Paris, February 23, 2011--The Knights of Rizal, the French Philippine Cultural Association and the Philippine Embassy in Paris will present the newly published book of Dr Hélène Goujat at the Philippine Embassy on March 5.  This work is the product of her thesis and the title says it exceedingly well: Réforme ou révolution? Le projet national de José Rizal (1861-1896) pour les Philippines (Reform or Revolution? Jose Rizal’s National project (1861 – 1896) for the Philippines). This book launching thus marks the first event of the 150^th anniversary celebrations of the birth of Rizal.
 
Also present will be Mr. Olivier Petot, Director of the Connaissances & Savoirs Editions and Messrs. Pierre Le Roux and Bernard Sellato, Directors of Sources d’Asie collection, both specialized publishing houses.
 

Dr Hélène Goujat, Maître Conférencier de l’Université d’Angers
When she discussed Dapitan and Rizal ‘involuntary’ expedition
At the 2009 International Seminar, Rizal Confronts the Youth.
 
In this book, Dr Hélène Goujat, Maitre Conférencier de l’Université d’Angers, directly attacks the dualism of pre-revolutionary thinking, the very political paradox faced by Rizal himself: reform or revolution.  The book thus manifests the political maturing process of Rizal confronted by the Spain he loves and dreads,  and seeks to define the precise contours of his vision of nationhood, his vision of the ‘nation,’ a new word in the vocabulary of those times.
 
More than just an analysis of political development,  and the author makes manifest its deeper intellectual continuity, she examines the integrally related questions of the future of the indigenous culture, the role of the church, specifically of ‘corporate religion,’   and the decline and eventual disappearance of colonialism. Dr Hélène Goujat also situates the Philippines in its proper context of Southeast Asia during the historical transformation of the Spanish colonial empire at that time.
 
This is the first doctoral thesis on the theme of Rizal and the Philippine Revolution published in the French language.
 
Personally hosting this colloquy and presentation is Her Excellency Madam Rora Navarro-Tolentino, Ambassador of the Philippines to France, herself a keen Rizalian scholar and lover of history. Sir Bernard Pot, KCR, Deputy Regional Commander Europe of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, and president of the French-Philippine Cultural Association assisted in organizing the event.
 

 

 

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