(Updated 8:11 a.m.) More than 700 former street children will have a special performance for Pope Francis before he leaves for Rome Monday morning.

 

Some 440 children were brought to Villamor Air Base before dawn Monday, accompanied by Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, radio dzBB's Rowena Salvacion reported.

Mga batang magpeperform sa departure ni @Pontifex, nasa Villamor Air Base na kasama si @dinkysunflower @wengsalvacion pic.twitter.com/93Vpg1CpBq

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 18, 2015

 

According to the report, the children are from poor families, some of them having fallen victim to rugby addiction.

 

Others were abused or abandoned but eventually rescued.

440 batang galing sa mahirap na pamilya, dating rugby kids, naabuso at abandonado, magpe-perform para kay @Pontifex mamaya. | @wengsalvacion

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 18, 2015

 

On the other hand, another 300 children from Tuloy Foundation also arrived and will perform for Pope Francis as well.

Tinatayang higit 300 kabataan mula sa Tuloy Foundation ang magtatanghal din sa departure ni Pope Francis. | #BlessedByThePope @wengsalvacion

— GMA News (@gmanews) January 18, 2015

 

A photo posted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said the 300 want to say goodbye to the Pope as well.

Fr. Rocky & kids from Tuloy Foundation report bright & early to say good-bye to @Pontifex! http://t.co/UNQzzUBFGY pic.twitter.com/wQVNGVK19f

— CBCPNews (@cbcpnews) January 18, 2015

— Joel Locsin/ELR/KG, GMA News