Provinces and Cities of The Philippines

PROVINCES OF THE PHILIPPINES
ABRA
Founded: 1846 (official)

Established: March 10, 1917 (official)
Capital: Bangued
Nicknames:
- Natural Dye Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Moving up Abrenio.

Anthem: Abra March
Name of Origin:
- Abra, literal meaning. “Gap or opening”. Originally the area was called in
Spanish El Abra de Vigan, meaning “The Gap of Vigan”.
- Abra is from the Spanish word abre meaning gorge, pass, breach, or
opening. It was first used by the Spaniards to denote the region above the
Banaoang Gap where the Abra River exits into the West Philippine Sea,
thus the Rio Grande de Abra.
AGUSAN DEL NORTE
Founded: August 20, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Butuan) (official)

September 20, 1907 (as Agusan Province) (official)
Established: June 17, 1967 (official)
Capital: Cabadbaran City (de jure)
Butuan City (de facto)
Nicknames:
- A Haven of Antiquated Finds
Motto: None.
Anthem: Agusan del Norte Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Northern Agusan (literal meaning).
- Agusan derives its name from the Agusan word agasan, meaning "where
the water flows", referring to the Agusan River that splits the land and
meanders south to north in a 250-kilometer (160 mi) rushes to Butuan Bay.
It is the third-largest river in the country and served as a highway for the
Spanish colonizers in gaining access to inner northeastern Mindanao.
AGUSAN DEL SUR
Founded: September 20, 1907 (as Agusan Province) (official)

Capital: Prosperidad
Nicknames:
- Timberland of the Philippines
- Treasures of Old
Motto: Hail, Agusan del Sur.

Anthem: Agusan del Sur March
Name of Origin:
- Southern Agusan (literal meaning).
- Agusan derives its name from the Agusan word agasan, meaning "where
the water flows", referring to the Agusan River that splits the land and
meanders south to north in a 250-kilometer (160 mi) rushes to Butuan Bay.
It is the third-largest river in the country and served as a highway for the
Spanish colonizers in gaining access to inner northeastern Mindanao.
AKLAN
Founded: 1200 (as part of Kedatuan of Madja-as) (official)
Established: April 25, 1956 (official)
Capital: Kalibo
Nicknames:
- Oldest Province in the Philippines
Motto: Accelerate, Aklan.

Anthem: Aklan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Akean, Akeanon for "where there is boiling or frothing," describes the
Aklan River’s water flow at shallow areas near its mouth, where Kalibo is
located, especially during the dry season. Aclán was the original name of
Kalibo.
- El Rio de Aclan (The River of Aclan).
ALBAY
Founded: April 03, 1574 (official)
Capital: Legazpi City
Nicknames:
- Land of the World’s Most Perfect Cone
Motto: Alluring Albay.

Anthem: Albay Forever
Name of Origin:
- The shortened form of the phrase al baybay, composed of a Spanish
preposition, Spanish: Al, literal meaning “The”, and Bikol root word,
Central Bicolano: Baybay, literal meaning “shore”, referring to the coastal
settlement of Sawangan, now the port district of Legazpi City.
ANTIQUE
Capital: San José de Buenavista
Nicknames:
- Marble Center of Panay
- The Rising Star of Western Visayas
- Home of the indigenous Iraynun-Bukidnon
Motto: Where the Mountains meet the Sea.

Anthem: Antique, my hometown
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of the word hamtik, Kinaray-a for a species of large red
ants abundant in the town of Hamtic (formerly rendered as Antique in
Spanish), which served as the first capital of the province.
APAYAO
Founded: May 09, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Cagayan) (official)
August 18, 1908 (as part of Mountain Province) (official)
June 18, 1966 (as part of Kalinga-Apayao) (official)
Established: February 14, 1995 (official)
Capital: Kabugao
Nicknames:
- The Hidden Treasure Trove of Philippine Biodiversity
Motto: Apayao, be proud.

Anthem: Apayao Forever
Name of Origin:
- Apa'yaw, a word in various Cordilleran languages meaning "overtaking,"
about the swift-flowing river that drains the mountainous terrain inhabited
by the Isneg ethnic group.
- Among the Isneg, apa'yaw only refers to the main branch of the upper
reaches of the Apayao-Abulug River system, and only those who live along
that part of the river basin are called i-apa'yaw ("from Apa'yaw").
AURORA
Founded: 1856 (as Military District of El Principe) (official)
June 14, 1951 (as Sub-Province of Quezon) (official)
Established: August 13, 1979 (official)
Capital: Baler
Nicknames:
- Land of Golden Sunrise - Gateway to the Pacific
- Sanctuary of Nature’s Splendor
- A World of Enchantment Awaits You
Motto: Rising Aurora.

Anthem: O, Aurora
Name of Origin:
- Aurora Quezon was the wife of Philippine President Manuel Luis Quezon
and the First Lady of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. Quezon was known
for her involvement with humanitarian activities and served as the first
chairperson of the Philippine National Red Cross.
- Five years after her husband's death, she and her daughter María Aurora
("Baby") were assassinated while they were en route to Baler to open a
hospital dedicated to President Quezon. The province of Aurora was
named in her memory.
- Aurora itself is the Latin word for "dawn."
BASILAN
Established: July 01, 1948 (as a Chartered City) (official)
December 27, 1973 (as a Chartered Province) (official)
Capital: Lamitan City (de jure)
Isabela City (de facto)
Nicknames:
- A Province to be Watched
- Treasure Island in the Southern Seas
- Bellwether Province
Motto: Weavers of Peace.

Anthem: Fair Basilan
Name of Origin:
- Basilan, a native word possibly meaning "waterway into the [open] sea,"
refers to the body of water connecting the Sulu Sea to the Moro Gulf and
the Celebes Sea. Contraction of basih Balan, Bahasa Sūg for "magnetic
iron," referring to the rich iron ore deposits found in the island that now
bears its name, after which the province was named.
BATAAN
Founded: 1754 (Provincial Government’s account) (official)
January 11, 1757 (Historian Cornelio Bascara’s account)
Capital: Balanga City
Nicknames:
- History Hub of Central Luzon
Motto: A Living Monument of Valor, Gallantry, and Heroism.

Anthem: Bataan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- An evolved form of batan, a word of obscure origin, the indigenous name
for the land across the water from Maragondon, was also rendered in early
Spanish accounts as Vatan.
- The term Batang has cognates across various Austronesian languages,
mostly being a word that means "the main part of something," such as
"trunk" or "body". On a more abstract level, the term means "the most
important or pre-eminent thing."
BATANES
Founded: June 26, 1783 (official)
Established: August 20, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Cagayan) (official)
May 20, 1909 (official)
Capital: Basco
Nicknames:
- Land of the True Insulars
- Home of the Winds
- The Paradise of the North
- Northernmost Province
Motto: Breathtaking Batanes - Explore Simplicity.

Anthem: Beautiful Batanes Isles
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized and pluralized form of vatan, the indigenous name for the
province's main island, of obscure origin, similar to the etymology of
Bataan above. The term Batang has cognates across various Austronesian
languages, mostly being a word that means "the main part of something,"
such as "trunk" or "body".
BATANGAS
Founded: December 08, 1581 (official)
Established: May 02, 1901 (official)
Capital: Batangas City
Nicknames:
- Land of Rolling Hills and Wide Shore Lands
- The Province of the Brave
- Diving and Shipping Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Rich Batangas!

Anthem: Batangas Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Spanish plural form of the Tagalog word Batang, meaning "log," is about
the trunks of logged trees that used to be floated down the Calumpang
River, which runs through Batangas’ town (now city).
- Other former names of the province that reflected the location of the
administrative capital include Balayan, Bombon (a settlement on the
shores of what is now Taal Lake destroyed by a volcanic eruption and later
re-established as the town of San Nicolas), and Comintan (after the
settlement of Kumintang, now part of Batangas City).
- The modern name of "Batangas" is derived from Spanish Batangas,
meaning "outrigger [booms]".
BENGUET
Founded: November 23, 1900 (official)
Established: August 18, 1908 (as Sub-Province of Mountain Province) (official)
June 16, 1966 (separated from Mountain Province) (official)
Capital: La Trinidad
Nicknames:
- Salad Bowl of the Philippines
- Rose Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Unity, Industry, Prosperity.

Anthem: Benguet Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized rendering of benget, Kankanaey word for "edge." This was
the original name of the settlement at the edge of a swamp formed by the
Balili River flooding the flat valley floor. Benget eventually lent its name to
the swampy valley (which has since been converted for agricultural
production and is now known as the La Trinidad Valley) and the Spanish-
era comandancia and American-era province administered from it.
BILIRAN
Founded: February 22, 1782 (official)
Established: April 08, 1959 (as Sub-Province of Leyte) (official)
Capital: Naval
Nicknames:
- Shipyard of Antiquity
Motto: Undiscovered Paradise.

Anthem: Biliran Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Biliran, a Waray word meaning "edge" or "something which forms corners
or tips," likely about the sandy point (now called Inagawan or Banderahan)
at the mouth of what is now the Caraycaray River. The settlement near this
sandy point was also named Biliran, and it became the Poblacion
(administrative center) of the pueblo of the same name in 1712. The island
from which the present-day province takes its name more prevalently
began to be called Biliran following the establishment of the pueblo,
replacing the old name Panamao which referred to the island's once-active
main volcano.
BOHOL
Founded: March 25, 1565 (official)
Established: July 22, 1854 (official)
Capital: Tagbilaran City
Nicknames:
- Splendor Underwater and Over Hills - Jewel of the Philippines
- 1,776 Hills, And Then Some - God’s Little Paradise
- Calamay Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Heart of the Islands, Truly the Philippines.

Anthem: Bohol Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized rendering of bo-ol, the name of the site of the blood compact
(sanduguan) between the native king Rajah Sikatuna and the Spanish
conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi, which in turn may have been
derived from the local term for a certain kind of small thorny tree.
- Bohol is ultimately derived from bo-ol, a kind of tree that flourished on the
island. Similar to Nahuatl, the h in the middle was used to transcribe a
glottal stop which is a common phoneme in the languages of the
Philippines. The original name is survived through Bool, a town in
Tagbilaran where Miguel Lopez de Legazpi supposedly landed.
BUKIDNON
Founded: August 28, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Agusan Province) (official)
Established: September 01, 1914 (official)
Capital: Malaybalay City
Nicknames:
- The Primary Food Basket of Mindanao
- The Eco-tourism and Cultural Heritage Capital of Northern Mindanao
- Highland Paradise in the Heart of Mindanao
- Watershed of Mindanao
- Pineapple Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Bukidnon, My Home.

Anthem: Bukidnon Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Bukidnon, Cebuano for "people of the mountain," referring to the
indigenous tribes inhabiting the Central Mindanao highlands. Early
Spanish accounts give the name of these tribes as Buquidnones or
Monteses de Mindanao ("mountain people of Mindanao"). Bukidnon
eventually became the name applied to the territory they inhabited, which
became a sub-province in 1907 and a province in 1914.
BULACAN
Founded: August 15, 1578 (official)
Capital: Malolos City
Nicknames:
- The Gateway to the Northern Philippines
- Cradle of the Nation’s Noble Heroes
- Birthplace of Heroes and Sites of Historic Events
- Birthplace of the First Constitutional Democracy in Asia
Motto: A Prosperous Province Forged by History and Heroism.

Anthem: Bulacan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of the word burakan, Tagalog or Kapampangan for
"muddy place”, referring to the marshy conditions in what is now the town
of Bulakan, the former capital of the province that now bears its name.
CAGAYAN
Capital: Tuguegarao City (Current and de facto) (Official)
Nueva Segovia City (First and future capital) (TBD)*
Nicknames:
- Land of Smile and Beauty
- A True Spelunker’s Paradise
Motto: To renew Cagayan.

Anthem: Cagayan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of the word kagayan, a native term meaning "place near
or on a river," with the root word Kagay having cognates in many
Austronesian languages as a term for "river," referring to the main river of
northeast Luzon. Early Spanish accounts consistently call the river and
the surrounding countryside Cagayan or Cagaian, thereby making the folk
etymology katagayan ("place of tagay trees") erroneous.
Note: (*) - The town of Lal-lo was known as Nueva Segovia City during the
Spanish Period as one of the Five Royal Cities in the Philippines by Spain. It is
currently under efforts to regain its Spanish-era city status and also as the
original provincial capital status.
CAMARINES NORTE
Founded: May 27, 1581 (official)
Capital: Daet
Nicknames:
- Bicolandia’s Goldmine
- Zigzag Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Come Again to CamNorte, come with a purpose.

Anthem: Camarines Norte Hymn
Name of Origin:
- North Camarines (literal meaning).
- Plural form of the Spanish word camarín, the term used by the Spaniards to
refer to the storage sheds (kamalig) that were abundant in the fertile and
densely populated Bicol River plain in what is now Naga City and central
Camarines Sur.
CAMARINES SUR
Capital: Pili
Nicknames:
- Home of the Smallest Edible Fish in the World
- Wakeboarding Capital in the Philippines
- Land of World’s Smallest Fish and Higher Climbs
Motto: Hard Together, Best People, Best Province.

Anthem: Camarines Sur Hymn
Name of Origin:
- South Camarines (literal meaning).
- Plural form of the Spanish word camarín, the term used by the Spaniards to
refer to the storage sheds (kamalig) that were abundant in the fertile and
densely populated Bicol River plain in what is now Naga City and central
Camarines Sur.
CAMIGUIN
Established: June 22, 1956 (as Sub-Province of Misamis Oriental) (official)
June 18, 1966 (official)
Capital: Mambajao
Nicknames:
- The Island of Fire
- Lanzones Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Ancestral Homecoming.

Anthem: Camiguin Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of the word kamanigin, a local word of obscure
origin, rendered in early Spanish accounts as Camaniguin, perhaps derived
from the Manobo word for "to climb" (and in extension, "high elevation,")
referring to the tall mountains of the island. Another possible meaning is
"showy," in recognition of the prominence of the island's tall mountains
when viewed on the horizon.
- The name Camiguin is derived from the native word Kamagong, a species
of ebony tree that thrives near Lake Mainit in the province of Surigao del
Norte, the region from which the earlier inhabitants of the islands, the
Manobos, originated. Kamigin, the local dialect of Camiguin, is the
northernmost variant of the Manobo languages.
CAPIZ
Established: 1716 (as Politico-Military Province of Aklan) (official)
April 15, 1901 (official)
Capital: Roxas City
Nicknames:
- The Seafood Capital of the Philippines
- Eco-Tourism Hub Capital in Central Philippines
Motto: Captivating Capiz.

Anthem: O, Capiz
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of kapid, a Capiznon term for the translucent shells that
come from a species of bivalve pearl oysters, which were found in
abundance in the coastal settlement that formerly bore this name, which
serves as the provincial capital. Dialectal variations within the Spanish
language led to the rendering of the native placename into Capiz, with the z
originally pronounced as /θ/, like the th in the English word "this." The term
for the pearl shells is now pronounced /kapis/ in modern Filipino as a result
of pronouncing the z in "Capiz" as s.
CATANDUANES
Established: April 19, 1905 (as Sub-Province of Albay) (official)
September 26, 1945 (official)
Capital: Virac
Nicknames:
- The Happy Island - Eco-Adventure Paradise
- Land of the Howling Winds - Typhoon Capital of the Philippines
- Isle of the Eastern Seas - Abaca Capital of the World
- Abaca Capital of the Philippines
- World's Leading Abaca Producer
Motto: Moving forward Catandungan, Moving forward the Philippines!

Anthem: Catanduanes Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized and pluralized form of katanduan, Bikol for "place abundant
with tando trees," referring to the abundance of such trees in the island.
- “Catanduanes” comes from the words tandu, a native beetle, and
samdong, a native species of tree, both of which were found throughout
the island. People often referred to the island as katanduan or
kasamdongan, meaning “a place where the tandu and the samdong tree
thrive in abundance.” The pronunciation of this word by Spanish-speaking
people led to the coining of the Hispanicized version, Catanduanes
CAVITE
Capital: Imus City (de jure)
Trece Martires City (de facto)
Nicknames:
- Historical Capital of the Philippines
- A Place With a Glorious Past
- Cradle of Philippine Revolution
Motto: Honor and Love for Country.

Anthem: Cavite Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of kawit or corruption of kalawit, Tagalog words for
"hook," about the small hook-shaped peninsula jutting into Manila Bay. The
name originally only applied to the peninsula (Cavite La Punta, now Cavite
City) and the adjacent mainland coastal area (Cavite Viejo, now Kawit).
Cavite City used to serve as the capital of the province until 1954.
- Another theory proposes that the name is a Hispanicized form of kabit,
Tagalog for "joined", "connected", or "attached", referring to the
peninsula's topographical relation to the mainland. Edmund Roberts, in his
1821 memoir, stated that the "natives" called it Caveit due to the "crooked
point of land extending into the sea".
CEBU
Capital: Cebu City
Nicknames:
- The Gateway to a Thousand Journeys
- The First Spanish Province of the Philippines
- The Queen of the South
Motto: None.
Anthem: Cebu
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of sugbu, Cebuano for "to walk on shallow
waters," referring to the shallows through which one had to wade to reach
dry land from the port of the city that now bears its name. Earlier
Hispanicized variants of the settlement's name include Zubu and Çubu.
- Alternate renditions of the name by traders between the 13th to 16th
centuries include Sebu, Sibuy, Zubu, or Zebu, among others. Sugbu or
Sugbo, in turn, is derived from the Old Cebuano term for "scorched earth"
or "great fire".
COTABATO
Founded: September 01, 1914 (as the Empire Province of Cotabato) (official)
Established: November 22, 1973 (official)
(after Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat were carved out)
Capital: Kidapawan City
Nicknames:
- Land of the Highest Mountain
- Stone Fortress of Mindanao
Motto: Prosperous Cotabato, participatory governance.

Anthem: Cotabato Hymn
Name of Origin: Hispanicized form of Kuta watu, Maguindanaon for "stone fort,"
referring to an actual stone fort that stood on Tantawan (now Pedro Colina) Hill,
around which grew the settlement that eventually became the capital of the
undivided province.
DAVAO DE ORO
Established: March 08, 1998 (official) (as Compostela Valley)
Renamed: December 07, 2019 (official)
Capital: Nabunturan
Nicknames:
- Golden Capital of the Philippines
- Nature's Work of Art
Motto: The Living Treasure.

Anthem: Davao de Oro Hymn
Name of Origin: Golden Davao (literal meaning). Hispanicized form of the Bagobo
word Dabo, meaning "to fall", alluding to the drop in elevation the river that now
bears the name undergoes on its way from the slopes of Mount Apo to the sea. A
related word in the neighboring Obo language, davoh, means "beyond the high
grounds" (i.e., the lowland). The settlement at the mouth of this river was also
called Dabu or currently known as Davao City. A 1628 document renders the
native name in Dutch orthography as Daboe. The legend holds that a Spanish
friar from the eastern coasts of Mindanao came to the place, bringing with him a
statue of Saint James the Apostle, patron of his native Santiago de Compostela in
Spain. The priest then christened the region after his own birthplace.
DAVAO DEL NORTE

Founded: September 01, 1914 (as part of Davao Province) (official)
Capital: Tagum City
Nicknames:
- Banana Capital of the Philippines
- Beach Paradise of the North
Motto: You have to prepare something, Know Our Own.

Anthem: Davao del Norte Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Northern Davao (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized form of the Bagobo word Dabo, meaning "to fall", alluding to
the drop in elevation the river that now bears the name undergoes on its
way from the slopes of Mount Apo to the sea. A related word in the
neighboring Obo language, davoh, means "beyond the high grounds" (i.e.,
the lowland). The settlement at the mouth of this river was also called Dabu
or currently known as Davao City. A 1628 document renders the native
name in Dutch orthography as Daboe.
DAVAO DEL SUR

Capital: Digos City
Nicknames:
- Land of the Heights and Flight
- Coconut Country
- Chocolate Capital of the Philippines
Motto: We Love Davao del Sur.

