Sinicized Philippines?

I was reading upon my countries history and learned about the Philippine State Mai-I. The prehispanic state traded with Brunei, Song and Ming Dynasty.

How can Mai-I can survive before the arrival of the Spanish and unite the entire Philippine archipelago?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma-i
 
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One thing for sure; Ming must not abandon the treasure fleet and expand it instead, going as far as to the Americas and other places.

With a strong navy and also with no ban to maritime trade; Ming should have been able to prevent foreign powers from encroaching into Southeast Asia.

It's always the case of whatever the current dynasty in China having weak navy and were unable to deal properly with foreign powers, causing its vassals/tributaries conquered by them.
 
One idea that came into mind was that if more Chinese moved into the Philippines under the Song Dynasty. They would bring Song Dynasty technology and science that can transform Ma-I into powerful nation on the Philippine Archipelago. Technology such as gunpowder and movable type printing.

Or what 06294086 says. That is another one to prevent the Euro powers from entering in SEA but the Philippines could be absorbed into China and become Sinicized in that way to.
 
One idea that came into mind was that if more Chinese moved into the Philippines under the Song Dynasty. They would bring Song Dynasty technology and science that can transform Ma-I into powerful nation on the Philippine Archipelago. Technology such as gunpowder and movable type printing.

Or what 06294086 says. That is another one to prevent the Euro powers from entering in SEA but the Philippines could be absorbed into China and become Sinicized in that way to.

Even without going full "Song Industrial Revolution"... it's an interesting idea. An multi-ethnic polity on some trade routes with an excellent grasp of the best engineering and iron the period had to offer. Does it end up as another Japan like entity, culturally distinct and perhaps a touch isolationist?
 
Even without going full "Song Industrial Revolution"... it's an interesting idea. An multi-ethnic polity on some trade routes with an excellent grasp of the best engineering and iron the period had to offer. Does it end up as another Japan like entity, culturally distinct and perhaps a touch isolationist?

Perhaps but that takes some thoughts. My current ideas are that Kapuluan (means archipelago in Filipino) would still retain ancient Filipino culture but also have Chinese culture to. So it could be culturally distinct...maybe.

They can go Isolationist but once the Europeans realize Kapuluans viable position in Asia they would try to IMO an early Commodore Perry on the country or even try to conquer it and divide up the entire country.

If it can at least retain relations with the Europeans, they could have that touch of isolationism IMO.

On another note the Maharlika would be the feudal warrior class of Kapuluan like the Samurai of Japan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharlika
 
Ma-I/Tondo will survive if the Portuguese are the ones that controlled the Philippines, they will turn it into a client state.
 
One thing for sure; Ming must not abandon the treasure fleet and expand it instead, going as far as to the Americas and other places.

With a strong navy and also with no ban to maritime trade; Ming should have been able to prevent foreign powers from encroaching into Southeast Asia.

It's always the case of whatever the current dynasty in China having weak navy and were unable to deal properly with foreign powers, causing its vassals/tributaries conquered by them.

Absolutely not! The Treasure Fleet was, in some ways, like the US moon landings. Very expensive, a prestige project, and counterproductive to the actual use of the resource - sea trade/space.

No,.what you need is more like some bureaucrat realizing that sea trade could massively increase his tax base (and thus his power), and promote it.
 
That would prove interesting though wouldnt the Spanish retaliate and try to take back the Philippines? Also if the natives are in deterring the Spanish how can the archipelago unite?

Though if they dont unite it should prove interesting since Filipino nationalism was not strong yet but also the Western influence in the country...

There is no such thing as Filipino Nationalism not until the Spanish unify the islands as their colony.

Koxinga living until Philippines invasion would not make any difference as Philippines aint like Taiwan. Not unlike in Formosa wherein the locals supported Koxinga, in Philippines, the locals supported the Spanish. Also the difference is the reinforcements. The Spanish have several colonies in the Philippines whichever fort or city Koxinga attacked. They can immediately raise 10s of thousands of standing army even if one fort or city was conquered. While in Formosa, the Dutch were thousands of miles away from their nearest reinforcement. Koxinga was also farther from his logistics base so his 20-30k army would be farther from help than any well fed and well equipped Spanish Army they are facing.
 
Absolutely not! The Treasure Fleet was, in some ways, like the US moon landings. Very expensive, a prestige project, and counterproductive to the actual use of the resource - sea trade/space.

