THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - This is a book
especially for ‘Dutchipinos’ or Dutch-Filipinos who grew up or born in The Netherlands and are trying to reconnect with their Filipino roots.
The Dutch translation of Jose Rizal’s second novel ‘El Filibusterismo’
(‘De Revolutie: Een Filipijnse Roman’) was launched recently by the Philippine
Embassy in The Netherlands and the Knights of Rizal The Hague Chapter.
 |
| De Revolutie is the first Dutch translation of Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo. PHOTO BY JOFELLE TESORIO |
This came after the warm reception of the Dutch-translated ‘Noli Me
Tangere’ (‘Raak Me Niet Aan’) where hundreds of copies have been sold since its
official launching in June 2019.
Translator and publisher Gerard Arp said it was the ambition from the start to make both books available in Dutch,
especially the ‘El Filibusterismo’,
which was never translated in Dutch before. The Noli was first translated in
Dutch in by a certain Dr. A.A. Fokker sometime in the 1920s.
“The books are, in my opinion, one
story, with one common idea and goal of the author. The next goal is to make a
complete, annotated edition in one book or e-book, but that may take a while.
The enthusiastic reception of the ‘Noli’ sped up the translation of the ‘Fili’,”
he said.
While the main target audience are Dutch readers
interested in the Philippines, its history, culture, or history and
colonialism in general, Arp said this is also intended for the many Filipinos
in the Netherlands and Belgium. “To give them to the next generation--the
‘dutchipinos’ as we used to call our daughter… Not for compulsory reading but
to put in the bookcase for the moment when they, maybe after a visit to The Philippines, ask what was the Philippines like in those days, and who this Rizal
was.”
During the launch, Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor
Ledda gave a brief on the Dutch-Philippine relations. In his presentation, he
also highlighted some of Rizal’s letter exchanges with his mentor Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt where the
national hero indicated his interest in studying Dutch, meeting the renowned
Dutch scholar on Asian languages professor Hendrik Kern and securing the book
‘Max Havelaar’ written by Multatuli, pen name of Dutch anti-colonial writer and
historian Eduard Douwes Dekker.
 |
| Translator Gerard Arp and Amb. Jaime Victor Ledda. Photo BY JOFELLE TESORIO |
“We have emphasized here how Dr. Jose Rizal thought of how important the relations with the Netherlands,” Ledda said.
An academic and member of the Multatuli Society, Jan Mulder, provided
insights on the socio-cultural context in the late 19th century and
shared similarities between the novels of Rizal and Multatuli. ‘Noli’ was first
published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany followed by ‘Fili’ in 1891 in Ghent,
Belgium while Multatuli’s ‘Max Havelaar’ was published in 1860.
According to some scholars, Rizal studied the book of Multatuli and
served as one of his inspirations to write his novels. Mulder said while
Multatuli wrote from the point of view of one from a colonizing country who
took an anti-colonial stance, Rizal was the first who wrote from the colonized
point of view.
Meanwhile, Lucien Spittael, an avid researcher of Rizal and Knights of
Rizal member in Belgium, gave insights on the life of Rizal in Europe in the
1880s. He traced the cities Rizal visited and even the houses he lived on and
wrote his novels and other works. In 1887, Rizal was the first Asian member of
the Society of Ethnology in Germany.
 |
| Translator Gerard Arp and Amb Jaime Victor Ledda with Knights of Rizal members in Europe. Photo BY JOFELLE TESORIO |
According to the translator Arp, the books of Rizal are still very much relevant today.
“I cannot speak for the Philippines,
but in general I think Rizal’s books are most relevant because of his
convictions and ideas. Both novels are full of interesting thoughts; about a
fair and just government, about non-violence, religion, etc. Nowadays some of
his thoughts come back in current themes like national identity, neo-colonialism
or modern slave labor,” he said.
The Dutch translation of ‘Fili’ was
based on the first English translation of ‘The Reign of Greed’, and compared
with the Spanish original text. In editing, it was compared with the original
manuscript (the Manila facsimile edition of 1961), according to Arp. He made it
a point not to simplify the text but to keep it original.
“Rizal often used long sentences,
especially when describing his ideas and making a point, like in a monologue.
This can be tricky in translation, as it cannot always be cut up in smaller
sentences, while readers nowadays are more used to short, fast-paced sentences
and action. Also, some older expressions
or words in Spanish can be interpreted and translated in different ways. It was
a choice to make the translation as close to the original as possible,” he
said.
Asked about the differences between
the ‘Noli’ and ‘Fili’, Arp said the former is an “anti-colonial novel,
describing all the cruel injustices by the religious institutions and priests
and also a colorful, funny and sad description of the old life in the
countryside… with a feeling of forgiveness and patience in waiting for gradual
reforms.” The latter is “much more political, and in a way more modern”.
“You recognize the rise of radical
politics of that time in Europe, with socialist and anarchist factions. Also, I
think Rizal had an interest in all the modern progress, inventions and gadgets
– machines, automatons, and sunglasses. What the books have in common is the
cleverly constructed story, with many hidden clues and the unhappy ending,
where everything is revealed. But at the same time, they both have an open
ending. After the ‘Fili’ you wonder what will happen next … ‘What will happen
to Basilio? ‘How did he and Isagani fare in the coming revolution?” he added.
Anton Lutter of the Knights of Rizal
in The Hague commended the efforts of Arp in making Rizal’s two novels
accessible to the Dutch-speaking population.
“We think that is important that the
legacy of Jose Rizal be shown to the public. It (Fili) has never been
translated before into Dutch so we are supporting it… Rizal was inspired by the
Dutch author Multatuli so there was a connection between Rizal and The Netherlands
and not everyone knows it so I think there’s a big relevance in publishing it
in the Dutch language,” he said.
During the launching, the Knights of
Rizal in The Hague was joined by their counterparts in Belgium and other European
officers. Several leaders of the Filipino community and the diplomatic corps,
notably Indonesia and Malaysia, were also present during the event.
 |
| Besides Rizal's novels, translator Arp also worked on Carlos Bolusan's 'America in the Heart'. PHOTO BY JOFELLE TESORIO |
(Originally published on ABS-CBN online https://news.abs-cbn.com/)
Comments