Anthem: Davao del Sur Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Southern Davao (literal meaning).
DAVAO OCCIDENTAL
Established: October 28, 2013 (official)
Capital: Malita
Nicknames:
- Black Pepper Capital of the Philippines
- Land of the Ancient People
Motto: None.
Anthem: Davao Occidental Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Western Davao (literal meaning).
DAVAO ORIENTAL
Capital: Mati City
Nicknames:
- Coconut Capital of the Philippines - Sunrise Capital of the Philippines
- The Island's Ethnic Charmer
- The Gateway to the Pacific
- Davao Region’s Pacific Gateway
Motto: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Anthem: Davao Oriental Hymn
Name of Origin: Eastern Davao (literal meaning). Hispanicized form of the Bagobo
word Dabo, meaning "to fall", alluding to the drop in elevation the river that now
bears the name undergoes on its way from the slopes of Mount Apo to the sea. A
related word in the neighboring Obo language, davoh, means "beyond the high
grounds" (i.e., the lowland). The settlement at the mouth of this river was also
called Dabu or currently known as Davao City. A 1628 document renders the
native name in Dutch orthography as Daboe.
DINAGAT ISLANDS
Established: December 02, 2006 (official)
Capital: San Jose
Nicknames:
- Mystical Island Province of Love
- Hidden Gem of the Caraga Region
Motto: The Place of Unexplored and Unspoiled Natural Wonders.

Anthem: Dinagat Islands Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Dinagat, Cebuano for "of the sea”, referring to the island on which most of
the province is situated, or the town which was the first municipality
established in the area.
EASTERN SAMAR
Capital: Borongan City
Nicknames:
- Gateway to Philippine Discovery
Motto: Our Province, People First.

Anthem: Eastern Samar Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of Samal, (rendered in early Spanish accounts as Zamal)
is an indigenous term formerly used to refer to the people that inhabited
the island. The name originally applied to the more populous western
region of the island but was eventually applied to the whole island and the
military province that was established in 1841. Samal is a cognate of the
Malay word Samar which means "disguised," "dim," "vague," or "obscure."
- Samar is said to be derived from Samad, the Visayan word for "wound" or
"cut", describing the rough physical features of the land which is rugged
and deeply dissected by streams.
GUIMARAS
Established: June 18, 1966 (as a sub-province of Iloilo) (official)
Capital: Jordan
Nicknames:
- Mango Country of Visayas
- Mango Capital of the Philippines
- Opening Doors to Exciting Western Visayas
Motto: The Island that Fits Your Taste.

Anthem: Guimaras Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of Himal-us, the indigenous name for the
province's main island, of unknown etymology. Early Spanish accounts
render the name of the island in Spanish orthography as Ymaraes or
Ymaras.
IFUGAO
Founded: 1891 (as Comandancia Politico-Military District of Kiangan) (official)
Established: August 18, 1908 (as Sub-Province of Mountain Province) (official)
Capital: Lagawe
Nicknames:
- The site of the UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Land of the Beautiful Rice Terraces
- Land of Hudhud and the Alim
- Land of the Eighth World Wonder
Motto: None.
Anthem: Ifugao Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Ifugao is named after the term i-pugo ("i" [from/people] and pugo [hill]),
which translates to people of the hill. Alternatively, the province's name
may have come from the word pugaw, which means "the cosmic earth",
ipugaw then referring to "mortals". Finally, the name may have been
derived from ipugo, a type of grain in local mythology given to the people
by Matungulan, the god of grains.
ILOCOS NORTE
Capital: Laoag City
Nicknames:
- Northern Gateway of the Philippines
- Renewable Capital of Southeast Asia
- Marcos Country
Motto: The Best of Culture and Nature.

Anthem: Ilocos Norte Hymn
Name of Origin:
- North Ilocos (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized and pluralized corruption of i-lokong, Ilokano for "of the
lowland," referring to the inhabitants of the narrow coastal plain along the
northwest coast of Luzon. This term stands in contrast to another common
ethnonym, i-golot ("of the mountains"), which describes inhabitants of the
highland areas of northern Luzon. Yloco was the early Hispanic rendering
of this term, and in time the plural form Ylocos, later spelled as Ilocos,
became prevalent.
ILOCOS SUR
Capital: Vigan City
Nicknames:
- Heart of Ilocandia
- Land of the Free
- Heritage Haven of the Far North
- Tobacco Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Sure Ilocos Sur!

Anthem: Ilocos Sur Hymn
Name of Origin:
- South Ilocos (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized and pluralized corruption of i-lokong, Ilokano for "of the
lowland," referring to the inhabitants of the narrow coastal plain along the
northwest coast of Luzon. This term stands in contrast to another common
ethnonym, i-golot ("of the mountains"), which describes inhabitants of the
highland areas of northern Luzon. Yloco was the early Hispanic rendering
of this term, and in time the plural form Ylocos, later spelled as Ilocos,
became prevalent.
ILOILO
Capital City: Iloilo City
Nicknames:
- The Heart of the Philippines
- Heritage Haven of Panay
- Most Numbered Barangays Province
Motto: It has to be Iloilo.

Anthem: Iloilo Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of irong-irong, Hiligaynon for "nose-like," referring
to the shape of the delta formed by what is now called the Iloilo and Salog
Rivers on which the settlement of the same name thrived. The name
originally only applied to the town (now city) of Iloilo (rendered in Spanish
orthography as Yloylo or Yloilo), which serves as the capital of the
province.
ISABELA
Capital: Ilagan City
Nicknames:
- Queen Province of the Philippines
- Rice Bowl of the North
- Corn Capital of the Philippines
- Center of Agriculture
Motto: Isabela Reigns...

Anthem: Isabela Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Spanish given name. The province was named after Isabella II, the reigning
queen of Spain at the time of the province's creation in 1856. "Isabela" by
itself is the Spanish cognate of Elizabeth, ultimately derived from the
Hebrew ‫ אֱ לִיֶׁש בַע‬Elisheva, which variously means "My God is an oath," or
"My God is abundance," "God is satisfaction," or "God is perfection."
KALINGA
Founded: May 09, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Lepanto-Bontoc) (official)
August 18, 1908 (as Sub-Province of Mountain Province) (official)
June 18, 1966 (as Sub-Province of Kalinga-Apayao ) (official)
Capital: Tabuk City
Nicknames:
- White Water Rafting Capital of the North
Motto: Kalinga Shines.

Anthem: Kalinga Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Kalingga, a word meaning "enemy" is used by many Cagayan Valley tribes
(such as the Gaddang and Ibanag) to refer to any enemy tribe. Rendered in
early Spanish accounts as Calingas and American accounts as Caylingas,
the ethnonym became most associated with the people inhabiting the
highlands along the Little Cagayan River (Río Chico de Cagayan).
LA UNION
Capital: San Fernando City
Nicknames:
- A Model Province
- Pilgrimage Center of North Luzon
- Surfing Capital of the Philippines
- The Garden Coast
Motto: Love, Union, Concord.

Anthem: La Union Hymn
Name of Origin:
- La unión, Spanish for "the union," refers to the merging of towns from
southern Ilocos Sur and northeastern Pangasinan that resulted in the
creation of the province in 1854.
LAGUNA
Founded: July 28, 1571 (official)
Capital: Santa Cruz
Nicknames:
- Detroit of the Philippines
- Silicon Valley of the Philippines
- Resort Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Fight, Laguna!

Anthem: Laguna Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Laguna, Spanish for "lake," or "lagoon," referring to the large body of
freshwater in Laguna de Bay (Spanish: Laguna de Bay, lit. 'Lake of Bay')
that was named after the province's first capital, the town of Bay
(pronounced "BA‧I"). Twenty of the province's 30 towns and cities border
the lake (5 cities and 15 towns).
LANAO DEL NORTE

Founded: July 15, 1903 (as part of Moro Province) (official)
Established: September 01, 1914 (as part of Lanao Province) (official)
July 04, 1959 (official)
Capital: Iligan City
Nicknames:
- The Torch of the Country
- Land of Beauty and Bounty
- Motocross Capital of the Philippines
Motto: The Land of Beauty and Bounty.

Anthem: Lanao del Norte Hymn
- Northern Lanao (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized form of ranaw, Maranao for "lake," referring to the lake which
lies in the center of the plateau that comprised most of the territory of the
old province of Lanao.
LANAO DEL SUR

Founded: September 01, 1914 (as part of Lanao Province) (official)
Capital: Marawi City
Nicknames:
- Cradle of Muslim Art
Motto: Lanao Rising.

Anthem: Lanao del Sur Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Southern Lanao (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized form of ranaw, Maranao for "lake," referring to the lake which
lies in the center of the plateau that comprised most of the territory of the
old province of Lanao.
LEYTE
Capital: Tacloban City
Nicknames:
- Land of History
- Second Province with the Most Barangays
Motto: Once you see Leyte, you shall return.

Anthem: Leyte Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of the Waray phrase hira Iti / Ete ("belonging to Iti /
Ete"), or hi Rayti / Rayte ("it is Rayti / Rayte"), referring to the rulership of
an individual named either "Iti"/"Ete" or "Rayti"/"Rayte" over what used to
be among the most significant settlements along the island's northern
coast, where a large river emptied into a small bay. The town's name was
recorded in an early Spanish account by Jesuit priest Juan Jose Delgado
as Hiraete or Hiraite.
MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE (TBD)

Note:
- The Maguindanao division plebiscite will be held in the province of

Maguindanao, the Philippines within four months after the May 2022
national and local elections on a currently undetermined date, having been
postponed from its planned plebiscite in or before August 2021. As
required by Republic Act No. 11550, the plebiscite will be conducted to
consent the residents of Maguindanao on the proposal to divide the
province into two separate provinces which will be named Maguindanao
del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR (TBD)

Note:
- The Maguindanao division plebiscite will be held in the province of

Maguindanao, the Philippines within four months after the May 2022
national and local elections on a currently undetermined date, having been
postponed from its planned plebiscite in or before August 2021. As
required by Republic Act No. 11550, the plebiscite will be conducted to
consent the residents of Maguindanao on the proposal to divide the
province into two separate provinces which will be named Maguindanao
del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
MARINDUQUE
Founded: 1580 (as Visita of Montserrat de Marinduque) (official)
Established: August 10, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Quezon) (official)
February 21, 1920 (official)
Capital: Boac
Nicknames:
- Lenten Capital of the Philippines
- Lenten Mecca of Southern Tagalog
- Geographical Center of the Philippine Archipelago
Motto: Heart of the Philippines.

Anthem: Marinduque Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of malindig or malindug, Tagalog for "tall and
elegant," referring to the tallest peak on the island. Other Hispanicized
variants of the name include Malindic, Malinduc, and Marinduc.
MASBATE
Established: March 18, 1901 (Reorganized) (official)
January 01, 1906 (as Sub-Province of Sorsogon) (official)
March 10, 1917 (official)
Capital: Masbate City
Nicknames:
- Rodeo Capital of Bicol
- Rodeo Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Continuing Unity for Peace and Prosperity!

Anthem: Masbate Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Some early accounts record the name of the province's main island as
Masbat. This may be based on masibát, a native word for "abundant with
lances," perhaps about the island's well-armed inhabitants; or on masabat,
Bikol for "to meet along the way," alluding to the strategic position of the
town (now city) that bears the name, as well as the island named after it,
within old Philippine maritime trade routes.
MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL
Founded: 1818 (as Corregimiento of Segundo Distrito de Misamis) (official)
Established: May 15, 1901 (as Misamis Province) (official)
November 02, 1929 (official)
Capital: Ozamiz City
Nicknames:
- Christmas Capital of Mindanao
- Mis Occ
Motto: Better Image, Better Lives.

Anthem: Misamis Occidental March
Name of Origin:
- West Misamis (literal meaning).
- The undivided province of Misamis was named after its former capital, the
town of Misamis (now Ozamiz City). The word Misamis itself is of obscure
origin, but originally only referred to the strategic piece of flat land
(Misamis Point) guarding the entrance into Panguil Bay on which the
Spanish military established a stone fort in 1756. The settlement which
grew around the fort also took the name Misamis. When the Spanish-era
military district that covered the Christianized northern shores of Mindanao
Island was created in the 18th century, it was administered initially from
this town, and the district was therefore also named Misamis, even after the
capital was transferred later to the more centrally-located Cagayan.
MISAMIS ORIENTAL
Founded: 1818 (as Corregimiento of Segundo Distrito de Misamis) (official)
Established: May 15, 1901 (as Misamis Province) (official)
Capital: Cagayan de Oro City
Nicknames:
- Mindanao's Nature Front
Motto: Explore MisOr. / Explore Misamis Oriental.

Anthem: Misamis Oriental Hymn
Name of Origin:
- East Misamis (literal meaning).
- The undivided province of Misamis was named after its former capital, the
town of Misamis (now Ozamiz City). The word Misamis itself is of obscure
origin, but originally only referred to the strategic piece of flat land
(Misamis Point) guarding the entrance into Panguil Bay on which the
Spanish military established a stone fort in 1756. The settlement which
grew around the fort also took the name Misamis. When the Spanish-era
military district that covered the Christianized northern shores of Mindanao
Island was created in the 18th century, it was administered initially from
this town, and the district was therefore also named Misamis, even after the
capital was transferred later to the more centrally-located Cagayan.
MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
Founded: 1848 (as Politico-Military Province of La Montañosa) (official)
Established: May 28, 1902 (as Sub-Province of Lepanto-Bontoc) (official)
August 19, 1908 (as historical Mountain Province) (official)
June 18, 1966 (as current Mountain Province) (official)
Capital: Bontoc
Nicknames:
- Weaver’s Paradise
- Land of the Mountaineers
- Predominantly Protestant Province
Motto: A good Mountain Province.

Anthem: Mountain Province Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name "Mountain Province" was first used in the American period to
refer to the large mountainous area in the northern Luzon highlands which
also included the present-day provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, and
Kalinga. The sub-province of Bontoc (which also means "mountain" in the
Bontoc language) retained the name "Mountain Province" after it was
elevated to the status of a full-fledged province in 1966.
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
Founded: 1734 (as Politico-Military Province of Negros) (official)
Established: January 01, 1890 (Negros Partition) (official)
Capital: Bacolod City
Nicknames:
- Sugar Bowl of the Philippines
- The Land of Sweet Surprises
- Organic Food Bowl of Asia
Motto: To move forward Negrense.

Anthem: True Negrense
Name of Origin:
- West Negros (literal meaning).
- Negros, Spanish for "blacks," referring to the dark-skinned Negritos that
inhabited the island which was then known as Buglas.
NEGROS ORIENTAL
Founded: January 01, 1890 (as Politico-Military Province of Negros) (official)
Established: May 01, 1901 (Reorganized Province) (official)
March 10, 1917 (official)
Capital: Dumaguete City
Nicknames:
- Whale and Dolphin Haven
- Center of Learning in the South
Motto: The truth of the way of life.

Anthem: Negros Oriental Hymn
Name of Origin:
- East Negros (literal meaning).
- Negros, Spanish for "blacks," referring to the dark-skinned Negritos that
inhabited the island which was then known as Buglas.
NORTHERN SAMAR
Capital: Catarman
Nicknames:
- A Journey Back in Time
Motto: Discover Northern Samar. Explore, Experience, Enjoy.

Anthem: Northern Samar Hymn
Name of Origin:
NUEVA ECIJA
1848 (From the old sources)
Capital: Palayan City
Nicknames:
- Rice Bowl of the Philippines
- Rice Granary of the Philippines
- Milk Capital of the Philippines
- Heart of Inland Luzon
- The Agricultural Haven of Central Luzon
- Gateway to the Sierra Madre Mountains
Motto: Never Ending Beauty and Charm of Wonders!

Anthem: Song of Nueva Ecija
Name of Origin:
- Nueva Écija, Spanish for "New Écija", in honor of the hometown of the
province's first Spanish governor (Governor Acuyar) in Andalusia, Spain.
The current pronunciation of the province's name in both English and
Filipino is different from the Spanish original, in that the emphasis is
placed on the second syllable ("e-SI-ha") and not on the first ("E-si-ha").
NUEVA VIZCAYA
Established: January 28, 1902 (official)
Capital: Bayombong
Nicknames:
- Watershed Haven of the Cagayan Valley
- Citrus Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Naturally Vibrant.

Anthem: Vizcaya Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Nueva Vizcaya, Spanish for "New Biscay", in honor of the Biscay province
in the Basque Country of Spain. It is accepted in linguistics (Koldo
Mitxelena, etc.) that Bizkaia is a cognate of bizkar (cf. Biscarrosse in
Aquitaine), with both place-name variants well attested in the whole
Basque Country and out meaning 'low ridge' or 'prominence' (Iheldo
bizchaya attested in 1141 for the Monte Igueldo in San Sebastián).
OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
Founded: 1663 (as Corregidor of Mina de Oro) (official)
Established: November 10, 1902 (as Mindoro Province) (official)
Capital: Mamburao
Nicknames:
- Marine Wonderland of Luzon
- Home of the Indigenous Mangyans
- The Golden Isle
Motto: Home of the Indigenous Mangyans.

Anthem: Occidental Mindoro Hymn
Name of Origin:
- West Mindoro (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized form of minolo or mintolo, local words of now-unrecognizable
meaning, referring to the name of Mindoro Island's principal trading town
during the early Spanish colonial period. The term minolo may be related to
minuro, an old Visayan term meaning "settlement" or "where there is an
abundance" (from the root word Duro, meaning "plenty" or "abundance").
Minolo was located on the northern coast of the island, facing Luzon, and
is presently a sitio in the municipality of Puerto Galera, which formerly
served as the capital of Mindoro Province.
ORIENTAL MINDORO
Founded: 1663 (as Corregidor of Mina de Oro) (official)
Established: November 10, 1902 (as Mindoro Province) (official)
Capital: Calapan City
Nicknames:
- The Islands' Loveliest Harbor - Banana Capital of MIMAROPA
- The Golden Isle
- Calamansi Capital of the Philippines
- Rice Granary and Fruit Basket of Southern Tagalog
Motto: None
Anthem: Oriental Mindoro March
Name of Origin:
- East Mindoro (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized form of minolo or mintolo, local words of now-unrecognizable
meaning, referring to the name of Mindoro Island's principal trading town
during the early Spanish colonial period. The term minolo may be related to
minuro, an old Visayan term meaning "settlement" or "where there is an
abundance" (from the root word Duro, meaning "plenty" or "abundance").
Minolo was located on the northern coast of the island, facing Luzon, and
is presently a sitio in the municipality of Puerto Galera, which formerly
served as the capital of Mindoro Province.
PALAWAN
Founded: 1749 (Purchased of Spain from Brunei Sultanate) (official)
1818 (as Paragua, eventually as Palawan) (official)
Capital: Puerto Princesa City
Nicknames:
- The (Spaniards') Land of Promise
- Philippines' Best Islands
- Philippines' Last Biodiversity Frontier
- Philippines’ Largest Province
Motto: Every Island an Adventure.

Anthem: Palawan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Palawano form of perawan, Malay for "virgin land," about the largely
untouched resources of the main island that now bears its name. In the
Spanish colonial era, the name of the island and the province was rendered
in Spanish orthography as Paragua which has been erroneously
etymologized as meaning "umbrella" or "sweet water" in Spanish.
PAMPANGA
Capital: San Fernando City
Nicknames:
- Culinary Capital of the Philippines
- Christmas Capital of the Philippines
- Oldest Province in Luzon
- Tilapia Capital of Central Luzon
Motto: Come, join me. Let's travel to Pampanga.

