Paul de la Gironière

Life & Legacy

Paul Proust de la Gironière (August 17, 1797 – March 23, 1862) was a French traveler from Vertou, Nantes who lived in the Spanish 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.

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.