True. I'm just trying to see how early the Philippines could industrialize.
Like, if it could industrialize at least around the Meiji era. Or if it would even have the components to industrialize. And what direction it would take to get to that point.
Philippines would have retained or started certain manufacturing/industries in 1820s. Shipbuilding and the required tools to make ships as legacy left by Spanish shipyards in 1820s, Tools for agriculture and mining, Arsenal for weaponry.
But I have to agree with Joseph that majority manufacturing, meaning the economy relying on industries greater than 50%, wouldnt happen in the 19th century.
What would make the Philippines expansionist? And what would be the effects of that?
Expansionist thru self defense. The first external problem Philippines would encounter are the Moros. They would be a continuous threat.
The Moro Sultanates who keep encouraging/tolerate Raids/piracy would be eradicated in ATL. I suspect fewer Moros and Moro Sultanates in ATL.
This would give pretext for interaction with Borneo both as Allies to piracy/raids and to protect the claims of Sulu or what have been acquired from Sulu.
Then, if Philippines goes to a British centric foreign policy, the first interaction with Formosa/Taiwan would be the First Opium war 1840s. Formosan invasion would have been assigned to the Philippines.
If the Philippines captures Formosa, the treaty of Nanking would have been Hong Kong for Britain, Formosa for Philippines. Thus, making the control of Taiwan going full circle. Spanish East Indies->Dutch->Ming->Qing->Philippines.