Anthem: Pampanga Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of pampang or pangpang, Kapampangan for "riverbank,"
referring to the densely populated area on the northern shores of Manila
Bay, the settlements of which stood on the banks of the delta of what is
now called the Pampanga River.
PANGASINAN
Capital: Lingayen
Nicknames:
- Hundred Islands and Hundred Flavors
- Salt Capital of the Philippines
- Gateway to Northern Luzon
- Third Province with the Most Barangays
Motto: The best place to invest, work and raise a family.

Anthem: Pangasinan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of pang-asinan, Pangasinan for "salt-making place",
referring to the coastal region of the Agno River basin (the present-day
area of Lingayen) which had an extensively thriving salt-making industry,
even in pre-colonial times.
QUEZON
Founded: 1591 (as Kalilayan Province) (official)
1754 (as Tayabas Province and Secession from Laguna) (official)
Established: March 02, 1901 (as Tayabas) (official)
September 07, 1946 (as Quezon) (official)
Capital: Lucena City
Nicknames: Land of Thousand Colors
The Country's leading producer of Coconut Products
Motto: There is no laziness in Quezon.
Anthem: Quezon Hymn
Name of Origin: Hispanicized Hokkien Chinese surname, possibly from the
Mestizo de Sangley Hokkien family name of Chinese: 郭孫 ; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: keh-sun.
The province formerly known as Tayabas (after its old capital town), was renamed
in 1949 in honor of Manuel Quezon, former president (1935–1944). The origin of
the word Tayabas remains unsure. It saysTayabas may have originated from the
word Tayaban, a night creature known for having wings that glow like a tropical
firefly. In Dictionary of Tayabas Tagalog points to Tayaba refers to the local
practice or ritual of the natives during New Year where they open up a farm by
cutting down three trees on the patch they chose to cultivate. The sociologist,
Rolando V. Redor mentioned that the name Tayabas was suggested by the
abundance of the well-loved fern (pako) called Tagabas and not to bayabas,
guava fruit (Psidium guajava) as the etymology of the name Tayabas.
QUIRINO
Founded: June 18, 1966 (as Sub-Province of Nueva Vizcaya) (official)
Capital: Cabarroguis
Nicknames:
- Forest Heartland of Cagayan Valley
Motto: The Prime Agro-Industrial and Eco-Tourism destination in the North.

Anthem: Quirino Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The province was named after Elpidio Quirino, former Philippine President
and 6th President of the Philippines (1948–1953). The name "Quirino" itself
was ultimately derived from the Latin Quirinus, meaning "armed with a
lance."
RIZAL
Founded: 1582 (as Encomiendas of Moron and Taitai) (official)
February 23, 1853 (as Morong District) (official)
Capital: Antipolo City
Nicknames:
- Cradle of Philippine Art
Motto: Best for Rizal.

Anthem: Long Live Rizal
Name of Origin:
- The province was named after José Rizal, an inspirational figure of the
Philippine Revolution and national hero. "Rizal" in turn, is a modified form
of the Spanish word ricial, literally meaning "able to grow back when cut".
Rizal was added to the family name by José Rizal's father, Francisco
Mercado, upon moving from Biñan to Calamba, although his application to
have the name legally recognized was denied by the authorities.
ROMBLON
Founded: April 24, 1571 (as Encomienda of Donblon) (official)
July 05, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Capiz) (official)
December 07, 1917 (separated from Capiz) (official)
Capital: Romblon
Nicknames:
- Marble Capital of the Philippines
- Galapagos of Asia
Motto: We are rumblin’ on.

Anthem: Romblon Hymn
Name of Origin: Early Spanish accounts rendered the toponym as Donblon in
Spanish orthography, which is probably based on the native word lomlom, a term
with cognates across many Philippine languages meaning "dark," or "shady,"
perhaps about the once-thick forests of, or the clouds that constantly form over,
the island that now bears the name, which in turn, is home to the capital town
after which the province was named. The present form of the name is the
Hispanicized corruption of this word.
SAMAR
Founded: 1768 ( as part of Samar and Leyte Province) (official)
Established: June 17, 1902 (Reorganized Province) (official)
Capital: Catbalogan City
Nicknames:
- The Caving Capital Province of the Philippines
Motto: Splendor Between Mountain and Sea.

Anthem: Samar Hymn
Name of Origin:
SARANGANI
Capital: Alabel
Nicknames:
- Archeologist's Paradise
- Southern Philippines’ front door to BIMP-EAGA
(Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area)
Motto: Sarangani, Your Adventure.

Anthem: Sarangani, Land of Beauty
Name of Origin:
- Evolved and Hispanicized version of the Sangir word sarangan, meaning
"place of swallows" referring to a specific rocky point on the west coast of
the island that now bears this name, which itself was formerly called Balut
Pequeño (Little Balut) Island. Early Spanish accounts give the name of the
island as Sarangã or Sarragán.
SIQUIJOR
Founded: 1783 (under Diocese of Cebu) (official)
Established: October 08, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Negros Oriental) (official)
September 17, 1971 (official)
Capital: Siquijor
Nicknames:
- Mystical Island
- Island of Fire
- Marine Paradise of Central Visayas
Motto: The Best View of Siquijor.

Anthem: Siquijor Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of the phrase si kihod, old Visayan for "where the tide is
ebbing," the toponym for a settlement (now the provincial capital) on the
north side of the island known in early Spanish accounts as Isla de Fuegos
("Island of Fires"). Siquijor eventually replaced Isla de Fuegos as the name
of the island.
SORSOGON
Founded: 1570 (by Abucay-Catamlangan Mission) (official)
October 17, 1894 (official)
Capital: Sorsogon City
Nicknames:
- The Land of Kasanggayahan
- Bicol’s Whaleshark Paradise
Motto: Sorsogon, my love.

Anthem: Sorsogon Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of sogsogon, Bikol adjective meaning "wadeable,"
derived from the root word sogsog, which means "to wade" or "to ford"; a
wadeable river, for example, is known as salog na sogsogon. The toponym
originally referred to the settlement on the banks of the Salog River, which
became the capital of the province upon its establishment in 1767.
SOUTH COTABATO
Founded: July 23, 1914 (as part of Cotabato Province) (official)
Capital: Koronadal City
Nicknames:
- Land of the Dreamweavers
- Conference Capital of Mindanao
Motto: Lift you all up.

Anthem: South Cotabato Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of Kuta Watu, Maguindanaon for "stone fort," referring
to an actual stone fort that stood on Tantawan (now Pedro Colina) Hill,
undivided province. Subsequent divisions and new provinces’ creation
have resulted in North Cotabato and South Cotabato exercising jurisdiction
far from their namesake city.
SOUTHERN LEYTE
Founded: 1898 (as “ Sub-Province” of Leyte under Secretario de Hacienda)
Capital: Maasin City
Nicknames:
- Playground of Eastern Visayas
- The Philippines’ Birthplace of Christianity
- The Centuries-Old Charmer
Motto: Making visits to Southern Leyte will be more fun.

Anthem: Southern Leyte Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of the Waray phrase hira Iti / Ete ("belonging to Iti /
Ete"), or hi Rayti / Rayte ("it is Rayti / Rayte"), referring to the rulership of
an individual named either "Iti"/"Ete" or "Rayti"/"Rayte" over what used to
be among the most significant settlements along the island's northern
coast, where a large river emptied into a small bay. The town's name was
recorded in an early Spanish account by Jesuit priest Juan Jose Delgado
as Hiraete or Hiraite. OIn earlier Spanish accounts, other names of Leyte
Island include Tandaya (after the powerful chieftain who ruled a significant
portion of the island) and Abuyo (after the first significant settlement
encountered by the Spaniards during the early days of exploration.
SULTAN KUDARAT
Founded: July 23, 1914 (as part of Cotabato Province) (official)
Capital: Isulan
Nicknames:
- Tuna Country of Mindanao
Motto: SK Sikat Ka. / Sultan Kudarat, You are Famous.

Anthem: Sultan Kudarat Hymn
Name of Origin:
- "Kudarat" in turn, is ultimately derived from the Arabic word qudrat,
meaning "power" or "might." The present spelling is derived from the
rendering of the name per Filipino orthography. The name Sultan Kudarat
given to the province was derived from the Muslim ruler, Sultan
Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat who began to assert his leadership in the
year 1619 and reigned in the Sultanate of Maguindanao from 1625 to 1671.
Through his leadership, Spanish forces were successfully repelled from
encroaching the Cotabato region of south-central Mindanao. He is
considered a national hero, and in his honor, the province was named after
him.
SULU
Founded: November 17, 1405 (as Sulu Sultanate under Brunei) (official)
1578 (Independence of Sultanate from Brunei) (official)
Capital: Jolo (de facto, official)
Patikul (de jure, the seat of government)
Maimbung (royal capital of the Sulu Sultanate)
Nicknames:
- Land of Treasures and Fares of the Sea
Motto: Our Home In the Seas.

Anthem: Sulu Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Contraction of sulug or suluk, Bahasa Sug for "ocean current," is the home
island and the historical and cultural center of the Tau Sug ("people of the
current"). The Hispanicized form Jolo (now pronounced [ˈxolo]) is
approximate to sulu if the old pronunciation of the letter 'j' in Spanish
orthography, [ˈʃolo], is taken into account. This occurs in other Spanish
loanwords: jabón ("soap") entered the Filipino vocabulary as sabon and
reloj ("watch") as relos. The term Sulu has also been applied to the
historical sultanate centered in the province and the archipelago and the
sea over which the sultanate formerly held sway.
SURIGAO DEL NORTE

Founded: 1609 (as part of Caraga District) (official)
May 15, 1901 (as part of Surigao Province) (official)
Capital: Surigao City
Nicknames:
- Surfing Capital of the Philippines
Motto: The New Surigao.

Anthem: Surigao del Sur Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Northern Surigao (literal meaning).
- There are two presumptions on the original meaning of "Surigao" among
linguists, depending on the original root word. If the root word was taken to
be sulig ("sprout" or "spring up"), then Surigao may have derived from
suligao ("spring water"), likely referring to the Surigao River (known as
"Suligaw" in Mandaya) that empties at the northern tip of the island of
Mindanao. Early historical accounts record the name of the river as
Suligao, Surigao, or Zurigan.
- Another possibility is that it is derived from Visayan "surogao" or
"suyogao," meaning "water current". From suyog (also sulog or surog),
"current". Other Visayan words derived from the same root include
Sinulog, Sulu, and Tausug (Suluk).
SURIGAO DEL SUR

Founded: 1609 (as part of Caraga District) (official)
May 15, 1901 (as part of Surigao Province) (official)
Capital: Tandag City
Nicknames: Shangri-La by the Pacific
Motto: It’s a Sur Thing.
Anthem: Surigao del Sur Hymn
Name of Origin: Southern Surigao (literal meaning). There are two presumptions
on the original meaning of "Surigao" among linguists, depending on the original
root word. If the root word was taken to be sulig ("sprout" or "spring up"), then
Surigao may have derived from suligao ("spring water"), likely referring to the
Surigao River (known as "Suligaw" in Mandaya) that empties at the northern tip of
the island of Mindanao. Early historical accounts record the name of the river as
Suligao, Surigao, or Zurigan. Another possibility is that it is derived from Visayan
"surogao" or "suyogao," meaning "water current". From suyog (also sulog or
surog), "current". Other Visayan words derived from the same root include
Sinulog, Sulu, and Tausug (Suluk).
TARLAC
Capital: Tarlac City
Nicknames:
- The Melting Pot of Central Luzon
- Belen Capital of the Philippines
- Second Tilapia Capital of Central Luzon
- The Sugarlandia of Central Luzon
Motto: Forward Tarlac.

Anthem: Song of Tarlac
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized rendering of tarlak, Aeta term for a certain grass related to
talahib (cogon) and tanglar (Zambal for lemongrass). The area around the
current capital city (after which the province was named) was described as
matarlak, an adjective meaning "abundant with tarlak grass."
TAWI-TAWI
Founded: September 01, 1914 (as part of Sulu) (official)
Established: September 11, 1973 (official)
Capital: Bongao (official and de jure)
Panglima Sugala (recognized by Philippine Statistics Authority)
Nicknames:
- Wildlife Mecca of Muslim Mindanao
- The Venice of the South
- The Philippines’ Cradle of Islam
- Seaweed Province of the Philippines
Motto: Pearl of the South.

Anthem: Tawi-Tawi Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Sinama form of jawi-jawi, Malay for "banyan tree," about its abundance in
the province's heavily forested main island. Early Spanish accounts give
the name of the island as Tauitaui, Tavi-Tavi, or Tavitavi.
ZAMBALES
Capital: Iba
Nicknames:
- Chromite Capital of the Philippines
- Wreck Diving Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Transparency and Good Governance.

Anthem: Zambales Hymn, March of the Zambaleans
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized plural form of sambalí or sambal, the name for the people who
used to form the dominant ethnic group in the west-central coast of Luzon.
The ethnonym, recorded in early Spanish accounts as Los Çambales, was
eventually applied to the land they occupy, and the mountain range that
separates them from the Central Luzon plain. The first term is possibly
derived from the native word for "a group of houses" (with the root word
balí meaning "house"), while the second term is an old Tagalog word for a
"crossing or conjunction of rivers.
- It could also originate from the word "Zambo", a term used by the Iberian
(Spanish and Portuguese) empires to distinguish people of African
ethnicity/descent. The province is home to the Aetas, the aboriginal people
of the Philippines who share Afro-ethnic similarities.
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE
Founded: June 23, 1635 (as Zamboanga District) (official)
September 01, 1914 (as part of Zamboanga Province) (official)
Capital: Dipolog City
Nicknames:
- God’s Given Land
- From Orchid City to Shrine City
Motto: Unity, Prosperity, Peace.

Anthem: Zamboanga del Sur Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Northern Zamboanga (literal meaning).
- Hispanicized form of samboangan, Sinama for "anchorage," or literally,
"place of mooring poles," referring to the settlement and port town at the
southern tip of Mindanao's western peninsula. Just like the practice in
naming many other provinces, the undivided province of Zamboanga was
named after its capital. Other proposed etymologies for the name of
Zamboanga include jambangan (Malay for "place of flowers") or sampaga
(for "flower").
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR

Founded: June 01, 1903 (as part of Moro Province) (official)
September 01, 1914 (as part of Zamboanga Province) (official)
Capital: Pagadian City
Nicknames:
- The Colors of Ethnic Zamboanga
Motto: None.
Anthem: Zamboanga del Sur Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Southern Zamboanga (literal meaning).
(for "flower").
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
Capital: Ipil
Nicknames:
- The Island's Seasnake Sanctuary
- Rubber Capital of the Philippines
Motto: None.
Anthem: Zamboanga Sibugay Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Sibugay, an old Visayan term meaning "where there is sandy soil," from the
root word bugay which means "sandy soil" or "loose earth." This is
perhaps about the shallows at the mouth of the river that now bears the
name, which is known to run nearly dry during low tide. The name —
variously rendered in Spanish accounts as Sibuguei, Sibuguey, and
Sibuguy. Hispanicized form of samboangan, Sinama for "anchorage," or
literally, "place of mooring poles," referring to the settlement and port town
at the southern tip of Mindanao's western peninsula. Just like the practice
in naming many other provinces, the undivided province of Zamboanga
was named after its capital. Other proposed etymologies for the name of
(for "flower").
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

(HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES)
CITY OF MANILA
Founded: 1258 (as the Kingdom of Maynila) (official)

June 24, 1571 (as Spanish Manila / Intramuros) (official)
Province: None
Chartered City: July 31, 1901 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: December 22, 1979 (official)
Nicknames:
- Pearl of the Orient
- Cosmopolitan Capital of the Philippines
- The National Capital
- City of Fun
- City of Our Affections
- Regional Capital of the National Capital Region
- Oldest Royal City in the Philippines
Motto: Manila, God First.

Anthem: Song of Manila
Name of Origin: Hispanicized corruption of the Tagalog-Sanskrit phrase may nila
which means "there is nila" (indigo tree in Sanskrit) referring to the prevalence of
the tree.
CALOOCAN CITY
Province: None
Cityhood: February 16, 1962 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Historic City of Caloocan
- Cradle of Katipunan
- Home of Heroes
- The City of Heroes
- Motorcycle Capital of the National Capital Region
- The Divided City
Motto: People First.

Anthem: Long Live the Caloocan
Name of Origin:
- Caloocan as a toponym comes from the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-
lookan (or kaloob-looban) means "innermost area". The city's name is
colloquially spelled as Kalookan. The city's name is colloquially spelled as
Kalookan.
LAS PIÑAS CITY

1797 (other sources)
Province: None
Chartered City: March 27, 1907 (official)
Cityhood: March 26, 1997 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: March 26, 1997 (official)
Nicknames:
- Home of the Bamboo Organ
- Salt Center of Metro Manila
- City of Love and Progress
- Lantern Capital of Metro Manila
Motto: Las Piñas, Our Home.

Anthem: Las Piñas Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Spanish for "The Pineapples"; the city's old name however is "Las Peñas"
meaning "The Rocks".
- One version mentioned, that traders from the province of Cavite and
Batangas shipped their first piñas (Spanish for pineapples) for sale to this
town before they were distributed to nearby markets.
MAKATI CITY
Province: None
Highly Urbanized City: February 04, 1995 (official)
Nicknames:
- Financial Capital of the Philippines
- Wall Street of the Philippines
- The Business Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Makati, let us love it, it is ours.

Anthem: Makati Hymn
Name of Origin:
- From kumakati, Tagalog for "ebbing tide"; shortened and Filipinized form
of its original Spanish name "San Pedro de Macati'' after Saint Peter the
Apostle.
MALABON CITY
Founded: May 21, 1599 (as Visita of Tondo) (official)
Province: None
Cityhood: June 11, 1901 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: April 21, 2001 (official)
Nicknames:
- A Coastal Capital
- Local Venice
- Home of Famous Pancit Malabon
Motto: We can!
Anthem: The New Malabon
Name of Origin:
- Legend considers the city's name to be a contraction of the Tagalog phrase
maraming labóng ("plenty of bamboo shoots"), as the place once
abounded in this edible root.
- Originally called Tambobong (an early Tagalog word for barn made of
bamboo), Malabon was founded as a visita (hamlet) of Tondo by the
Augustinians on May 21, 1599. It remained under the administrative
jurisdiction of the Province of Tondo from 1627 to 1688.
MANDALUYONG CITY
Province: None
Highly Urbanized City: April 10, 1994 (official)
Nicknames:
- Tiger City of the Philippines
- Shopping Mall Center of Metro Manila
Motto: Action, not words!

Anthem: Mandaluyong March
Name of Origin:
- From daluyong, Tagalog for "big waves from the sea"; the city's original
name is San Felipe Neri after Saint Philip Neri of Rome.
- One tells of how the place was abundant with a kind of tree called luyong,
now more commonly known as anahaw (Saribus rotundifolius), from which
canes and furniture were made.
- Another version of the name is based on a legend that a Maharlika named
Luyong fell in love with Manda, the lovely daughter of a barangay chieftain.
The chieftain did not like Luyong and forbade him Manda's hand. Luyong
overcame this objection by winning a series of tribal contests, as was the
custom at the time. The couple settled thereafter in a place which was later
called “Mandaluyong" - a term made up of joining their names.
MARIKINA CITY
Province: None
Cityhood: December 01, 1996 (official)
Nicknames:
- Shoe Capital of the Philippines
- Home of the World's Largest Shoes
Motto: Discipline, Good Taste, Excellence.

