There were three reasons why Spain wanted to colonize the Philippines. First of all, the Spaniards wanted to take over as much land as they could to make their country ultimately powerful. Secondly, Spain was interested in the resources that many of the countries of Southeast Asia acquired including the spices which they believed would be profitable in trade. "The colonial government opened ports to world shipping, and the production of such typical Philippine exports as sugar, coconuts, and hemp began" ("Philippines", para. 27). Finally, Spain wanted to covert as many people as they could to Catholicism, specifically Roman Catholicism, to spread the word of this type of Christianity to numerous countries.
Other than the spices, there are other many profitable natural resources found in this country including fertile land to harvest crops, an immense plant life, and minerals such as iron and copper. |