Paul de la Gironière

Paul Proust de la Gironière (1797–1862) was a traveler from Nantes who lived in the Philippines and wrote about his experiences there. He arrived in the Philippines in 1820 and established the Jala Jala hacienda in Morong (present-day Rizal province). Among the activities that he undertook were hog raising and planting indigo, sugarcane, and coffee.

Paul de la Gironière killing a buffalo, early 1800s.

P. de la Gironière in hunting costume

On June 23, 1837, Gironiere's efforts in the field of horticulture and agriculture were recognized by the Real Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais de Pilipinas — winning 1,000 pesos for raising 6,000 coffee plants. He ensured good relations with the clergy by building a church; and with his workers by building cockpits in the estate.

Family

His father was a noble captain ruined by the French Revolution who died in Vertou, near from Nantes.

Works

• Vingt Années aux Philippines (1853)
• Aventures d'un gentilhomme breton aux îles Philippines (1855)
• Moeurs indiennes et quelques pensées philosophiques pendant un voyage à Majaijai (1862)

References

• Un Français aux Philippines : La Gironière from Archipel Vol. 14, No. 14, 1977, pp. 15–18.
• http://jacbayle.perso.neuf.fr/livres/Nouveau/Gironiere.html

External links

• Works by Paul de la Gironière at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Paul de la Gironière at the Internet Archive
• Journey to Majayjay (audio)