Anthem: Marikina Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Félix Berenguer de Marquina, the Spanish Governor-General of the
Philippines and former Viceroy of New Spain.
- In the province of Nueva Vizcaya in Spain, there was a beautiful town called
Mariquina (now known as Markina-Xemein). The town, located beside the
Charmaga River (now known as Artibai River), is the origin of the Jesuit
priests who came to the Philippines and established Jesus dela Peña.
- It is said that before the Spaniards came to Mariquina, a beautiful, virtuous,
polite, and intelligent lady named Maria Cuina was residing in the town.
Because of her business expertise, she became wealthy, and her fortunes
were expended on charity. She eventually became famous in the whole
town up to Manila.
MUNTINLUPA CITY
Established: December 19, 1917 (the independent town from Rizal province)
January 01, 1918 (independent status takes effect) (official)
Province: None
Highly Urbanized City: March 01, 1995 (official)
Nicknames:
- Munti - Gateway to Calabarzon
- Emerald City - Residential Haven of Metro Manila
Motto: Strength, Wisdom, and Life.

Anthem: Muntinlupa March
Name of Origin: Munting lupa, Tagalog for "small land."
- There are three plausible origins of the name of the city: First, is its
association with the thin topsoil in the area; second, residents, purportedly
replying to a question by Spaniards in the 16th century what the name of
their place was, said “Monte sa Lupa”—apparently mistaking the question
for what card game they were playing; third, the topographical nature of the
area, where the term Monte or mountain was expanded to Muntinlupa or
mountain land. Based on the 1987 Philippine constitution, it is spelled as
Muntinglupa, instead of Muntinlupa.
NAVOTAS CITY
Founded: January 16, 1827 (official)
Chartered: December 20, 1827 (official)
Province: None
Highly Urbanized City: June 24, 2007 (official)
Nicknames:
- Commercial Fishing Hub of the Philippines
- Fishing Capital of the Philippines
- Fishing Capital of Greater Manila Area
Motto: Raise the Level of the Navoteño Life.

Anthem: Navotas Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word nabutas which means "breached"
or "pierced through" about the formation of the Navotas River.
- San Jose de Navotas was the name given to the locality after its patron
saint, Saint Joseph.
PARAÑAQUE CITY
Province: None
Nicknames:
- Integrated Resort City - The Bay City
- Novena Mecca of Metro Manila - The City of Lights
- The Fashion Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Dedicated to God.

Anthem: New Parañaque
Name of Origin: Hispanicized corruption of Palanyag, the old Tagalog name of
the Parañaque River. taken from the term "palayag", which means “point of
navigation”. In another story, some Spanish soldiers riding a horse-drawn
carriage asked to be taken to a certain place. However, the coachman did not
understand the Spanish soldier's pronunciation. When they arrived, one of the
soldiers said, “Para aqui, Para aqui” meaning, “Stop here, stop here.” The
coachman did not understand and kept going whereas the soldier also repeated
his instruction, “Para aqui, Para aqui”. The coachman left the carriage and told
the townspeople, “These Spaniards are repeatedly saying para aniya ake, para
aniya ake” to which the townspeople just laughed. The incident circulated and
was repeated for days and the term "Para Aniya Ake" stuck.
PASAY CITY
Founded: 1175 (as part of Namayan as Yamagtogon) (official)
1727 (under of Augustinian Order as Pineda) (official)
December 02, 1863 (official)
Province: None
Nicknames:
- The Travel City - Japanese City of the Philippines
- Cultural Center of Metro Manila - The Second City of Stars
- The Gateway to the Philippines
- The Travel Capital of the Philippines
- Home of Aliwan Festival
- Trading Wall of the Philippines
- Festival Capital of the Philippines
- Asian City of Metro Manila
Motto: Aim High Pasay!

Anthem: Long Live Pasay!
Name of Origin: Dayang-Dayang Pasay, a Namayan princess, and daughter of
Rajah Sulayman of Maynila. The city's old name is Pineda, after Spanish
horticulturist Cornelio Pineda.
PASIG CITY
Province: None
Cityhood: January 21, 1995 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: January 21, 1995 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Green City
- Urban Rainforest of Metro Manila
Motto: Pasig: Flowing with Hope!

Anthem: Pasig March
Name of Origin:
- From pasi, a Sanskrit word meaning "riverbank."
- The city's name Pasig was believed to have come from the old Sanskrit
word "pasega", meaning "sand" (similar to Malay Pasir), which refers to the
tribal community beside the sandy edges of the river.
- It was pronounced "mapaksik" by the Pre-Hispanic Chinese inhabitants of
Binondo, Manila ("Mabagsik" is Tagalog for "terrifying" – depicting the
river's raging current during the typhoon season, causing massive floods
on nearby towns and villages, destroying wide hectares of farmland, and
even bringing huge amounts of logs and water lilies from Marikina River,
Laguna de Bay, and San Juan River towards Colonial Manila (Intramuros).
PATEROS*
Province: None
Chartered: March 29, 1909 (official)
Inclusion: November 07, 1975 (official)
Cityhood: None
Highly Urbanized City: None
Nicknames:
- Balut Capital of the Philippines
- Small Town with a Big Heart
- Alfombra Town
Motto: One Pateros.

Anthem: Pateros Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The Tagalog word (of Spanish origin) for "duck" is pato and Pateros,
"duck-raisers". Another lesser-known theory is that the name may allude to
the town's small shoe-making industry. The Tagalog word for "shoe" is
sapatos (< zapatos Sp. "shoes"), and shoemakers are called sapateros.
Trivia (*):
- Pateros is the only municipality and the smallest, both in population and
inland area, in Metro Manila, but it is the second-most densely populated at
around 29,000 people per square kilometer after Manila.
QUEZON CITY
Established: October 12, 1938 (incorporated as a city) (official)
Province: None
Nicknames:
- QC - City of New Horizons
- Kyusi
- City of Stars
- Home of the Philippine Congress
- The Dragon City of the Philippines
- Largest City of the Philippines
Motto: QC welcomes you!

Anthem: Quezon City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Manuel Luis Quezon, the second president of the Philippines.
- Hispanicized Hokkien Chinese surname, possibly from the Mestizo de
Sangley Hokkien family name of Chinese: 郭孫; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: keh-sun.
Trivia:
- Before Quezon City was created, its land was settled by the small
individual towns of San Francisco del Monte, Novaliches, and Balintawak.
SAN JUAN CITY
Founded: 1590 (as Barrio and Encomienda of Santa Ana de Sapa) (official)
1623 (as San Juan del Monte) (official)
Province: None
Highly Urbanized City: June 17, 2007 (official)
Nicknames:
- Great City of San Juan
- Tiangge Capital of the Philippines
- The Heart of Metro Manila
- City of Philippine Presidents
- Smallest City of the Philippines
Motto: Spirit of 1896., Modern San Juan.

Anthem: San Juan, Symbol of Freedom
Name of Origin:
- Named after Saint John the Baptist; the city's longer official name is San
Juan del Monte, Spanish for "Saint John of the Mountain". In this case,
Saint John the Baptist with the locale's hilly terrain and relatively higher
elevation compared to surrounding areas.
TAGUIG CITY
Founded: April 25, 1587 (Official)
Province: None
Cityhood: December 08, 2004 (Official)
Highly Urbanized City: December 08, 2004 (Official)
Nicknames:
- Metro Manila's Province-City
- Rice Bowl of Greater Manila
- The Province City
Motto: I Love Taguig.

Anthem: Taguig March
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word taga-giik meaning "rice thresher"
and the settlement as "pook ng mga taga-giik."
- Spanish friar Fray Alonso de Alvarado, together with conquistador Ruy
López de Villalobos who crossed Pasig River to reach the city's present
site in 1571, found "taga-giik" difficult to pronounce. "Tagui-ig" was later
shortened to its current form "Taguig”.
VALENZUELA CITY
Province: None
Nicknames:
- The City of Discipline - Vibrant City
- Northern Gateway to Metro Manila
Motto: Let’s Go Valenzuela!, Valenzuela, have Disciplined.

Anthem: Valenzuela Hymn
Name of Origin:
- In Spanish, Valenzuela is a diminutive form of Valencia which means "little
Valencia". The name Valenzuela is also the surname of Pío Valenzuela y
Alejandrino, a Tagalog physician and was one of the leaders of Katipunan.
He was regarded as a member of the Katipunan triumvirate which started
the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial authorities in 1896. He
also served as the provisional chairman for the Katipunan.
- Before 1960, Valenzuela was formerly known as Polo. The name Polo was
derived from the Tagalog term pulô, which means "island" or "islet",
although the area was not an island itself. The town of Polo was
surrounded by the rivers, thus, creating an impression of itself being an
island.
HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES
ANGELES CITY
Settled: 1796 (official)

Highly Urbanized City: October 13, 1986 (official)
Nicknames:
- Culiat
- City of Angels
- Entertainment Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Let’s Fly!

Anthem: Angeles Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name Ángeles is derived from the Spanish El Pueblo de los Ángeles
("The Town of the Angels") in honour of its patron saints, Los Santos
Ángeles Custodios (Holy Guardian Angels), and the name of its founder,
Don Ángel Pantaleón de Miranda.
BACOLOD CITY
Highly Urbanized City: September 27, 1984 (official)
Nicknames:
- The City of Smiles
Motto: The City of Smiles.

Anthem: Bacolod City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Bacólod (English: Bacolod), is derived from bakólod (Old Spelling:
bacólod), the Old Hiligaynon (Old Ilonggo) (Old Spelling: Ylongo and
Ilongo) word for a "hill, mound, rise, hillock, down, any small eminence or
elevation", since the resettlement was founded on a stony, hilly area, now
the barangay of Granada.
BAGUIO CITY
Incorporated: September 01, 1909 (as a city) (official)
Nicknames:
- Summer Capital of the Philippines - City of Pines
- Regional Capital of the Cordillera Region
- Center of Education of the North
- The Highest City
- Capital of the North
- Convention City
- Artist Heaven
- Little America
Motto: Wake Up in the Cordilleras.

Anthem: Baguio Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Baguio City was first called "Kafagway" by the locals. The name "Baguio"
originates from the American period and is derived from the Ibaloi word
bagiw (moss), which was then Hispanicized as "Baguio". A demonym for
natives of the city, "Ibagiw", is also derived from bagiw. It is also the name
of the city's annual arts festival.
BUTUAN CITY
Cityhood: August 02, 1950 (official)
Nicknames:
- Home of the Balangays - Regional Capital of Caraga
- Timber City of the South
- BXU
- Caraga’s Economic Hub
- Premier Forest City
Motto: In the beginning, there was no Philippines but there was Butuan.
Anthem: Butuan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name "Butuan" is believed to have originated from the sour fruit locally
called batuan. Other etymological sources say that it comes from a certain
Datu Buntuan, a chieftain who once ruled over areas of the present-day
city.
- According to Datu Makalipay, Butuan was named after the wife of Datu
Balansag, the Teniente de Barangay of the area.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

Re-established: 1626 (official)
Declared as Town: 1871 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: November 22, 1983 (official)
Nicknames:
- City of Golden Friendship
- Whitewater Rafting Capital of the Philippines
- City of Gold
Motto: City of Golden Friendship.

Anthem: Cagayan de Oro March
Name of Origin:
- The name Cagayan de Oro (lit. River of Gold) can be traced back to the
arrival of the Spanish Augustinian Recollect friars in 1622, the area around
Himologan (now Huluga), was already known as "Cagayán". Early Spanish
written documents in the 16th century already referred to the place as
"Cagayán".
CEBU CITY
Founded: June 04, 1565 (Treaty of Cebu) (as Spanish Colony) (official)
Reincorporated: February 24, 1937 (as a City) (official)
Nicknames:
- The Queen City of the South - Regional Capital of Central Visayas
- Oldest City in the Philippines - First Capital of the Philippines
- Second City of the Philippines
- The First Spanish Settlement
- Second Oldest Royal City in the Philippines
Motto: The Queen City of the South.

Anthem: Cebu City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name "Cebu" came from the old Cebuano word Sibu or sibo ("trade"),
a shortened form of sinibuayng hingpit ("the place for trading"). It was
originally applied to the harbors of the town of Sugbu, the ancient name for
Cebu City. Sugbu or Sugbo, in turn, was derived from the Old Cebuano
term for "scorched earth" or "great fire".
DAVAO CITY
Chartered: October 16, 1936 (official)
Nicknames:
- King City of the South - Philippines’ Little Japan
- Crown Jewel of Mindanao - City of Royalties
- Durian Capital of the Philippines - Silicon Gulf
- Chocolate Capital of the Philippines
- Eco-Adventure Capital of the Philippines
- Regional Capital of Davao Region
Motto: Life is Here.

Anthem: We are Davaeño
Name of Origin: The region's name is derived from its Bagobo origins. The
Bagobos were indigenous to the Philippines. The word Davao came from the
phonetic blending of three Bagobo subgroups' names for the Davao River, a
major waterway emptying into the Davao Gulf near the city. The aboriginal Obos,
who inhabit the hinterlands of the region, called the river Davah (with a gentle
vowel ending, although later pronunciation is with a hard v or b); To the Obos,
davah also means "a place beyond the high grounds" (alluding to settlements at
the mouth of the river surrounded by high, rolling hills).
GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Founded: October 01, 1940 (as Municipal District of Buayan) (official)
August 18, 1947 (as General Santos) (official)
Cityhood: July 08, 1968 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: September 05, 1988 (official)
Nicknames:
- GenSan
- Tuna Capital of the Philippines
- Southernmost City in the Philippines
Motto: Home of the Champions.

Anthem: General Santos Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The nomadic Blaan people are the original inhabitants of General Santos,
and traces of their early settlement are found in the city's place names,
derived from their vocabulary. Their name for the city, Dadiangas, is from
the thorny Ziziphus Spina-Christi tree that was once abundant in the area
and is now a protected species under Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous
Peoples Right Act of 2007. The B'laan tribe now lives alongside the city's
new generation of settlers and other immigrants.
- Named after Major General Paulino Santos, a former Commanding General
of the Philippine Army and the settlement's leading pioneer.
ILIGAN CITY
Chartered: July 23, 1914 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Industrial Center of the South
- City of Majestic Waterfalls
Motto: My Home, My Place, My City.

Anthem: Iligan March
Name of Origin:
- The name Iligan is from the Higaunon (Lumad/Native of Iligan) word "Ilig"
which means "to go downstream". However, some also claim that the name
of Iligan was taken and inspired by the Higaunon term "Iligan" or "ilijan",
which means "fortress of defense", an appropriate term due to the frequent
attacks incurred by pirates as well as other Mindanao tribes.
ILOILO CITY
Founded: 1566 (Spanish Settlement) (official)
1581 (La Villa Rica de Arevalo) (official)
1602 (La Punta or City Proper District) (official)
Cityhood: October 05, 1889 (Royal Spanish Decree) (official)
Reincorporated: July 16, 1937 (Re-charter) (official)
Nicknames:
- The Most Loyal and Noble City - Bike Capital of the Philippines
- The Queen City of the South - Museum City of the Philippines
- The City of Love - The Pioneer City of the Philippines
- The Heart of the Philippines - Heritage City
- Regional Capital of Western Visayas - The City of Firsts
- The Royal City of the South - Athens of the Philippines
- Textile Capital of the Philippines - Fireworks Capital of Western
Visayas
- The Contemporary City of the Philippines - Rising Giant Of The South
- Festival Capital of the Philippines - The City of Mansions
Mottos: The Most Loyal and Noble City., Progress, Iloilo., Level Up, Iloilo!
Anthem: Iloilo City Hymn
Name of Origin: Hispanicized corruption of irong-irong, Hiligaynon for "nose-
like," referring to the shape of the delta formed by what is now called the Iloilo
and Salog Rivers on which the settlement of the same name thrived. The name
originally only applied to the town (now city) of Iloilo (rendered in Spanish
orthography as Yloylo or Yloilo), which serves as the capital of the province.
LAPU-LAPU CITY
Founded: 1730 (as Opon) (official)
Highly Urbanized City: January 23, 2007 (official)
Nicknames:
- Historic Resort City
Motto: Free Yourself.

Anthem: Lapu-Lapu Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Lapu-Lapu was a ruler of Mactan, an island in the Visayas, Philippines, who
is known as the first native of the archipelago to have resisted the Spanish
colonization. He was also responsible for the death of Portuguese explorer
Ferdinand Magellan. He is now regarded, retroactively, as the first Filipino
hero. He is also known under the names Çilapulapu, Si Lapulapu, Salip
Pulaka, and Kali Pulako, though the historicity of the names is disputed.
LUCENA CITY
Formal Inauguration: August 20, 1961 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: July 01, 1991 (official)
Nicknames:
- LC
- Biofuel City
- Cocopalm City of the South
- The Gateway to the South
- Entertainment Capital of Southern Luzon
Motto: All Together in Lucena!

Anthem: The City of Lucena
Name of Origin:
- November 5, 1879, the Orden Superior Civil officially adopted the name
"Lucena" in honor of a Spanish friar by the name of Father Mariano Granja
in Andalucia, Spain. Father Granja was responsible for the development of
the barrio that became a Parish in 1881. Lucena became an independent
municipality on June 1, 1882.
MANDAUE CITY
Founded: 12th Century-16th Century (as Mandani) (official)
Municipality Status: 1901 (official)
Nicknames:
- Furniture Capital of the Philippines
- Industrial City of Southern Philippines
- Little Rich City
Motto: None
Anthem: Mandaue, the City
Name of Origin:
- Historically, Mandaue got its name from thick, clinging vines known as
“mantawi”, which were abundant in the early times, long before the coming
of the Spanish conquistadores.
NEW CLARK CITY

Highly Urbanized City: TBD
Nicknames:
- Clark Green City
- Philippines First Green, Smart, and Disaster-Resilient Metropolis
Motto: Clark: It Works. Like A Dream.

Anthem: None
Name of Origin:
- Harold Melville Clark (October 04, 1890 – May 02, 1919) was a major in U.S.
Army Signal Corps. He died on May 2, 1919, in a seaplane crash in the
Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal Zone, and was interred at Arlington
National Cemetery. Clark Air Base, Clark International Airport, and New
Clark City in the Philippines are named after him.
- The project was named "Clark" for marketing purposes for potential
investors in the area. This naming decision was made despite being
located in Tarlac and not in Pampanga (the location of the already existing
Clark Freeport Zone) due to the latter being more known to foreign
investors. The BCDA compared this with the situation of the Subic Bay
Freeport Zone, which was Olongapo and Morong, Bataan, and not in Subic,
Zambales.
OLONGAPO CITY
Nicknames:
- City of Volunteers - Gapo
- City of a Thousand Bumble Bees - The City of Excellence
Motto: Transparency and Good Governance., Fighting for Excellence

Anthem: Hymn of Olongapo
Name of Origin: According to popular legend, there once was a group of warring
tribes who lived in the area in and around what is now the modern city. A wise old
man, seeing the perils of disunity, exerted great effort toward uniting the warring
tribes. There were, however, some who bitterly opposed his idea, and one day the
old man just disappeared. After a long search, the old man's body was found, but
with the head missing. It is said that the tribesmen launched search parties to
locate the severed head of the man; to the Sambal, decapitation was the only
permissible form of assassination. These efforts proved to be futile, and the
search was eventually called off. A boy, however, vowed to himself that he would
not stop searching until he found the elder's head. He searched for weeks but
found nothing. One day, he chanced upon what appeared to be the old man's
head, resting on top of a bamboo pole. The boy ran back to his people crying,
"Olo nin apo! Olo nin apo!" ("head of the elder" in Sambal / "ulo ng apo" in
Tagalog), running hysterically from village to village. The phrase stuck, and that,
according to legend, is how the area got its name, Olongapo.
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY
Highly Urbanized City: July 09, 2007 (official)
Nicknames:
- Eco-Tourism Center of the Philippines - City of the Living God
- The City in the Forest
- Westernmost City in the Philippines
Motto: Where nature begins and never ends.

