Pinoy street children choir to hold concerts in Paris

Twenty-five street children comprising the Virlanie Children's Choir will be holding concerts in Paris, France as part of their “Tournee en Europe de la Chorale des enfants de Virlanie" tour from April 5 to 26. A statement Thursday from the Philippine Airlines said 25 street children are under the care of Virlanie Foundation,  a non-government organization reaching out to street children. The foundation cares for abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected, orphaned, and poor children. Virlanie has helped 14,700 children so far, according to its website. PAL and Airbus are Virlanie's sponsors. Representatives from both companies--PAL president and COO Ramon S. Ang and Airbus representative Russell Evans-- recently signed a sponsorship agreement with Virlanie Foundation president Dominique Lemay.   A news release from the Virlanie Foundation on February 28 said the children in the tour will meet the Filipino community in Paris, see the Eiffel Tower, and sing at the Notre Dame de Paris and the Musée du quai Branly, known in English as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Quai Branly Museum, respectively. "They will also go to the north of France for few concerts in Lille, Wasquehal, Douai and Boulogne sur Mer. They will be accommodated in a farm and will catch a glimpse of the French campaign lifestyle. They will walk on the edge of the sea and visit an aquarium," the statement said. Virlanie Foundation founder Lemay and other adults will accompany the children in their trip. The foundation said the concert tour is which the dedicated to all its donors, sponsors, and volunteers for their support to the group for the past 20 years. The tour will also be a way to raise more awareness among the French about the Virlanie Foundation. On its website, the Virlanie Foundation said it has almost 200 staff and volunteer members who are supported by a network of donors and sponsors. The foundation was started by French social worker Dominique Lemay and other Filipinos in 1992. Since then, Virlanie said it has helped around 14,700 children "become responsible and self-sufficient adults." - VVP, GMA News