It is hard to believe that the Chinese had already been doing trade with the Philippines 600 years before Magellan discovered the Philippines in 1521. Does this mean that the Chinese discovered the Philippines first?
Historical records show that as early as 972 AD, during the Sung Dynasty, Chinese merchants were already coming to this island called Ma-i located north of Borneo. This Ma-i is said to be the island of Mindoro. “Beeswax, cotton, true pearls and tortoise shells” were some of the products that the locals traded with the Chinese.