30 May 2016 – On the occasion of its third European tour, Philippine choral group, “Masaya Choir” - with Philippine Ambassador to France Maria Theresa P. Lazaro and Virlanie Foundation officials - paid a courtesy visit today to the French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and his wife, Madame Brigitte Ayrault, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Quai d’Orsay in Paris.

Minister Ayrault recalled his official visit to the Philippines in 2012 as Prime Minister and how he and his wife had first discovered the exceptional talent of the choir. He expressed pleasure that since that time, the choir has been able to perform in France for three times. He extended his congratulations to Virlanie Foundation for its all-out support to the group.

As a gesture of appreciation to the warm reception, the choir performed a couple of songs from their repertoire for the Foreign Minister and Mme. Ayrault.

Ambassador Lazaro took this opportunity to convey that she was “very proud of this extremely talented, young Filipino group” and “wished all the children continued success as they continue to bring honor to the Philippines now and in the future.” She thanked Virlanie Foundation for the care it has provided to the members of the choir and to other disadvantaged youth, as the organization carries out its mission in the country.

Minister and Madame Ayrault have always been supportive of Masaya Choir and had been instrumental in the successful staging of the group’s special performance in April 2013 at the Musée de Quai Branly in Paris for the opening of the Philippine art exhibition entitled “Philippines: An Archipelago of Exchange” where he had delivered the keynote message as Prime Minister. END