PH Embassy in The Hague, Knights of Rizal Dutch Translation of El Filibusterismo
The first-ever Dutch language version of Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “El Filibusterismo”, “De Revolutie: Een Filipijnse Roman”. (The Hague PE photo)
THE HAGUE 13 February 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in The Hague, together with the Knights of Rizal (KoR) The Hague Chapter, launched the first-ever Dutch language version of Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “El Filibusterismo” on 06 February 2020 at the Museum Sophiahof in The Hague.
Rizal’s said novel is translated to “De Revolutie: Een Filipijnse Roman” by Dutch writer, translator, and publisher Gerard Arp of Arpenco Publishers. The translation is a follow-up to the earlier launch of the Dutch version of “Noli Me Tangere” (Raak me miet aan!) in June 2019, also from Mr. Arp.
Philippine Ambassador to The Hague Jaime Victor Badillo Ledda provided a brief background on Dr. Jose Rizal and Philippine-Netherland relations. Ambassador Ledda highlighted some letters of Dr. Rizal to Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt in which he indicated, among others, his keen interest to study Dutch, his desire to meet Dr. Hendrik Kern, a renowned Dutch scholar of Asian languages, in Leiden University, and his regard for the writings of the Dutch about the Philippines.
The featured lecturers were avid researcher on Rizal and a KoR member in Belgium Messieurs Lucien Spittael and member of the Multatuli Society Jan Mulder. Mr. Spittael discussed the life and works of Rizal when he lived in Europe in the 1880’s. Mr. Mulder, in his presentation titled “The “Fili” in its Time”, made an overview of the socio-political developments in Europe and its colonies in the late 19th century, sharing observations about the similarities in the novels of Dr. Rizal and of Dutch historian Eduard Douwes Dekker (under the pen-name Multatuli).
Originally written in Spanish in 1891, the first Dutch translation of the book was published by Mr. Arp in December 2019. He expressed appreciation for all the support he received for his work on the translation of the novels of Dr. Rizal and presented a copy to Ambassador Ledda.
Aside from the Filipino community, members of the diplomatic corps and the academe, KoR members based in Brussels, Belgium were also on hand to congratulate its brother chapter in The Hague for the successful conduct of the launch. END
Commander of Knights of Rizal (KoR) The Hague Chapter Anton Lutter during his opening remarks. (EV Perez photo)
Dutch writer, translator, and publisher Gerard Arp of Arpenco Publishers (left) and Philippine Ambassador to The Hague Jaime Victor Badillo Ledda (right) during the launch of the first ever Dutch language version of Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “El Filibusterismo”, “De Revolutie: Een Filipijnse Roman”. (Jofelle Tesorio photo)
Dutch writer, translator, and publisher Gerard Arp of Arpenco Publishers (third from left) and Philippine Ambassador to The Hague Jaime Victor Badillo Ledda (third from right) with the Knights of Rizal in Europe. (Jofelle Tesorio photo)
For more information, visit https://www.thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinTheNetherlands/.