What a lucrative trade connected the Philippines with china India and the rest Southeast Asia long before the west came to colonize the region?

The lucrative trade that connected the Philippines with China, India, and Southeast Asia long before Western colonization was primarily centered around the exchange of spices, silk, and other valuable goods. The Philippines served as a crucial transshipment point in the maritime trade routes known as the Maritime Silk Road. Filipino traders engaged in the exchange of local products like gold, pearls, and textiles for Chinese porcelain, Indian spices, and other exotic items. This vibrant trade network fostered cultural exchanges and economic interdependence among the regions involved.