No,.what you need is more like some bureaucrat realizing that sea trade could massively increase his tax base (and thus his power), and promote it.

It will become a prestige project if it is solely for show-off and is not expanded to include sea trade and to discover 'new' lands.

It does not mean that the treasure fleet itself is worthless.
 
Perhaps but that takes some thoughts. My current ideas are that Kapuluan (means archipelago in Filipino) would still retain ancient Filipino culture but also have Chinese culture to. So it could be culturally distinct...maybe...

Sounds very possible to me.

Just like the Peranakan or Benteng Chinese in OTL.
 
One idea that came into mind was that if more Chinese moved into the Philippines under the Song Dynasty. They would bring Song Dynasty technology and science that can transform Ma-I into powerful nation on the Philippine Archipelago. Technology such as gunpowder and movable type printing.

Or what 06294086 says. That is another one to prevent the Euro powers from entering in SEA but the Philippines could be absorbed into China and become Sinicized in that way to.

Interestingly, the Japanese version of Wikipedia entry on the history of Philippines says that there is a local legend that the Kingdom of Tondo is founded by the remnants of Southern Song fleeing from Mongol empire.
 
Sounds very possible to me.

Just like the Peranakan or Benteng Chinese in OTL.

OTL Philippine Culture has Chinese culture in them, from Chinese words imported and fused with the local language to the food they are eating, to the racial blood that they have.

Now, if you want the locals recognizing themselves as Chinese and speaking as Han Chinese, this would impossible to do. People always recognize the locality they are from.

If we do this 1500s or earlier, Philippines would just look like Japan. Adopted Chinese culture, but identify themselves as Japanese. Anything later would make Philippines somewhat closer to OTL, with a minority recognizing themselves as Han Chinese, but with a large chunk of population with Chinese ethnicity.
 
Interestingly, the Japanese version of Wikipedia entry on the history of Philippines says that there is a local legend that the Kingdom of Tondo is founded by the remnants of Southern Song fleeing from Mongol empire.

This is a nice way of believing rumors when Kingdom of Tondo was founded around 880-900 AD.
 
This is a nice way of believing rumors when Kingdom of Tondo was founded around 880-900 AD.

The people who founded it had relations with Sri Vijaya, in fact some of the people of Sri Vijaya took refuge in the Kingdom of Tondo.

If we do this 1500s or earlier, Philippines would just look like Japan. Adopted Chinese culture, but identify themselves as Japanese. Anything later would make Philippines somewhat closer to OTL, with a minority recognizing themselves as Han Chinese, but with a large chunk of population with Chinese ethnicity.
Before the Spanish invaded the Philippines the languages in the plains(some of the survivors of which are Kapampangan and Ibanag) resembled Javanese...so any successful rebellion before the Spanish resettled the plains would result in a Luzon speaking a Javanese like language.
 
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The people who founded it had relations with Sri Vijaya, in fact some of the people of Sri Vijaya took refuge in the Kingdom of Tondo.
Before the Spanish invaded the Philippines the languages in the plains(some of the survivors of which are Kapampangan and Ibanag) resembled Javanese...so any successful rebellion before the Spanish resettled the plains would result in a Luzon speaking a Javanese like language.

That is if the PoD is right after the Spanish resettled assuming that Spain conquers Philippines like OTL. Also, this is under the assumption that everything assumes like OTL.

But the assumption/PoD is either China conquers Philippines pre 1500, which in turns make Philippines more like Japan, Chinese culture which will transform separately as different society much like Japan.

Or if it is later than 1500 AD, Chinese conquest would still remain closer to OTL. I severely doubt any successful rebellions by Filipinos between 1500-1800 AD. Spain was just too powerful around that time and Philippines was too disunited. Of course all your assumptions again are that we come to OTL which contradicts OP, which is making Philippines Sinicized.

OTL, We all know Philippine Culture pre hispanic is much closer to cultures in Indonesia. However, this is ATL with the assumption of Chinese conquest.
 
I severely doubt any successful rebellions by Filipinos between 1500-1800 AD. Spain was just too powerful around that time and Philippines was too disunited.

It is possible if Maniago and Malong both defeated the the Macabebe scouts on the 17th century, they can expel the Spanish from Luzon later and ally with Koxinga against the Spanish.
 
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