of the Philippines. END