Anthem: Puerto Princesa March
Name of Origin:
- The name Puerto Princesa has several origins. It is said to have been
attributed by locals to a princess-like maiden who roam the place at certain
nights of the year, while other accounts attributed its geographical
advantage as a seaport which is a naturally protected area due to its
surrounding mountains and is characterized by a depth able to
accommodate any size of the shipping vessel.
- Historically, this place was originally named Port Asuncion after Princess
Asuncion, one of the princesses born to Isabella II of Spain and her
consort, Francisco, Duke of Cádiz. When the princess suffered an untimely
death, the Queen changed the name to Puerto de la Princesa. Eventually,
the name was shortened to Puerto Princesa.
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY
Cityhood: September 10, 2000 (official)
Lone District: December 18, 2003 (official)
Highly Urbanized City: TBD (2022)
Nicknames:
- The Rising City
- The Balcony of the Metropolis
Motto: Arya San Joseño!

Anthem: San Jose del Monte Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The town reportedly got its name from Saint Joseph whose statue was
found in a veritable forest; the hunters called it “San Jose del Monte” (lit.
“Saint Joseph of the Mountain”). In all probability, the hunters reported
their find to the parish priest of Meycauayan. It was said that the priest built
a stone church at the site where the town proper is now located. The statue
was installed in the new church.
TACLOBAN CITY
Provincial Capital: February 26, 1980 (official)
Chartered: June 12, 1953 (official)
Nicknames:
- Queen City of the Orient Seas
- Regional Center of Eastern Visayas
- The Gateway to Eastern Visayas
- City of Hope
- Home of the Happiest People in the World
Motto: City of Love, Beauty, and Progress.

Anthem: Tacloban Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Tacloban developed from a small fishing village, a barrio of Basey, Samar.
The word Tacloban evolved from “Taklub”, a basket-like contraption for
catching fish. It became a major trading town in the late 18th century.
- The change of the name came about in this manner: Kankabatok was a
favorite haunt of fishermen. They would use a bamboo contraption called a
"taklub" to catch crabs, shrimps, or fish. When asked where they were
going, the fishermen would answer, "(to) tarakluban", which meant the
place where they used the device to catch these marine resources.
Eventually, the name Tarakluban or Tacloban took prominence.
ZAMBOANGA CITY
Chartered: October 12, 1936 (official)
Nicknames:
- City of Flowers
- Asia's Latin City
- Sardines Capital of the Philippines
- Commercial and Industrial Center of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region
Motto: Zoom in to Zamboanga.

Anthem: Beautiful Zamboanga
Name of Origin:
(for "flower").
INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITIES

COTABATO CITY
Founded: 13th Century (During Manobo Period) (official)

1520 (as the Capital of Maguindanao Sultanate) (official)
Establishment: 1862 (as Pueblo de Cotabato) (official)
Nicknames:
- City of Cultural Charms - Tagalog City of Mindanao
- Regional Center of Bangsamoro - Halal Capital of the Philippines
- City of Cultural Charms - Stone Fortress of Mindanao
- Commercial Center of Southwest Mindanao - City of Rivers and Creeks
Motto: Shine Cotabato!

Anthem: Cotabato City Hymn
Name of Origin: Hispanicized form of Kuta Watu, Maguindanaon for "stone fort,"
referring to an actual stone fort that stood on Tantawan (now Pedro Colina) Hill,
undivided province. Subsequent divisions and new provinces’ creation have
resulted in North Cotabato and South Cotabato exercising jurisdiction far from
their namesake city.
DAGUPAN CITY
Nicknames:
- The Bangus (Milkfish) Capital of the Philippines
- Melting Pot of Pangasinan
- Former Queen City of the North
- Business Capital of North Central Luzon
- Education Capital of the North
- Birthplace of Philippine Modern Art and National Artist Victorio Edades
Motto: Follow Dagupan.

Anthem: Dagupan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city's name was derived from the local Pangasinan word
pandaragupan, meaning "gathering place" as the city has been a regional
market center for centuries.
NAGA CITY (CAMARINES SUR)

Named: 1573 (as Naga by Juan de Salcedo) (official)
Founded: 1575 (as Nueva Caceres) (official)
Royal City-Charter: August 14, 1595 (official)
Renamed as Naga: 1919 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Queen City of Bicol
- The Heart of Bicol
- The Pilgrim City
- The Happy Place
- Titan City
- Third OIdest Royal City in the Philippines
- One of the Seven Golden Cities of the Sun
Motto: Progress, Naga!

Anthem: My Beloved Naga
Name of Origin:
- In 1573, on his second expedition to this region, the conquistador Juan de
Salcedo landed in a village and named it Naga because of the abundance of
Narra trees (Naga in Bikol).
- Captain Pedro de Chavez, who founded the original site as a Spanish city
which he named La Ciudad de Cáceres, in honor of Francisco de Sande,
the third Spanish governor-general and a native of the city of Cáceres in
Caceres Province, Extramadura Autonomous Community in Spain.
ORMOC CITY
Nicknames:
- The City of Beautiful People
- The Economic, Cultural, Commercial, and Transportation hub of
Western Leyte
- The Largest City in Leyte
Motto: Ormoc, Beautiful Land.

Anthem: Ormoc, Beautiful Land
Name of Origin:
- The city's name is derived from ogmok, an archaic Visayan term for
"lowland" or "depressed plain".
- The place was used during the Spanish occupation and the migration of
the neighboring towns to settle in the more fertile plains of Ogmok. Much
of the settler in the town was Malayans. These people had constant trading
with the Chinese, Javans, and Indonesians. Their living, however, was
always threatened by the attack of the Moro pirates. It is said that the
people in Ogmok developed a warning system communication through
people manning watchtowers to inform and warn the people of the coming
of these pirates.
SANTIAGO CITY
Nicknames:
- Queen City of the North
- Commercial and Trading Center of Cagayan Valley
- Investment Hub of Northern Philippines
Motto: Santiago, Town of Love.

Anthem: Santiago, the Town of Love
Name of Origin:
- The origin of Santiago City can be drawn from the first native settlement
discovered by the early Spanish missionaries at the bank of the old Carig
River (now Diadi River) from which its original name, Carig, was derived.
The early inhabitants were the Gaddangs and the Ibanags. When the
Spanish settled in, the city was named Pueblo of Santiago Apostol de
Carig, with Santiago as the Spanish name of Saint James the Apostle.
COMPONENT CITIES
ALAMINOS CITY

Nicknames:
- Home of the Hundred Islands
- The Hundred Islander Capital of the World
Motto: Alaminos City for all.

Anthem: Alaminos City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city was named after Juan Alaminos y de Vivar, a Spanish general who
served as the 96th Governor-General of the Philippines. He served from
January 24, 1873 – March 17, 1874.
Trivia:
- He was the first Governor-General to arrive and depart from the Philippines
on a steamship. He was from Cuéllar on Segovia, Castile and Leon in
Spain.
ANTIPOLO CITY
Chartered: 1650 (official)
Cityhood: April 04, 1998 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Pilgrimage City of the Philippines
- The City in the Sky
Motto: Let's go to Antipolo!

Anthem: Antipolo Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city was named after the tipolo (breadfruit) tree (Artocarpus blancoi),
which was in abundance in the area.
Trivia:
- A new provincial capitol building was inaugurated in the city in March 2009
to replace the old capitol in Pasig, which has long been outside the
jurisdiction of Rizal Province, since Pasig was included in Metro Manila in
1975. On June 19, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act
11475, designating Antipolo City as the official capital of Rizal Province. It
took effect on July 7, 2020.
- The Marian image of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage or the Virgin
of Antipolo, which was brought in from Mexico in 1626, and enshrined in
the Antipolo Cathedral has had a continuous following among Filipino
Catholics since the Spanish colonial era.
BACOOR CITY
Founded: September 28, 1671 (official)
Nicknames:
- Cavite's Gateway to the Metropolis
- Marching Band Capital of the Philippines
- City of Transformation
Motto: Love My Bacoor.

Anthem: New Bacoor
Name of Origin:
- Some accounts indicate that the city of Bacoor, also named Bakood or
Bakoor was founded as a pueblo or town in 1671. When Spanish troops
first arrived in Bacoor they met some local inhabitants in the process of
building a bamboo fence (bakod in Filipino) around a house. The Spaniards
asked the men the name of the village but because of the difficulties in
understanding each other, the local inhabitants thought the Spaniards were
asking what they were building. The men answered "bakood". The
Spaniards pronounced it as "Bacoor" which soon became the town's name.
BAGO CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of Historical and Natural Treasures
- Boxing Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Home of Historical and Natural Treasures.

Anthem: Bago March
Name of Origin:
- The community was named after a large tree called “Bágo” (gnetum
gnemon) under which a native prince Mapagic died according to the
writings of a Spanish historian, Diego de Povedano. Another version,
however, noted that the name came from the shrub, bago-bago that grew
abundantly in the riverbanks. Around the 17th and 18th Centuries, settlers
from Molo, Iloilo formed a little village at the mouth of Bago River,
presently a rich source of sand and gravel. The village grew into a large
settlement prompting its elders to pass a petition for its conversion into a
town or pueblo, which was granted in 1800.
BAIS CITY
Nicknames:
- Sugar Estate of the South
- City of Whales and Dolphins
Motto: I love Bais.

Anthem: Bais Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name is derived from the Visayan word “BA-IS” for brackish-water ell a
fish species native to the city and one has become the city.
- In the early days of Spanish exploration, some Spaniards came ashore
upon swampy land and docked their boats in the vicinity of the two small
islets that guarded the village. While exploring the place, they saw natives
fishing along the coast. The Spaniards approached the natives and asked
for the name of the place. The natives could not understand Spanish, and
believing that the Spaniards were asking for the name of their catch, the
natives answered saying "Ba-is"; from that day on, this swampy valley of
the Old Panlabangan and Talamban Hills became known as Bais.
BALANGA CITY
Nicknames:
- Bataan Capital City
- Bataan University Town
Motto: Amazing Balanga.

Anthem: Balanga City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The word Balanga originates from the Kapampangan word "balañga" (clay
pot, or "Banga" in Tagalog), which the town used to produce and which
were among the best that can be found in the country.
BATAC CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of Great Leaders
- City of My Dreams
Motto: Home of Great Leaders.

Anthem: Batac City Hymn
Name of Origin: The word Batac translates as "pull" in the Ilocano language. More
loosely, it refers to "the people's pulling their efforts together." Batac has an
interesting colloquial origin of its name. According to a legend, set in pre-
settlement Batac, a man fell into a deep hole while he was digging for the root
crop "camangeg". He struggled to get out but could not despite his best efforts.
He cried for help but nobody was around. He waited for hours and had given up
hope of being saved. Two men from the neighboring town of Paoay happened to
pass by. They heard the man shouting and traced it to where he was trapped.
Upon seeing him, they heard the man said "Batakennak! Batakennak!" The two
men did not understand until the man explained that he was saying, "Pull me up!
Pull me up!" They did just that. When the two men reached their hometown, they
told their stories to their friends. Since then, the town has been called "Batac,"
which is derived from the word "batakennak."
BATANGAS CITY
Nicknames:
- Industrial Port of Calabarzon
- Eco Tourist City of the Past, Present and Future Green City Batangas
Mottos: All here So near., The Batangueño are Disciplined.

Anthem: Batangas, My Beloved City.
Name of Origin:
- The first Spanish missionaries arrived in Batangas City in 1572 due to
group migration. Finally, in 1581, Spanish authorities governing the
Philippines created a pueblo in the area which included the hill (now
Hilltop) where the present Provincial Capitol of Batangas stands after the
formal end of the Coumintang Kingdom. The town was named "Batangan"
because huge logs, locally called "Batang", abounded in the place.
BAYAWAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Character City - A Pioneer Healthy City
Motto: Celebrate Life’s Harvest.

Anthem: Bayawan Hymn
Name of Origin: Tolong Nuevo (Bayawan's former name) had existed as early as
1868 as part of Tolong Viejo (now the Municipality of Santa Catalina). It was not
until 1872 when she was formally organized as a pueblo. From the former name
"Tolong", it was changed to Bayawan in a tragic tale that involved a "Bukidnon",
the so-called natives of Bayawan, and a priest. The town center was previously
located in an uphill settlement called 'Omod' now Barangay Maninihon. A chapel
was erected to serve the religious needs of the new converts. One Sunday
morning while the priest was celebrating the Holy Eucharist, an enraged
"Bukidnon" barged in the middle of the assembly. In the act of consecration,
while the priest was elevating the Holy Host, this enraged "Bukidnon" threw a
lance to the priest, instantly killing him. The tragic event left an indelible mark in
the minds of the local folks. Thus, the name "Bayawan" from the Visayan term
"Bayaw"– to hoist or elevate. the "Bukidnon" had this ritual called "Mag-ahat-a"
ritual practice involving the act of killing. The practice of "Mag-ahat" was to
avenge the death of their fellow tribesman to appease the spirit of the deceased.
BAYBAY CITY
Nicknames:
- A Place of Discovery, Beauty, and Serenity
Motto: A Place of Discovery, Beauty, and Serenity.

Anthem: Baybay Hymn
Name of Origin:
- When the Spanish conquistadors spread themselves out to the provinces,
an expeditionary force under Felipe Segundo, evidently looking for a bigger
settlement, landed in a barrio north of the town which was and still is called
Pangasugan. Landing near the river, he pointed to a spot and asked a
native in Spanish for the name of the place. Unable to understand Spanish
and thinking that Felipe Segundo wanted to ask about the river, he
answered in Visayan, " Ang suba nagbaybay sa Pangasugan." This is how
Baybay got its name.
BAYUGAN CITY
Nicknames:
- City of Rice, Corn, and Flowers
- Cut Flower Capital of Agusan del Sur
- Agusan del Sur Growth Center
- Timberland City
- Rice Capital of Agusan del Sur
- Transportation Highway Nexus of Eastern Mindanao
Motto: The City of Rice, Corn, and Flowers.

Anthem: Bayugan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The natives called the area Bayugan since the word bayugan is a Manobo
term for the pathway. Another version states that bayug trees used to grow
abundantly in the area. It was also believed that the natives used to make
this place their meeting spot and that the means of gathering the
inhabitants was by knocking on a hollow piece of wood which they termed
as the bayug.
BIÑAN CITY
Nicknames:
- The Home of the Famous Puto Biñan in Laguna
- Trading and Commerce Center of the South
- City of Life
- Educational Center of First District of Laguna
Motto: The City of Life.

Name of Origin:
- Where Biñan got its name is a mystery. Some deduced that before Captain
Juan de Salcedo proceeded to Cainta and Taytay finally reaching Bay, he
landed in Biñan. According to the story, Padres Alfonso de Alvarado and
Diego Espinar planted a huge wooden cross on the spot where the present-
day San Isidro Labrador parish stands and co-celebrated a Thanksgiving
Mass. Curious natives gathered and the two Spanish missionaries took
advantage of the situation. They baptized each one of them. From then on,
old folks say they called the place “Binyagan,” which means a baptismal
place. The Spanish tongue's difficulty in pronouncing the local dialect
acquired for the once town its name— "Biñan".
BISLIG CITY
Nicknames:
- The Booming City by the Bay
- The City of Wonders
- The Organic City of the Philippines
- Easternmost City of the Philippines
Motto: Rise Up Bislig!

Anthem: I Love Bislig
Name of Origin:
- Bislig derived its name from the word "bizlin", a kind of gold, "which is
worth two pesos a tael. The weight of a tael is one and one-eighth ounces"
in the 16th century, which the natives used for trade and barter. Before the
coming of Spaniards, this terminology was understood in Luzon and in
Mindanao. The report of the Administrator of Royal Properties Andres
Mirandaola dated 8 September 1573 sent to King Philip of Spain that "much
gold found in the island of Mindanao, District of Butuan, Surigao ..." It is
believed that this kind of gold found in the rolling hills and mountains of
the southernmost portion of Bislig and Agusan Province.
BOGO CITY
Founded: January 1850 (official)
Nicknames:
- Hidden Paradise in Northern Cebu
- Home of Pintos
- A Place to Go
Motto: Peace, Progress, Prosperity.

Anthem: Bogo Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Bogo – derived its name from a lone bogo tree or Garuda floribunda, which
stood on the shore where Bogo wharf is now. Under its spreading shade,
natives and incoming traders in sailboats loaded with goods barter each
other's products. Thus, the spot became a hub for traders and merchants
as well as for nature lovers. Some of these traders stayed and married
locals of the place.
BORONGAN CITY
Founded: September 08, 1619 (official)
Nicknames:
- City of Golden Sunrise
- The Sunshine Capital
- King City of the East
Motto: None.
Anthem: Borongan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Pronounced bo-róng-gan, the name Borongan was taken from the local
word "borong", which in the Waray-Waray language means "fog". The
mountainous terrains surrounding Borongan are covered by a heavy veil of
fog which can usually be seen during the cold and raining seasons and in
the early hours of the morning. Because of this characteristic, the pre-
Hispanic natives attributed the name borongan to the place, which was
then a fragmented commune of households.
CABADBARAN CITY
Nicknames:
- City of Golden Hearts
Motto: None.
Anthem: Cabadbaran Song
Name of Origin:
- Archival records showed that Cabadbaran was first mentioned in history as
a small village chosen by Spanish authorities to become a new reduction
which they called “La Reunion de Cabarbaran” in 1867. Added to the
existing small population at that time were the inhabitants of Bunawan,
Talacogon & Solibao who were coerced by Spanish authorities to migrate
to La Reunion. Ten years later, in 1879, La Reunion was disbanded. Those
from upper Agusan went back to their places of origin and the remnant
population was attached to the town of Tubay.
CABANATUAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Gateway to the North
- Tricycle Capital of the Philippines
- Commercial Hub of Nueva Ecija
Motto: Change..., Progress..., Discipline...

Anthem: Cabanatuan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The first one is the theory of ‘Cabatuan’. The place is ‘mabato’ or rocky
because of the many rivers flowing within the territory. Secondly, it was
believed that Cabanatuan came from the phrase “Kaban ng Tuwa” (Cavan
of Joy). Being the rice granary of the Philippines the place is enjoying a
bountiful harvest of palay and other crops thus, earning that expression.
And lastly and the widely accepted theory that Cabanatuan came from the
word “Banatu”, a sturdy vine that grew along the swampy banks of Rio
Grande de Pampanga.
CABUYAO CITY
Nicknames:
- The City of Modern Factories
- The Enterprise City of the Philippines
- Next Wave City
- The Home of the Legendary Golden Bell
- Golden Bell City
Motto: One Cabuyao, One Vision.

Name of Origin:
- There were many trees of kabuyaw growing around the area. The fruit of
kabuyaw was used as a shampoo. So, when the priest asked for the name
of the place, the native women readily answered "kabuyaw", thinking that
the priest was asking for the name of the trees growing around the wharf.
From then on, the priests and other Spanish officials called the town of
Tabuco as Cabuyao.
- From cabuyao, a common name for Citrus macroptera, a species of wild
orange. Citrus macroptera, also known as hatkhora, satkara, shatkora,
hatxora, cabuyao, Melanesian papeda, or wild orange, is a semi-wild
species of citrus native to Bangladesh, Malesia, and Melanesia.
CADIZ CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of Dinagsa Festival - City of Whales
- Dinagsa Country of the North
Motto: Faster Cadiz, Cadiznon agrees.

