WI: The Dutch not the Spanish colonize the Philippines

What if the Dutch discover the Philippines first not the Spanish and gain the trade to China, how would that effect the history of the Philippines?
 
Spain never exploited the Philippines to any appreciable degree despite being some resources to be had (I believe there were some silver mines, etc).

For the most part, Spain used Manilla as a way station and trading post for their annual gold/silver expedition from Mexico to China. After three centuries of nominal Spanish rule, there were only a few hundred actual Spaniards in the Philippines. It was a bit of a backwater.

Without that Gold shipment coming in, I'm not sure if Spain would have bothered to keep the Philappines.

The Dutch would probably run it better, they were far superior managers. However, there seems to be no specific trade good to put the Philippines in line with the East Indies or India.
 

Driftless

Donor
Were there any of the classic spice trade plants being grown in the Philippines then? Or those that could be grown on Philippine soils (once obtained by whatever means)?

Philippine mahogany would have been a useful, if not large scale export for cash.
 
Were there any of the classic spice trade plants being grown in the Philippines then? Or those that could be grown on Philippine soils (once obtained by whatever means)?

Philippine mahogany would have been a useful, if not large scale export for cash.


Philippine Mahogany and Siling Labuyo would be good exports and cashcow for the dutch.
 
Spain never exploited the Philippines to any appreciable degree despite being some resources to be had (I believe there were some silver mines, etc).

For the most part, Spain used Manilla as a way station and trading post for their annual gold/silver expedition from Mexico to China. After three centuries of nominal Spanish rule, there were only a few hundred actual Spaniards in the Philippines. It was a bit of a backwater.

Without that Gold shipment coming in, I'm not sure if Spain would have bothered to keep the Philippines.

The Dutch would probably run it better, they were far superior managers. However, there seems to be no specific trade good to put the Philippines in line with the East Indies or India.

At the same time, Spain also converted nearly the entire populace to Catholicism. Well, the Philippines was more the colony of Mexico than of Spain, until the Suez Canal and the revolt of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

The Dutch would exploit it better, certainly. Though I don't think they'd be good with religion or culture.
 
At the same time, Spain also converted nearly the entire populace to Catholicism. Well, the Philippines was more the colony of Mexico than of Spain, until the Suez Canal and the revolt of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

The Dutch would exploit it better, certainly. Though I don't think they'd be good with religion or culture.

They would not convert the population I think.
 
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