By Joan Lopez-Flores

It all began with a heart—a Frenchman’s heart, at that—that was too big for global borders to contain. And today, 15 years into making a difference in the lives of thousands of Filipino street children, Dominique Lemay, the heart behind Virlanie Foundation Inc., has tugged with him more hearts with the same passion to press on in making dreams come true.

The French connection
It was in 1987 that Frenchman Dominique Lemay, then a social worker in training, first stepped on Philippine soil at the request of the Childhood and Sharing Association. Detached from the world as he was, the expat who was supposed to stay in the country for only two years decided to change his life’s course at what he saw: the charming hustle and bustle that is Manila  was also the nightmarish playground of more than 20,000 children, prostituting themselves, drugging, stealing, and begging, most of whom homeless and even dying in the streets.

For Lemay, to remain a spectator was unbearable. Thus, the French national, who was more Filipino at heart than perhaps the rest of us, and former director of Caritas (France), created the Virlanie Foundation Inc. in 1992.

Less strife, more smiles
In partnership with Filipinos, Lemay works hand in hand with a staff of 128 and nearly a hundred volunteers both from the Philippines and the world over in providing shelter, food, and love to more than 300 children. Before coming to Virlanie, many of these children were lost and distressed, being forced to work at a tender age, physically or sexually abused, with some still dealing with severe physical and psychological trauma.

For more than 15 years now, Virlanie operates 12 family homes with a goal of “giving the smile back” to these youngsters, securing for them a decent life and a hope for a better future.

More than tending for the children’s basic needs and providing academic support, Virlanie offers programs that nurture their creativity and works closely with them until they find sustainable jobs and are able to support themselves independently.

Virlanie is able to carry on this tradition of goodwill, functioning as a nonprofit, nongovernment organization, with the help of sponsors from the Philippines and abroad, one of whom is Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Monaco, who has made Virlanie a beneficiary of her very own AMADE Charity Organization.

Credit also goes to committed individuals that help Mr. Lemay keep the organization in check, among whom are Dr. Tony Protacio, member of the board of directors and a missionary at heart, and Fortune Ledesma, consul of Monaco to the Philippines, who is said to have her own Cinderella story to tell and desires to pay it forward. Ledesma is also the chairperson of Virlanie’s annual charity performance this year.

In 2001, founder and president Dominique Lemay was awarded the French Republic’s Human Rights Prize and the Philippine Republic’s Human Rights Prize in 2006.

“Somebody Someday” fund-raising concert
In its tradition of annual charity performances, Virlanie prepares for yet its most stellar event to date, which will highlight the various creative talents of the Virlanie children and young adults.

The concert “Somebody Someday,” directed by noted theater and events visionary Roxanne Lapus and produced by First Name Entertainment and Management, Inc., will take you on a sentimental journey and underscore the aspirations not only of the Virlanie youth but all the underprivileged children in the world.

Performers from Virlanie will include its in-house choir, theater and dance groups, and its very own four-piece band, Polaris. The show will also feature performances from artists Billy Crawford, an international music icon that enjoys vast popularity particularly in France, and KC Concepcion, theater and TV personality and United Nations Ambassador for the World Food Program.

Having a strong desire to help street children through Virlanie, Concepcion was given permission by the UN to support the foundation. Other guest performers include prima ballerina Lisa Macuja, concert queen Pops Fernandez, and singer Pinky Marquez.

“Somebody Someday”
Rigodon Ballroom, Peninsula Manila
September 18, 2008

For tickets and donations:
Virlanie Foundation Inc.
1 Mola Street cor. Sunrise Avenue
La Paz Village, Makati City
(+632) 896 2289, 895 5260, and 897 2584
Website: www.vasia.com/virlanie
E-mail: virlanie@vasia.com