Anthem: Cadiz City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Cadiz traces its beginnings to the establishment of a traditional settlement
in a place known as Cadiz Viejo, near the banks of the Hitalon River.
Historical records showed that in 1861, the Spaniards came and named the
settlement Cadiz because of its northern location which reminded them of
the seaport by the same name in Spain. The name Cadiz was come from
the word Gadir or Agadir (Phoenician: 𐤓𐤃𐤂𐤀, ʾgdr), meaning "The Wall",
"The Compound", or (by metonymy) "The Stronghold". Borrowed by the
Berber languages, this became the Agadir (Tamazight: "wall"; Shilha:
"fortified granary") common North African place names. The Carthaginians
continued to use this name and all subsequent names have derived from it.
The Greek cothon refers to a Carthaginian type of fortified basin that can
be seen at ancient sites such as Motya.
CALACA CITY (TBD)
Cityhood: TBD (2022)
Nicknames:
- Home of the Calacatchara Festival
- TBD
Motto: TBD
Anthem: TBD
Name of Origin:
- TBC
Note: (For the Interim)

- House Bill No. 6598 was filed last March 11, 2020, for the conversion of the
municipality of Calaca into a component city in the province of Batangas.
The House of Representatives passed the bill. The bill was passed by the
Senate and was approved by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on May 26,
2021, through Republic Act No. 11544. Once the law is ratified in a future
plebiscite to be conducted by COMELEC, Calaca will be the fifth city in the
province of Batangas. COMELEC postpones the plebiscite to ratify the
conversion of the municipality of Calaca into a city for the preparation of
the 2022 elections.
CALAMBA CITY
Nicknames:
- Hometown of Jose Rizal
- The Premier City of Growth, Leisure, and National Pride
- Spring Resort Capital of the Philippines
- Administrative Center of Calabarzon
Motto: Long Live the Calamba!

Name of Origin:
- The name of the city is derived from Tagalog kalamba, meaning a wide-
mouthed earthen water jar (also called balanga or Banga). The origin of the
name is reflected in the Calamba Jar landmark in the city plaza, as well as
the city's seal which depicts a water jar superimposed with a profile of José
Rizal.
CALAPAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Gateway to the Golden Isle
- Golden Grains City
- Administrative Center of Mimaropa
Motto: Fly High As One Calapan.

Anthem: Calapan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The derivation of the name of Calapan cannot be traced with certainty.
Some opined that it came from the word “Kalap” which means to gather
logs. Thus “Kalapan” was supposed to be a place where logs were
gathered. In the old records, however, there was never a mention of
Calapan as a place where logs were produced or exported. Furthermore,
huge forest trees where logs were produced certainly did not grow near the
town, which was swampy. Another theory holds that Calapan was originally
pronounced as “Kalapang” which, according to an old Tagalog dictionary,
was a synonym for “sanga” or branch. It could then refer to the settlement
of Kalapang as a branch of its mother town of Baco, an adjoining town. The
name was later Hispanicized as Calapan.
CALBAYOG CITY
Cityhood: October 16, 1948 (official)
Nicknames:
- City of Waterfalls
- Gateway to the North
- Commercial, Industrial, and Fishing Center of Western Samar
Motto: None.
Anthem: My Calbayog
Name of Origin:
- Taboc is the place where the name Calbayog began. Taboc, so legend
says, once abounded with “Bayog” trees. They were cut down and burned
for fuel in making “Cal” (lime) out of seashells and corals. From these two
things, the Spaniards called the place “Calbayog”.
CANDON CITY
Nicknames:
- Center of the 2nd District of Ilocos Sur
Motto: Liberty, Justice, and Unity.

Anthem: Cry of Candon
Name of Origin: One is that the name of the city was derived from the now rare
"candong" tree. It is said by locals that during Spanish times, the powerful
chieftains of the area, after having a gathering called a "kaniaw," held a contest
(called "gabbu," a wrestling contest) to decide the husband of Ineng, the
daughter of the most powerful chieftain, Madal-ang, and his would-be successor,
owing to his advancing age. The contest was held under the shade of the
candong trees, the residence of Madal-ang. The winner was the chieftain named
Kalinio, resident of the caves of Cauplasan who defeated Madal-ang and another
chieftain named Abay-a from the caves of Cadanglaan. Kalinio and the daughter
of the chieftain were wed under the shade of a candong tree in grandiose
ceremonies. During this wedding, a group of Spaniards, which included Captain
Juan de Salcedo, passed by and asked what was going on. Natives thought they
were asking for the name of the tree, so they uttered, "Candong." Candon in
Spanish would be pronounced as Candong. Another theory is that the place was
named after the town of Candon in the Huelva Province, Andalusia in Spain.
CANLAON CITY
Founded: October 11, 1946 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Vegetable Capital of Negros Island
- The Home to Mount Kanlaon
- Vegetable Basket of the Visayas
Motto: Enchanting Canlaon City.

Anthem: Canlaon Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Canlaon was known then as Sitio Mabigo where the lush vegetation of
’bigo, trees abound. It was predominantly a wilderness area ruled by a
native chieftain called Saniko.
- The city was named after nearby Mount Kanlaon, an active stratovolcano
and the highest mountain on the island of Negros in the Philippines, as well
as the highest point in the Visayas, with an elevation of 2,465 m (8,087 ft)
above sea level. Mount Kanlaon ranks as the 42nd-highest peak on an
island in the world. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and
part of the Ring of Fire.
- Kanlaon is derived from the Visayan word “ka” which means “for” and
“Laon,” which is the name of an ancient Hiligaynon goddess.
CARCAR CITY
Nicknames:
- The Heritage City of the Cebu South
- Little Marikina of Cebu
- The Gateway to the South
Motto: The Heritage City of the Cebu South...

Anthem: Carcar Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Cárcar is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous
community of Navarre, northern Spain.
- The settlement was known then as “Saylo” or “Sialo”. The settlement was
called “Saylo” because it lies at the outskirts, and out of the waterway
leading to Mowag a larger riverine community along the Carcar River.
CATBALOGAN CITY
Established: October 17, 1768 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Gateway to Samar Island - The City of Manaragat
- The Quadricentennial City of Samar
- The City of Captivating Contrasts
Motto: None
Anthem: Catbalogan Hymn
Name of Origin: It is said that Catbalogan was originally known as Katabalaugan,
after a shrub called “balaug” that used to thrive along its seashore and the sandy
banks at the mouth of the Antiao River. Before the coming of the Spaniards,
fishermen from the Island of Buad (now Zumarraga), whose custom was to set
out fish at the start of the dark nights of the “Katdulom” phase of the month’s
cycle and return only when they ended, would run their boats up this balaug –
lined shore of the Samar mainland to rinse their fishing nets in the Antiao River
and, having hung the nets out to dry on the shrubs, take a rest. It was just a place
to lie down but a good one, for later those fishermen permanently settled with
their families in the Kabalaugan: Balaug Land.
CAUAYAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Ideal City of the North
- Mushroom City of the North
Motto: Oh, Cauayan.

Anthem: Oh, Cauayan
Name of Origin:
- Cauayan has its name from the word Kawayan meaning bamboo or bulo in
the Ilocano language, the early settlers of the place. How it got its name is
vaguely told by the natives. In the tale, early Spaniards reached the place
found abundant bamboo trees along creeks that circled the townsite of
Bulod, Sipat, Bungkol, and Marabulig creeks where few families lived. It
was also common to see crocodiles basking under the cluster of bamboo
along the creeks in the early morning sun.
- Another version of how the town was named is this way: One day the
miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary disappeared. For many
weeks, a tireless search was undertaken but it was nowhere to be found.
Then one day in October the image was found among the bamboo groves.
Not a single sign of mishandling or scratch was detected on the image.
CAVITE CITY
Settled: May 16, 1571 (official)
Nicknames:
- Historic and Cultural City of 3 Bays
- International Transport Hub of Cavite
Motto: For God and Country.

Anthem: Cavite City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city has been known by at least two Tagalog names, the first being
Tangway, which was the name given to the area by Tagalog settlers.
Tangway simply means "peninsula". The second is Kawit or "hook",
referring to the hook-shaped landform along the coast of Bacoor Bay, and
from which the Chinese Keit and Spanish Cavite are in turn derived.
DANAO CITY
Nicknames:
- The Gunsmith Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Shine Danao!

Anthem: Danao Hymn
Name of Origin:
- There was no concrete record to support the story of how Danao got its
name. Spanish Captain Manuel Anecito del Rosario, in compliance with his
commission, went to the said places to perform his duties. Riding on a
horse on his way to the north, he passed by a place called Cotcot where he
chanced upon a few natives who were resting while tending their carabaos
wallowing in the nearby pond. Not quite familiar with the place, the captain,
pointing his forefinger to the ground, inquired (in the Spanish language)
from the surprised natives about the name of the place. Without
understanding what the captain had said, the natives surmised it to mean
that the stranger might have asked for the name of the pond where the
carabaos were cooling off, they replied danawan– a local term for a pond.
DAPITAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Shrine City of the Philippines
- Historic City of the South
- Rizal City of the South
- Capital of Mindanao Island
- Amusement Capital of the South
Motto: Forward More Dapitanon.

Anthem: Dapitan City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- There are two versions of how Dapitan got its name. One is from Father
Urdaneta, who called the place “Daquepitan” which was later changed to
“Dacpitan” and still later to “Dapitan” because of the difficulty in
pronouncing the former. The second version is derived from the word
“Dapit” which means “to invite” in the local Cebuano dialect. This refers to
the original group of Boholanos from Panglao, Bohol who were invited by
Datu Pagbuaya, the acknowledged founder of the city, to go with him to the
“Dakung Yuta”, that is Mindanao, and the settlement they established was
called Dapitan. This is the traditional version of how Dapitan got its name.
DASMARIÑAS CITY
Renamed: 1917 (official)
Cityhood: November 25, 2009 (official)
Nicknames:
- Dasma
- University City of Cavite
- Melting Pot of Cavite
- Industrial Giant of Calabarzon
- Tiger City of the South
Motto: Onward, Forward City of Dasmariñas!

Anthem: Dasmariñas Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Dasmariñas was named after Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas, the 7th Spanish
governor-general of the Philippines who served from 1590 to 1593. After his
death, his son Luis Pérez Dasmariñas became the governor-general from
1593 to 1596. Pérez Dasmariñas came from San Miguel das Negradas of
Viveiro, in Galicia, Spain.
- Dasmariñas literally means "from As Mariñas" (coastal region of Lugo
combining the comarcas of A Mariña Occidental, A Mariña Central, and A
Mariña Oriental), coming itself from mariño ("of the coast, seaside or
shore" in the Galician language, the native tongue from Viveiro Galicia,
Spain), and this from mar ("sea").
DIGOS CITY
Nicknames:
- Mango Capital City of the Philippines
- City of Sweet Mangoes
- Clay Capital of Mindanao
- Gate City of the South
- Champion City of Good Governance
Motto: Onward Digos.

Anthem: Digos City Hymn
Nicknames:
- During the Spanish Era, a group of natives carrying bows and arrows was
approached by some Spaniards traversing the very fertile tracts of land in
Davao. One Lopez Jaena Pacheco, a conquistador during the
administration of Governor Claveria serving as the head of the group,
inquired about the name of the place from the barefooted natives. Believing
that the Spaniards were asking where they were bound to, the natives
answered "Padigus", which means "to take a bath". Since then the place
was identified as Digos.
DIPOLOG CITY
Reverted to Barrio of Dapitan: March 04, 1904 (official)
Re-established: July 01, 1913 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Orchid City of the Philippines - Tulwanan
- Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines
- Gateway to Western Mindanao
Motto: Explore Dipolog.

Anthem: Dipolog City March
Name of Origin: The earliest recorded political history of Dipolog started in 1834
with the re-organization of the Spanish Provincial Government of Misamis. At that
time, Tulwanan's political territory was still part of the Municipality of Dapitan
with Don Domingo Ruiz, a native, as its capitán or town executive. Sometime that
year, a Spanish Recollect missionary arrived in Tulwanan looking for its barrio
executive or local chieftain. Upon meeting a native, the missionary asked;
"¿Dónde está el capitán?" or "Where is the captain?". The native understanding
only the word "capitán" pointed to the west and said in Subanen Di-pag, meaning
across the river. Guided by his servant, a Tagalog boy named Antonio Subido,
the missionary proceeded down the river and upon reaching the Boholano
settlement, named the place "Dipag".
DUMAGUETE CITY
Founded: 1572 (as Dananguet) (official)
1734 (as Dumaguete) (official)
Cityhood: November 24, 1948 (official)
Nicknames:
- The City of Gentle People
- The University Town of the Visayas
- The Motorcycle Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Duma Get Me.

Anthem: Dumaguete City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- "Dumaguete" was coined from the Cebuano word dagit, which means "to
snatch". The word dumaguet, meaning "to swoop", was coined because of
frequent raids by Moro pirates on this coastal community and its power to
attract and keep visitors, both local and foreign. In 1572, Diego López
Povedano indicated the place as Dananguet, but cartographer Pedro
Murillo Velarde in 1734 already used the present name of Dumaguete for
the settlement.
EL SALVADOR CITY
Nicknames:
- City of the Saviour
- City of Mercy
- Divine Mercy City of the Philippines
- Christ City of the Philippines
Motto: None.
Anthem: El Salvador City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Spanish for The Saviour Jesus Christ as “Holy Saviour”.
- The city’s nicknames Divine Mercy City is derived from the word Divine
Mercy which is a form of God's compassion, an act of grace based on trust
or forgiveness. The term and concept of divine mercy are from the Hebrew
word chesed, which in the Bible can be translated as "great mercy",
"goodness", "loving-kindness", "steadfast love", "covenant "faithfulness",
"favor", "grace" or "love and mercy", and which refers to God's love for the
Children of Israel and for all of mankind.
ESCALANTE CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of Mount Lunay and Pan Bisaya
Motto: Escalante, Blessed Land!

Anthem: Escalante, Blessed Land!
Name of Origin:
- Escalante, Spain. A municipality located in the autonomous community of
Cantabria. Whose name derives from Escala 'ladder' (Latin scala), referring
to a terraced slope.
GAPAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Footwear Capital of the North - Nueve Ecija’s Heritage City
- Tsinelas capital of the Philippines
Motto: In God we trust.

Anthem: Gapan City
Name o Hymnf Origin:
- The extant record had this town called “Ibon”. How it came to be known
as Gapan has an interesting story. It was told that some Spanish soldiers
were on a certain mission when they saw natives crawling through the
thick bushes. The soldier halted them and not knowing the local dialect
asked in Spanish for the name of the town. The natives know nothing of the
Spanish language and thinking that the Spanish were asking what they
were doing answered in Tagalog “Gumagapang gapang kami” / “We are
crawling”. The Spanish thought that it was the name of the place and
henceforth called the pueblo Gapang. In due time, the letter “g” was
dropped and the more finesse name Gapan sticks to this day. Another
legend on the origin of the name of Gapan said the name came from the
climbing and crawling plants that were so numerous in the locality.
GENERAL TRIAS CITY
Founded: December 12, 1748 (as San Francisco de Malabon) (official)
Renamed: February 24, 1920 (official)
Nicknames:
- GenTri
Motto: My One and Only GenTri.

Anthem: General Trias Hymn
Name of Origin:
- During the earlier part of the Spanish colonial period, General Trias was
often referred to as Las Estancias (the ranches), which was once a part of
Cavite el Viejo, the present-day Kawit. It was also called Malabón Grande.
The name Malabón was speculated to have been derived from either the
local term "maraming labong," due to the abundance of bamboo shoots in
the area, which is the main ingredient in Filipino cuisine; or from
"mayabong," referring to the trees and other plants once abundant in the
place. When the town was made independent from Cavite el Viejo, it was
finally called by its popular name San Francisco de Malabón, in honor of
patron saint, Saint Francis of Assisi. Founded the men's Order of Friars
Minor, the women's Order of St. Clare, the Third Order of Saint Francis, and
the Custody of the Holy Land and one of the most venerated religious
figures in Christianity.
GINGOOG CITY
Incorporated: 1908 (official)
Nicknames:
- City of Good Luck
- A City in Unity
Motto: Gearing Towards Progress...

Anthem: Gingoog Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The term Gingoog originally came from the word "Hingoog", which means
"Goodluck", from a Lumad tribe of Manobo who settled in the area. The
word implies good fortune, thus Gingoog City means the City of Good
Luck.
GUIHULNGAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Rising City of the North
Motto: Onward Guihulngan!

Anthem: Guihulngan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- There are several versions of how the city derived its name. The first,
according to old tales, was attributed to a river flowing directly to the town
proper from the mainspring in sitio Anahaw, Barangay Nagsaha, hence the
name "Guipadulngan" which means the point where the river flows to an
end.
- The second is associated with the gruesome incident in the 19th Century
when the Philippines was a colony of Spain; men and women of different
ages were said to be captured, beheaded, and thrown into the sea by the
Moros, now known as Tañon Strait. Other accounts claim that the Moro
invaders dropped a bell into the sea when they found out that it was used
by the lookout to warn the townsfolk of their coming. Since that time, the
place has been called "Guihulugan" which means, "Place where a thing
was dropped".
HIMAMAYLAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Maylan
- Home of Himaya-an Festival and Patik Kawayan
Motto: Onward To More Progress.

Anthem: Himamaylan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The term "Himamaylan" is a portmanteau of the two Hiligaynon words hima
and babaylan. It is alleged that the settlement's early Malay inhabitants
suffered from a foot malady called himà, and their employment of witch
doctors called babaylan. However, due to the difficulty of the Spaniards to
pronounce the words, it became Himamaylan.
- During the Spanish colonization, it was once spelled as "Gimamaylan”.
ILAGAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Center of Eco-Tourism Adventure in Region 2
- Home of the World's Largest Wooden Lounge Chair
- Corn Hub of the Philippines
- Primary Growth Center of Region 2
Mottos: More Progress! City of Ilagan, The voice of the people is the voice of God.
Anthem:
Name of Origin: From an inversion of the Ibanag word nagali which means move
or transfer in the English language, due to the relocation of the site of the capital
from Naguilian Baculod to its present site in barangay San Vicente. The move
was due to the economy and security of the town. According to Father Julian
Malumbres, Ilagan derived its name from the word Laga, an Ibanag word for
smallpox during the town's founding in 1686 where the disease was widespread.
After the Gaddang revolt, the natives re-established their settlement upon the
efforts of Fr. Pedro Jimenez in 1678 on the east side of the river thereby giving
the legendary name for Ilagan which is the reverse of the word nagali meaning
move or transfer. The Dominicans accepted the settlement as an ecclesiastical
mission given the name San Fernando de Ilagan in honor of its patron, Saint
Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon. He was also King of Galicia and Toledo.
IMUS CITY
Cityhood: June 30, 2012
Nicknames:
- Flag Capital of the Philippines
- Foremost Banking Center of Cavite
Motto: In Imus, you are important, you are the Hero!

Anthem: Imus City Hymn
Name of Origin: There are at least four versions of the origin of the name of the
city. Firstly, Imus is a Tagalog word meaning "a piece of land cutting into the
junction of two rivers." The old location of the church is in Toclong where the
confluence of Imus River and Julian River is located, forming a slice of land. A
second version is a rationalization of a geographical fact. Some intellectuals of
the city theorized that the name "Imus" originated from the Latin word infimus,
meaning lowland. It has also been said that the name Imus is derived from the
word centimos, the smallest unit of metal currency during the Spanish colonial
era. another legend is that of a young mother crooning her child to sleep with a
plaintive Tagalog ditty called "limos." A group of Spanish soldiers, who had gone
there for the first time, asked her the name of the place, and the woman, thinking
that they were asking her the name of the song, answered "Limos". The
Spaniards went away muttering the last syllable "Imus".
IRIGA CITY
Founded: 1578 (as a visita) (official)
1683 (as a pueblo) (official)
Nicknames:
- Conscience of Bicol
- City of Crystal Clear Springs
Motto: Where the land is plentiful in a sunrise.

Anthem: Iriga Hymn
Name of Origin:
- “I”-Raga from the Bua dialect meaning “where there is land” – the prefix “I”
meaning possession and is roughly equivalent to the English phrase “there
is” or “it has”). “Raga” in the dialect means “land” or “soil” hence, “I-
Raga” has been explained by historians as “where the soil is obtainable for
filling Bua”s marshland”. Some historians interpret the phrase as “where
the land is plentiful and the settlers are big land-owners”.
ISABELA CITY
Nicknames:
- The Economic Center of Basilan
- Melting Pot of Basilan
Motto: HapIsabela / Happy Isabela.

