The Philippine-based Masaya Choir, led by the group’s Musical Director Mrs. Ma. Lourdes Hermo, held a charity concert at the Don Bosco Church in Basel on 21 May 2016.  The choir which consisted of 23 children-beneficiaries of  Virlanie Foundation,  sang a repertoire of regional songs which included Manang Biday (Ilocos), Calesa (Ilocos), Pen pen de sarapen (Tagalog), Waray-waray (Visayas) and Ili Ili tulog anay (Visayas).  For the finale, the choir sang the Tagumpay Nating Lahat, a Philippine nationalistic song.. 

The concert in Basel came on the heels of the group’s participation at the Festival International de Chant Chorale de Nancy in France, which formed part of  the  Swiss leg of their European tour that also included Germany and Belgium. 

Virlanie Foundation is a private, non-profit organization established in 1992 by Dominique Lemay, a French social worker.  The foundation supports and   cares for the poor, abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected and orphaned street children in the Philippines.  Since its establishment, the foundation has supported more than 16,000 street children. 

The Masaya Choir performs before the locals in Basel 

Mme. Araceli Jimeno delivers an inspirational message

Mme. Araceli Jimeno, Irene Sadang (Cultural Officer), and Joanne Tecson (Press and Information Officer) join the organizers

in a souvenir photo with the Masaya Choir