The award-winning Hail Mary the Queen Children's Choir recently journeyed from the Philippines to perform concerts in a nearly a dozen parishes throughout California.

The musical talent of the 31-person choir --- ages nine to 19 --- was publicly recognized when the youth won the gold medal in the religious music category at the Third Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany in 2004. In 2007 they traveled to the First Asian Choir Games in Jakarta and won three medals --- gold in spiritual gospel, silver in sacred music and silver in contemporary music.

The choir originated from two parishes north of Manila --- Immaculate Conception Church in Cubao and Mary the Queen Church in Green Hills. The youth and their chaperones are accompanied by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, who is serving as the group's spiritual director, and is recognized for his vocal talents as well.

Funds raised by the choir's performances will assist the ministries of the Sisters of Social service in the Diocese of Imus Cavite.

Sister Marilena Narvaez left Los Angeles in 1994 to relocate in the Philippines and to establish the order's ministry with the poor living some 15 miles south of Manila.

The three religious sisters and their staff provide family and community based social services in a three-story community center that includes a credit union and cooperative servicing 1,400 members. Other ministries include programs and health check ups for the elderly, skills development for teen mothers, a computer lab for 500 students, and a summer day camp for some 1,300 youth.

"We feel that we have to help the poor to become self-sufficient. Most of our programs are about empowerment," said Sister Narvaez, who graduated with a master's of social work from UCLA. As a religious sister, Sister Narvaez said she wanted to "be able to join with the poor and to work with them in achieving self determination and self reliance and to work together to break the cycle of poverty."

Sister Narvaez said the sisters' vision is to "create a cycle of hope and new life."

The concerts have been possible with the sharing of hospitality among the Sisters of Social Service in California and local parishes.

"We're extremely grateful to the parish sites that have allowed us to come. That's all been gifted," said Monica Hughes, lay associate of the Sisters of Social Service.

The choir has performed already this month at Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, St. Basil Church in Los Angeles, Holy Family Church in Glendale and St. Catherine Laboure Church in Torrance. They will travel north to San Francisco before returning to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Rowland Heights for an April 17 performance at 7 p.m. and to Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood, April 21 at 7 p.m.

Suggested donation is $15 for adults and $7 for children 5-13. For information or tickets, call (213) 447-9288.