Anthem: Isabela City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- By 1848, the stone fort was finished, replacing the wooden fortifications. In
the meantime, a sizeable and growing Christian settlement continued to
flourish around the Recollect mission, rededicated since the expulsion of
the Jesuits, to Santa Isabel de Portugal (Elizabeth of Portugal). The Fort
thus established was subsequently named in honor of Queen Isabella II of
Spain and the Indies, and was named Fuerte de la Reina Isabel Segunda.
KABANKALAN CITY
Nicknames:
- The Rising City of the South
- Second Largest City of Negros Island
Motto: Life is Fun in Kabankalan.

Anthem: Kabankalan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- According to historians, the first inhabitants of Kabankalan were people
who came from neighboring towns. They derived the name Kabankalan
from the word "Bangkal", a species of a tree that is abundant in the place.
The settlers established the Barangay form of government, with which
every group has its leader, called the Capitan.
KIDAPAWAN CITY
Chartered: August 18, 1947 (official)
Nicknames:
- Second Fruit Basket of the Philippines
- City at the foot of Mount Apo
- City of Fruits and Highland Springs
Motto: The People are Sovereign.

Anthem: Kidapawan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Many proposed etymologies have been recorded to explain the origin of
Kidapawan's name over the decades. In 2017, Karlo Antonio Galay David
gathered all written and oral explanations from archival sources and tribal
key informants. ‘kida pawan’ from Obo Monuvu means “to live near’ + ‘a
spring in the highland”. Kida and Pawan refer to a Primeval couple,
Lapawan refers to “Wedding ceremony” and (Datu) Kidapawan meaning
meaning “to go yonder and stay’ or ‘stay and go further above.” from Obo
Monuvu. Kinabpawang means “place arrived at” and Nakapawan means
“where are you going?” in the Maguindanaoan language.
KORONADAL CITY
Founded: January 10, 1939 (as Marbel Settlement District)
Chartered: August 18, 1947 (official)
Cityhood: October 08, 2000 (official)
Nicknames:
- Ilonggo City of Mindanao
- Crown City of the South
- Sports Mecca of the South
Motto: New Koronadal… Now!

Anthem: Koronadal Hymn
Name of Origin:
- In the past, the place was populated by Blaan people and Maguindanao.
The word Koronadal is believed to have been derived from two Blaan
words- kalon meaning cogon grass, and Nadal or datal meaning plain,
which aptly described the place to the natives. The previous name of the
city, Marbel, which is another name for the Poblacion, is a Blaan term marb
el which means "murky waters" referring to a river, now called the Marbel
River.
LA CARLOTA CITY
Nicknames:
- Drumbeating City of Beauty and Dance
- Home of (Negros Island's) Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Motto: Let's Go, La Carlota!

Anthem: Let's Go, La Carlota!
Name of Origin:
- Until two years after its foundation in 1871, it was known as Simancas, a
barrio under the jurisdiction of the neighboring town of San Enrique, which
was led by a Spaniard who was married to a woman named Carlota. Legend
has it that she was well-loved by the natives for her social works so that
they named their settlement after her when it was created as a municipality
near the end of the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. In line with the
Spanish practice of adding an article before a proper noun, “La Carlota”
became its official name.
LAMITAN CITY
Nicknames:
- The City of Harmony
- Lami-Lamihan City
Motto: Lamitan, My Love.

Anthem: Lamitan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- From lami-lamihan, a Yakan word that means "merry-making”.
- Lamitan’s earliest historical account happened during the immigration to
the town by the Yakans. The area was later known as Lamitan when a man
named Pedro Javier Cuevas, known in Basilan history as Datu Kalun,
fought with the natives. When he won, he established a settlement there,
thus calling it Lamitan. The area developed into a town with political
boundaries reaching the Guiong River in the southeast and Balagtasan
River in the northeast.
LAOAG CITY
Nicknames:
- Northernmost City of the Philippines
- Northern Gateway of the Philippines
- The Sunshine City
- Political, Commercial and Industrial Hub of Ilocos Norte
- The Sparkling Gem of Ilocandia
Motto: A New Laoag!

Anthem: Laoag March
Name of Origin:
- The name of the city “Laoag” is a derivative of the Ilocano term, which
means light or brightness. Buzeta, an Augustinian missionary, in his
Diccionarios Gografico Estatistico Historico de las Filipinas, states that
Laoag has a clear atmosphere which presents a beautiful, blue skyline, and
that is the reason why the place was given the name “Laoag”.
LEGAZPI CITY
Nicknames:
- The Queen City of Southern Luzon - ATV Capital of the Philippines
- City of Fun and Adventure
- Gateway of Southern Luzon
- Gateway City of Bicol
Motto: City of Fun and Adventure.

Anthem: Legazpi City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city of Legazpi was named after Miguel López de Legazpi, the Basque
Spanish conquistador who officially annexed the Philippine Islands to the
Spanish Empire in 1565, and whose surname came from a town in
Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain. Its first parish priest built a small
chapel and established the “Mission de San Gregorio Magno de
Sawangan.” In honor of Pope Saint Gregory I the Great.
LIGAO CITY
Nicknames:
- Sunflower Capital of the Philippines
- City “Where Good Things Happen”
Motto: Where Good Things Happen.

Anthem: Ligao City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Ligao was derived from the word “ticau”, a once abundant tree whose
poisonous leaves were used to catch fish in rivers or creeks. It was said
that a group of Spaniards chanced upon some natives standing by a ticau
tree and asked the name of the place. The natives thought the Spaniards
were referring to the tree and promptly answered “tigaw”. The Spaniards
mispronounced “tigaw” as “Ligao”. Since then, people referred to the
town as LIGAO. Most Ligaoenos that the name Ligao was original “licau”
which means to take a long way around or turn away from the ordinary or
usual route. It was formerly known as Cavasi.
- The story of the visiting Spaniards mishearing or misinterpreting the
natives tells how “Ligao” may have come from the Tagalog word “Ligaw”,
which means to a court or win a woman’s love.
LIPA CITY
Nicknames:
- New Wave City
- Little Rome of the Philippines
- City of All Seasons
- Home of Kapeng Barako
Motto: Virtue and Work.

Anthem: Lipeño
Name of Origin:
- Batangueños from the early years had their settlement in Bombon Lake
(Taal Lake) and began dispersing to other places when the volcano
erupted. While a group of people was moving to another settlement area,
the image of Saint Sebastian was stolen from them and later on was found
on a tree called "lipa." People believed that the patron saint wished to
name that place "Lipa".
MAASIN CITY
Nicknames:
- Commercial and Religious Center of Southern Leyte
- Miraculous City of the Philippines
Motto: Rising of New Hope.

Anthem: Maasin Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The community was formally established as a parish by the missionaries of
the Society of Jesus in the 1700s and was called "nipa". This was
authenticated by a piece of stone from a long destroyed convent that bears
the inscription: "Pa. De Tagnipa - año 1776."
- The renaming of the town of Maasin is related to the incident when some
Spaniards, who needed drinking water, scanned the shorelines and found
Canturing River. They asked the natives in Castillan Spanish while
gesturing towards the river, "Que pueblo es este?" Without hesitation, the
natives answered "Maasin" (meaning salty), thinking that the Spaniards
were asking them how the water tasted. From that time on, the place has
been called Maasin.
MABALACAT CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of the Clark Freeport Zone
Motto: None.
Anthem: Mabalacat Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Mabalacat became a town in 1712. It was named after the 'balacat' tree, a
fourth-class timber. 'Mabalacat' means full of 'balacat.' Then a settlement of
a Negrito tribe headed by a chieftain named Caragan, the area was a virtual
forest of 'balacat' trees.
MALAYBALAY CITY
Nicknames:
- South Summer Capital of the Philippines
- City in the Forest of the South
Motto: Cool Place, Warm People.

Anthem: Malaybalay Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Legend says that Malaybalay got its name during an encounter with the
local children of the place to the Spanish explorers. These explorers met
children playing at the lower part of the Sawaga. The soldiers asked these
children about the name of the place. Thinking that the explorers were
asking about what they were doing, the children answered “tagbalaybalay
kay” (we are playing house). The soldiers thought the name of the place
was Malaybalay, so they record the name Malaybalay as the name of the
place since then.
MALOLOS CITY
Settled: 10th Century CE ((part of the Huangdom of Ma-i) (official)
Founded: 1225 (as Li-Han) (official)
November 14, 1571 (as Encomienda) (official)
June 11, 1580 (as Civil Town) (official)
Nicknames:
- Cradle of the Philippine Republic - The Renaissance City
- Karatig Capital of the Philippines
- The Historic and Heritage City of Bulacan
Motto: We go to Malolos: Live History. Make History.

Anthem: Malolos March
Name of Origin:
- The name of Malolos was presumably derived from the Tagalog word
"Paluslos", meaning "downwards". The name resulted from a
misunderstanding among the first Spanish missionaries who reached the
place. Searching for inhabited places along the Calumpit River, these
priests came upon some natives of a riverside barrio (now Kanalate). They
asked for the name of the place. The natives, not knowing the Spanish
tongue, answered that the flow of the river in that part was downstream
-"paluslos"-, which the Spaniards pronounced "Malolos". Corruption of the
word through the years led to present "Malolos".
MARAWI CITY
Founded: October 1639 (as Dansalan) (official)
Chartered: May 24, 1907 (official)
Renamed: June 16, 1956 (official)
Nicknames:
- Islamic City of the Philippines
- Summer Capital of the South
Motto: None.
Anthem: Marawi Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Dansalan, was the city’s first name derived from the word “dansal”,
meaning a destination point or rendezvous. It was also meant arrival or
coming. Marawi is also derived from the word “rawi”, which means
reclining. The river (Agus River) due to the water current pulls this, thus all
underwater weeds recline downstream.
MASBATE CITY
Nicknames:
- Rodeo Capital of Southeast Asia
- Melting Pot of Diverse Cultures and Traditions in Central Philippines
- City of Hearts
Motto: Continuing Unity for Peace and Prosperity!

Anthem: Masbate City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The account that "Masbate" was coined after the words "masa" and "bate"
or from another word "masibat" remains anecdotal up to the present.
- Masibát, a native word for "abundant with lances," perhaps about the
island's well-armed inhabitants; or on masabat, Bikol for "to meet along the
way," alluding to the strategic position of the town (now city) that bears the
name, as well as the island named after it, within old Philippine maritime
trade routes.
MATI CITY
Incorporated: October 29, 1903 (official)
Nicknames:
- Coconut Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Make It Mati.

Anthem: Mati City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Mati comes from the Mandayan word Maa-ti which refers to the town's
creek that easily dries up even after heavy rain. Pioneer settlers were tribes
Kalagan, Mandayan, and Maranao which carried strong Arabic and Indo-
Malayan influences.
MEYCAUAYAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Hub of Jewelry in Bulacan
- Hub of Jewelry Production in the Philippines and Asia
Motto: There is a Beautiful Life in Meycauayan.

Anthem: Song of Meycauayan
Name of Origin:
- Meycauayan got its name came from the words "may kawayan", translated
to English as "with bamboo". It is formerly called Mecabayan.
MUÑOZ CITY
Nicknames:
- Science City of the Philippines
- Science hub of Central Luzon
Motto: In God We Trust.

Anthem: Muñoz Hymn
Name of Origin:
- From its lowly origins as “Sitio Papaya”, it was changed into “Muñoz” to
honor Don Francisco Muñoz, the province's alcalde mayor, and the
community's first appointed gobernadorcillo in 1886.
- The former name “Papaya” was also known as papaw, or pawpaw is the
plant Carica papaya, one of the 22 accepted species in the genus Carica of
the family Caricaceae. Native to Mexico and northern South America,
papaya has become naturalized throughout the Caribbean Islands, Florida,
Texas, California, Hawaii, and other tropical and subtropical regions of the
world.
NAGA CITY (CEBU)

Incorporated: June 12, 1829 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Industrial Hub of Southern Cebu
Motto: Our Pride. Service with a Heart.

Anthem: My Beloved Naga
Name of Origin:
- Naga was previously named by the first settlers as "Narra" due to the
abundance of trees called "narra". The name eventually became what is
now known as "Naga".
Trivia:
- It is one of the two Philippine cities named Naga, the other being Naga in
Camarines Sur. As such, the city is often confused by visitors coming
primarily from Luzon and other parts of the country not near to Central
Visayas with the city in Camarines Sur.
NUEVA SEGOVIA CITY (TBD)

Founded: 1581 (as Nueva Segovia City) (official)
Reverted: 1839 (as Lal-lo) (official)
Renamed: TBD
Cityhood: TBD
Nicknames:
- Home of the “mestizas” in Northern Cagayan
- TBD
Motto: TBD
Anthem: TBD
Name of Origin: It was known currently as Lal-lo. During the early part of the 16th
century, Lal-lo was the hub of religious, trade, and commercial activities of
Northern Luzon. One of the first four cities in the Philippines was founded in 1581
and named Nueva Segovia by Juan Pablo Carreon. Lalloc, the old name for Lal-lo,
benefited and enjoyed the gifts from the Papal Throne. It is currently under efforts
to regain its Spanish-era city status. Lal-lo means "twisting two strands to make a
rope", or may also refer to the strong river current as it is located along the
Cagayan River, the longest and largest river in the Philippines. The historic city
name may be derived from the Province and City of Segovia in Castile and Leon,
Spain.
OROQUIETA CITY
Nicknames:
- The City of Good Life
- Home of Hospitable and Peace-Loving People
Motto: Moving Forward, Oroquieta is the only star!

Anthem: Oroquieta Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Some folks say that the town got its name from the barrio in Spain where
Father Toas Tomas Casado, the first parish priest, and General Domingo
Moriones y Murillo, a hero in the Battle of Oroquieta in the Third Carlist
War, were born.
- Another version is that Oroquieta had derived its name from the words oro
(gold) and quita or kita (to find), about the early inhabitants who had found
gold along the river.
- Oroquieta was called before as Layawan. The new city was then a barrio in
the province of Misamis from 1861 to 1879. The early settlers were
Boholano peddlers. Since much of the animals can be found along the
river, the named the place Layawan, which means a place for many stray
animals.
OZAMIZ CITY
Nicknames:
- Gem of the Panguil Bay
- Gateway to Northwestern Mindanao
- Historical, Cultural, and Pilgrimage Destination
Motto: Better Image, Better Lives., Strong in Faith.

Anthem: Ozamiz Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city of Ozamiz grew out of an old Spanish town called Misamis—a
name believed to have been derived from the Subanen word "Kuyamis," a
variety of coconut. Other unverified historical sources, however, suggest
that the name Misamis came from "Misa" after the Catholic Mass.
- The city was named after José Ozámiz. He served as Misamis Occidental's
first provincial governor then he also served as a representative of the
Lone District of Misamis Occidental. He was a delegate to the 1935
Constitutional Convention that resulted in the creation of the 1935
Constitution for the Philippine Commonwealth Government. In 1941, he
was elected to the Philippine Senate.
PAGADIAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of the 40 Degree Tricycle
- Little Hongkong of the South
Motto: Progress Pagadian!

Anthem: Pagadian Hymn
Name of Origin: The officially accepted origin of its name are words taken from
the Iranun language, pagad ("to wait") and Padian ("market") which shows that
Pagadian had been a trading area in the past. Other theories suggest that it was
named after a bird that the native inhabitants call gagadian or that the city's name
came from the word pangadyi ("prayer"), later to be known as pangadyian ("a
place to pray" or "land of prayers"). The name Pagadian is also speculated to be
derived from the Subanen word pengadian which means "school".
PALAYAN CITY
Nicknames:
- Most sparsely populated city in the Philippines
- The Capital of Nueva Ecija
Motto: Move for Progress, Palayanese.

Anthem: Palayan Hymn
Name of Origin:
- On June 19, 1965, the Congress of the Philippines enacted Republic Act
No. 4475 creating Palayan City as the new capital of Nueva Ecija. "Palayan"
(rice paddy) was chosen as the name of the new provincial capital to reflect
the moniker bestowed upon the province of Nueva Ecija as the “Rice
Granary of the Philippines”.
PANABO CITY
Nicknames:
- Banana Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Service to Panaboans, Service to God.

Anthem: Panabo Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name Panabo originated from the phrase "pana-sa-boboy" where
"pana" means "arrow", the tool which the original inhabitants of the place,
the Aetas, use when hunting wild animals for food.
PASSI CITY
Nicknames:
- The Sweet City at The Heart of Panay
Motto: The Sweet City at The Heart of Panay

Anthem: Passi Hymn
Name of Origin:
- According to popular legend, Spanish conquistadors stumbled on a small
hut by the river's bank where an old woman was found winnowing pounded
rice. One of them asked her, “¿Cómo se llama este lugar?” not knowing the
native language of course. Much to the old woman's surprise and perhaps
excitement, she replied without much ado, “Ah, pasi,” which means some
of the unhusked rice on her basket. She must have thought that they were
eager to know what was in the basket and what she was doing because she
could not understand their language. From that time on, the Spanish began
to call the place Pasi at first until it later evolved into Passi.
ROXAS CITY
Founded: 1569 (as Capiz) (official)
Cityhood: May 12, 1951 (official)
Nicknames:
- Seafood Capital of the Philippines
Motto: None.
Anthem: The Town I Love
Name of Origin:
- It is said that in Capiz in 1570, the Datu Bankaya’s wife of the Aklan district
gave birth to twin daughters. Twin is "Kapid" in the local dialect, so the
Spaniards adopted the name Capiz (Kapid) as inadvertently
miscommunicated to them by the natives.
- Placuna placenta oyster shell that has the same name locally and is used
for decoration and making lampshades, trays, windows, and doors.
- Renamed in honor of native Manuel Acuña Roxas, the 4th President of the
Philippines and the first of the independent post-American Third Philippine
Republic.
SAGAY CITY
Nicknames:
- Garden City of the North
Motto: Where Love For Nature Begins.

Anthem: Sagay Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name of the city comes from the semi-spherical shell called "sigay",
which can be found in the area.
SAMAL CITY
Nicknames:
- Island Garden City
- Philippines' Largest Resort City
- IGaCoS
Motto: The Island Garden City of Samal - where the fun begins!
Anthem: Samal Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The name Samal was derived from the Sama-Bajau peoples, the natives
who were the first inhabitants of the island. The first datu on the island was
Datu Taganiyug, a native of what is now Peñaplata, today the governance
center of the city. In the past, the people of the island name a place about
what was the said place known for. For example, the name Peñaplata is
said to be derived from the word "piña" or pineapple because of the
abundance of pineapple in the area; this, however, is folk etymology, for
peñaplata means "rock of silver" in Spanish. Tagpopongan is the first
barangay on the island which name was from the word "tagpo" or meet. It
was so-called since this place was chosen by the datus as their meeting
place. The word Samal was also known before because it was commonly
used as a surname by datus
SAN CARLOS CITY (NEGROS OCCIDENTAL)
Nicknames:
- Renewable Energy Hub of Asia
- Soaring Green City of Opportunities
Mottos: ¡Let’s Go, San Carlos!, Where Green is Go.

Anthem: San Carlos Hymn
Name of Origin:
- San Carlos City was formerly named "Nabingkalan", deriving its name from
Nabingka, a beautiful daughter of a chieftain of the Negrito settlement in
the area, who ruled the barrio during the early part of the 17th century. She
was famous for her loveliness and mental and physical prowess.
- Named after Saint Charles Borromeo. He was the 2nd Cardinal Secretary of
State presides over the Holy See's Secretariat of State, which is the oldest
and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia. Archbishop of Milan
from 1564 to 1584 and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was a leading
figure of the Counter-Reformation combat against the Protestant
Reformation together with Ignatius of Loyola and Philip Neri. In that role, he
was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including
the founding of seminaries for the education of priests. He is honored as a
saint by the Catholic Church, with a feast day on November 04.
SAN CARLOS CITY (PANGASINAN)
Nicknames:
- Heart of Pangasinan
- Linguistical center of the Pangasinan language
- Mango-Bamboo Capital of the Philippines
- Land of the Famous Mango-Bamboo Festival
- The City of Hope
Motto: San Carlos is fine.

Anthem: San Carlos Hymn
Name of Origin: San Carlos was already a prosperous community since pre-
colonial times. It was formerly part of a town called "Binalatongan". Binalatongan
was the capital of Luyag na Caboloan, an ancient kingdom, which includes the
present-day provinces of Tarlac, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Pangasinan,
and Benguet) ruled by King Ari Kasikis. The name of Binalatongan was derived
from the abundance of mongo (mung bean) plants along the San Juan riverbanks.
Named after Charles III of Spain, who ordered the Spanish rulers to raze the town
of Binalatongan (its former name) to the ground.
SAN FERNANDO CITY (LA UNION)
Nicknames:
- People’s City
- Prime Capital of Ilocandia
- Botanical Garden City
- Regional Center of Ilocos Region
Motto: We Love You All.

Anthem: San Fernando Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The remaining population of San Vicente de Balanac and San Guillermo de
Dalangdang gathered together for their common protection thus Pindangan
was born. Pindangan was derived from the Ilocano word Pindang, which
means to dry fish, thus Pindangan means the place where one dries fish.
Named after Saint Ferdinand III of Castile, San Fernando was founded in
1786. He was King of Castile from 1217 and King of León from 1230 as well
as King of Galicia from 1231. He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and
Berenguela of Castile. Through his second marriage, he was also Count of
Aumale. Ferdinand III was one of the most successful kings of Castile,
securing not only the permanent union of the crowns of Castile and León
but also masterminding the most expansive campaign of Reconquista yet.
SAN FERNANDO CITY (PAMPANGA)
Nicknames:
- Christmas Capital of the Philippines
- Heart of Pampanga
- Asia’s Christmas Capital
Motto: Fernandino First

Anthem: Fernandino Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city is named after King Ferdinand VI of Spain and placed under the
patronage of Saint Ferdinand III of Castile and León, whose feast is
celebrated every May 30.
SAN JOSE CITY

Nicknames:
- Christmas Capital of Nueva Ecija - Home of High-Grade Rice
- Rice Granary of Nueva Ecija
- Central Luzon's City of the Golden Harvests
Motto: Home of High-Grade Rice.

Anthem: San Jose Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Originally, San Jose was a part of the town Puncan, but later on, because
of its nearness to Lupao, it was made a barrio of the latter. The early
history of this town was coupled with the early history of Puncan and
Lupao. Formerly, San Jose was known as the barrio of “Kabaritan” derived
from barit, an Ilocano word for a plant that belongs to the rattan family.
“Kabaritan” means the place where “barit” grows in abundance.
- “Kabaritan” (now known as San Jose) was made an independent town from
Lupao and was named after Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the place.
Joseph (Hebrew: ‫יֹוסֵ ף‬, romanized: Yosef; Greek: Ἰωσήφ, romanized: Ioséph)
was a 1st-century man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical
Gospels, was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal
father of Jesus. He was known also as Prince and Patron of the Universal
Church
SAN PABLO CITY
Nicknames:
- The City of Seven Lakes
- The City of Buko Pie
Motto: Beyond the Seven Lakes.

Anthem: San Pablo Hymn
Name of Origin:
- San Pablo's earliest historical record dates back to pre-Spanish times when
four large barrios bounded by Mount Makiling composed "Sampalok". In
1571, the first Spanish troops under Captain Juan de Salcedo arrived in the
upland village of Sampaloc, which became a parish in 1586, and then a
municipality in 1647, and was renamed "San Pablo de Los Montes" in
honor of Saint Paul the First Hermit. In 1756, it was placed under the
jurisdiction of Batangas province but was returned in 1883 to Laguna.
SAN PEDRO CITY

Chartered: January 16, 1571 (as part of Tabuco) (official)
Nicknames:
- Sampaguita Capital of the Philippines
- Rooster City of the Philippines
- Shrine City of Southern Tagalog
- Laguna's Gateway to Metro Manila
- Dormitory Town of Metro Manila
Mottos: A City Anchored in Tradition, Focused on the Future.

Hard work and faith in God towards San Pedro's progress.
Anthem: San Pedro Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Saint Peter in Spanish, one of the 12 Apostles of Christ and he was the first
Bishop/Pope of Rome and first Patriarch of Antioch. Under the last will of
King Philip V of Spain, Rodriguez de Figueroa or "Don Esteban", a group of
Augustinian Fathers gained ownership of the Tunasán Estate. Later on,
San Pedro became a hacienda of Colegio de San José, a group of Jesuits
friars who took over the property which now is known as "San Pedro
Tunasán". Tunasán literally means "a place where there is Tunás"
(Nymphaea nouchali), a medicinal plant abundant on shoreline area.
SANTA ROSA CITY
Nicknames:
- The Lion City of the South,
- Premier City and Hub of South Luzon
- Detroit City of the Philippines
Mottos: Help the Village, Guide the City

Human Service, A City of Innovation.
Anthem: Santa Rosa Hymn
Name of Origin: The town was named after the first South American saint, Santa
Rosa de Lima of Peru born Isabel Flores de Oliva, a nun of the Third Order of
Saint Dominic. This act indicates the strong influence of the Dominican Order in
the town. Patron Saint of embroidery, gardening, and cultivation of blooming
flowers. She was also declared secondary co-patron of the Philippines with Saint
Pudentiana. Through the petitions of the prominent local residents, Barrio Bukol
was politically emancipated as the municipality of Santa Rosa on January 18,
1792.
SANTO TOMAS CITY
Nicknames:
- Gateway to Batangas
- Homeland of the Anggitays (Philippine Mythology)
- Home of Batangas Bulalo
Motto: Abundant Tomorrow, Santo Tomas.

Anthem: Rise up to Batangan.
Name of Origin:
- The whole town was given the name of Santo Tomas de Aquino, a high
Prince of the Dominican Order to where most of the first friars belonged.
As time went by, more barrios were added to the list each with an assumed
name of a saint. Whose feast day is celebrated every March 07. He was an
Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, Catholic priest, and Doctor of the
Church, and Patron of the Catholic Schools. An immensely influential
philosopher, theologian, and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism, he is
also known within the latter as Doctor Angelicus, the Doctor Communis,
and the Doctor Universalis. The name Aquinas identifies his ancestral
origins in the county of Aquino in present-day Lazio, Italy.
SILAY CITY
Nicknames:
- The Paris of Negros - Cultural and Intellectual Hub of Negros
- The Visayan Marseille
Motto: Ascend Silay, Home Ascension!

Anthem: Silaynon Song
Name of Origin: The appellation Silay is derived from the name of a native tree
that grew abundantly in the area. The kansilay is the city's official tree and it is
called Cratoxylum sumatranum is a species of flowering plant in the
Hypericaceae family. It is indigenous to Southeast Asia, including Burma,
Indochina, Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Borneo,
Philippines, and Sulawesi. A local legend tells of how Silay City got its name. It is
said that in the days of the datus and rajahs, there once lived a princess named
Kansilay. An attack on the settlement by pirates was thwarted when the princess
bravely led the people in the village's defense. The fight was furious and the
princess fought like a seasoned warrior. Murals that used to grace some of the
city's public buildings depict her as a fierce fighter wielding a huge talibong, a
short native single-edged sword. The pirates were routed but at the cost of the
princess' life. Her paramour arrived in time to see her die. In grief, the people
lovingly buried her. To their surprise, a tree grew right over her grave, the first
Kansilay tree, a final gift from the brave princess.
SIPALAY CITY
Nicknames:
- The Jewel of the Sugar Island
- The "Little Boracay"
Motto: Be united Sipalayanon.

Anthem: Sipalay Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Growth and development flourished as Chinese merchants came to barter
their wares with staple food, particularly rice, which was commonly called
by the settlers as paray and by the Chinese, due to the difficulty of
pronouncing r, as palay which was the word to have been popularly
associated with the place. Thus the area came to be known as Sipalay.
SORSOGON CITY
Nicknames:
- Gateway to Southern Philippines
Motto: A Life of Prosperity.

Anthem: Sorsogon City Hymn
Name of Origin: Hispanicized form of sogsogon, Bikol adjective meaning
"wadeable," derived from the root word sogsog, which means "to wade" or "to
ford"; a wadeable river, for example, is known as salog na sogsogon. The
toponym originally referred to the settlement on the banks of the Salog River,
which became the capital of the province upon its establishment in 1767. Bacon
was established as a mission in 1609 with Casiguran, the oldest town in
Sorsogon Province and one of the oldest in Luzon, as the parochial center. It
became a parish in 1617. Sorsogon in turn was a mission of the parish of Bacon.
Sorsogon became an independent parish in 1628. Sorsogon City was created
under of Republic Act 8806, which was signed into law on August 16, 2000, and
ratified during a plebiscite on December 16, 2000. RA 8806, also known as the
Cityhood Law, called for the merger of the municipalities of Sorsogon and Bacon
into a component city of the province of Sorsogon.
SURIGAO CITY
Nicknames:
- City of Island Adventures
- Gateway to Mindanao
Motto: None.
Anthem: Surigao City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- There are two hypotheses on the original meaning of "Surigao" among
linguists, depending on the original root word. If the root word was taken to
be sulig ("sprout" or "spring up"), then Surigao may have derived from
suligao ("spring water"), likely referring to the Surigao River (known as
"Suligaw" in Mandaya) that empties at the northern tip of the island of
Mindanao. Early historical accounts record the name of the river as
Suligao, Surigao, or Zurigan.
- Another possibility is that it is derived from Visayan surogao or suyogao,
meaning "water current". From suyog (also sulog or surog), "current".
Other Visayan words derived from the same root include Sinulog, Sulu, and
Tausug (Suluk).
TABACO CITY
Nicknames:
- Padyak Capital of the Philippines
Motto: I Love Tabaco City.

Anthem: Tobacco Hymn
Name of Origin:
- It is not true that Tabaco got its name from "Tabak ko" which means "my
bolo", but from tobacco (in Spanish "Tabaco"), a primary product of the
city in the pre-Hispanic period. Nevertheless, the Official Seal of the city
was still conceived from the "Tabak Ko" legend and was officially adopted
through Municipal Council Resolution No. 29 on February 23, 1966.
TABUK CITY
Affirmed Cityhood: February 15, 2011 (official)
Nicknames:
- The City of Life - Rice Granary of the Cordilleras
- Cordillera’s Second City
- White Water Rafting Capital in Northern Philippines.
Motto: The City of Life.

Anthem: Tabuk Hymn
Name of Origin: From tobog, Ilocano word for "living stream." Tabuk was once
called the “Valley of the Gamonangs”. The Gamonangs are a Kalinga tribe that
dominated northern Kalinga some centuries ago. This tribe was reportedly hostile
and antagonistic that it provoked the anger of southern Kalinga tribes into joining
forces against the Gamonangs. The invasion by the allied southern tribes upon
the Gamonangs left many dead on the battlefield. Soon a terrible epidemic
followed which almost wiped out the Gamonang tribe. Those who escaped death
were believed to have fled to the southeastern hills bordering the provinces of
Isabela and the old Mountain Province.
TACURONG CITY
Nicknames:
- The City of Goodwill
- Commercial Center of Sultan Kudarat
Motto: City of Goodwill.

Anthem: Tacurong Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The place which later became the City of Tacurong was once a barangay of
the Municipality of Buluan of the then Empire Province of Cotabato. The
place was originally called ‘Pamasang’, the name of a creek that flowed
from south to north of the area. The name ‘Pamasang’ was later changed to
Talakudong, a term for headgear worn by the early settlers and people in
the area. How the place came to be associated with head covering cannot
be ascertained. Eventually, the name was shortened/changed to Tacurong.
It can only be deduced that the present name of Tacurong must have
originated from the word ‘Talakudong’.
TAGAYTAY CITY
Nicknames:
- The Country's Second Summer Capital - Coolest City in Cavite
- Alternative Summer Capital of the Philippines
- Little Vatican City of the Philippines
Motto: None.
Anthem: Tagaytay Hymn
Name of Origin: Legend has it that the word Tagaytay came from "tagâ" meaning
to cut and "itáy" which means father. A father and son were said to be on a wild
boar hunt when the animal they were chasing turned and attacked them. As the
boar charged towards the old man, the son cried "Tagâ, Itáy!". The boy's repeated
shout reverberated in the alleys of the ridge. Heard by the residents, hunters, and
wood gatherers, the cries became the subject of conversation for several days in
the countryside. In time, the place where the shouts came from became known as
Tagaytay. The most feasible origin is that city is named after the Tagalog word
"Tagaytay" which means ridge. During the Philippine revolution of 1896, the
ridges and forests of Tagaytay became the sanctuary for revolutionaries
including those from nearby provinces. The passage to and from towns via
Tagaytay added the word "mananagaytay" to the native's vocabulary. It means
"to traverse ridges."
TAGBILARAN CITY
Nicknames:
- City of Peace and Friendship
- Gateway to Bohol
Motto: City of Peace and Friendship

Anthem: Tagbilaran Hymn
Name of Origin:
- According to oral tradition, the name is a Hispanicized form of
"Tagubilaan", a compound of tagu, meaning "to hide" and "Bilaan",
referring to the Blaan people, who were said to have raided the Visayan
Islands. This explanation seems to correlate with the government's
explanation. According to the official government website of Tagbilaran, it
is said to have been derived from tinabilan meaning shielded, as the town
was protected by Panglao from potential invaders.
TAGUM CITY
Nicknames:
- Palm City of the Philippines - Tourist Capital of the South
- City of Festivals - City of Perfect Harmony
- Music Capital of the South
- Marching Show Band Capital of the Philippines
- City of Golden Opportunities
- The Little Green Singapore of the South
Motto: Victorious Tagum.

Anthem: Long live, Tagum!
Name of Origin:
- There is no official record as to the origin and meaning of the name Tagum,
but in Visayan tagum (or variants tayum, tagung-tagung) refers to the
indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria Linn.). On the one hand, a legend explains
how the name Magugpo, the city's former name, came about. In the
beginning, Magugpo was nothing but a vast wilderness, inhabited by the
Mansakas, Manguangans, Mandayas, and the Kalagans in the coastal
barangays. The name Magugpo was derived from the native word mago, a
name of a certain tree, and ugpo means very high. According to legend, the
natives were occupying a river basin inside the thickly covered forest
where they could not even see the sun. The creek where the natives dwelt
still exists, but the once abundant freshwater is now dead due to pollution.
TALISAY CITY (NEGROS OCCIDENTAL)
Chartered: September 29, 1850 (official)
Nicknames:
- The Home to The Ruins
- Home of Handsome Service
Motto: One heart, One mind, One ascend Talisay.

Anthem: Talisay City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The Negritos, natives who led nomadic lives at the foot of scenic North
Negros mountain ranges, originally inhabited Talisay. In 1788, families of
Malay descent settled in the pristine part of Negros Island and named it
Minuluan. Unknown to many, the sugar industry in the province has its
very roots in Talisay. The Spanish colonizers became guardians of our
economic, socio-political, and spiritual lives, and with more of the Minuluan
population embracing the Catholic faith, the Sitio was decreed a town on
September 10, 1850, with San Nicolas de Tolentino as its patron saint. It
was renamed Talisay after the tree that grew in abundance along with the
mouth of the Matab-ang River.
TALISAY CITY (CEBU)

Nicknames:
- Aquatic City in Cebu
- The Gateway City of the South
Motto: Experience Talisay.

Anthem: Talisay Our City
Name of Origin:
- The name of Talisay is taken from the magtalisay tree which is abundant in
the city. Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree in the leadwood tree
family, Combretaceae, native to Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and
Madagascar. The common names in English include country almond,
Indian almond, Malabar almond, sea almond, tropical almond, beach
almond, and false Kamani.
TANAUAN CITY
Founded: 1572 (as Old Tanauan) (official)
Relocated: 1754 (current Tanauan) (official)
Nicknames:
- Cradle of Noble Heroes - The Premiere City of Calabarzon
- The City of Colors - Home of Sumang Magkayakap
Motto: Tanauan City’s Hope.

Anthem: Tanauan, My Town
Name of Origin:
- There are two versions of the probable origin of the name of Tanauan. One
version suggests that Tanauan derived its name from the Tagalog term
“tanaw” meaning “to look through (perhaps a window)”. It is believed that
the name came from a fortress with a watchtower built by the Augustinian
friars and natives. The watchtower allowed them to monitor incoming
“champans” or boats of traders or pirates entering through the Pansipit
River, Taal Lake. From this tower, one had a clear view (tanaw) of the lake
and of the vast plains and rolling hills. On the other hand, the National
Historical Commission suggests that the town was named after a shrub
called “tanawa” which grew abundantly in the area and on the shores of
“Lake Bonbon” (Taal Lake) during the town’s early history. The town of
Tanauan was established on its present location in 1754, having been
transferred from the fringe of Taal Lake where it originally stood.
TANDAG CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of Diwatahan Festival
Motto: None.
Anthem: Tandag Hymn
Name of Origin: Many versions have been given regarding the name of Tandag.
One version states that Father Calan, Father Encarnacion, and another priest
were on their way to visit chieftain Suba to baptize his people. When one of the
missionaries asked the native rowing their boat what the name of the place was
with fingers pointing downward, the native thought the priest meant the school of
fish. He answered "tamda", meaning look down. This name later became Tandag.
Father Encarnacion, a member of the group, was later killed by the natives.
Another version states that when Inca Garcilaso de la Vega or El Inca landed in
Tandag to subdue the ferocious Caragas (as the rebellious natives were called
then), he did not know the name of the place so he inquired from a native who
was gathering the leaves of an herb locally known as tangad. The native, who did
not understand Spanish, answered "tangad". Later, the name was changed to
Tandag.
TANGUB CITY
Nicknames:
- Christmas Symbols Capital of the Philippines
Motto: Simply Home.

Anthem: Tangub Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Local lore has come up with several versions on how the name "Tangub"
came about, but all of these stories carry one common thread: the name
originated from the word "tangkub," the local name for rice baskets made
of rattan strips that the Subanens carried on their backs. One such version
tells us of lost Spanish soldiers who chanced upon a Subanen couple.
Asked what the name of the place was, the couple replied, "Tangkub",
thinking they were asked what they were carrying. Tangkub" later became
"Tangub" giving the name to the frontier town in Panguil Bay.
- On December 4, 1929, Governor-General Dwight F. Davis issued Executive
Order No. 220 creating the municipality of Regidor -- named in honor of Dr.
Antonio Ma. Regidor, one of the Filipino leaders who participated in the
Reform Movement during the Spanish regime -- with the seat of
government in the barrio of Tangub.
TANJAY CITY
Nicknames:
- City of Professionals
- City of Music and Fun
- City of Lights
Motto: None.
Anthem: Tanjay Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized corruption of Taytay, a Cebuano word that means "bamboo
bridge." Tanjay, considered the more important settlement, was made the
Administrative Capital of Oriental Negros. It, however, remained under the
jurisdiction of the province of Cebu. It was the first archdeacon of Cebu,
Fray Diego Ferreira, who sent Fray Gabriel Sanchez and other Augustinian
priests to the new territory. Thus on June 11, 1580, the mission of Tanjay
was founded. It became the center of religious supervision for Dumaguete,
Marabago, Siaton and Manalongon.
TARLAC CITY
Nicknames:
- Home of Sugar, Rice, and Everything Nice
Motto: Unite: Every Time, Together.

Anthem: Tarlac City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- Hispanicized rendering of tarlak, Aeta term for a certain grass related to
talahib (cogon) and tanglar (Zambal for lemongrass). The area around the
current capital city (after which the province was named) was described as
matarlak, an adjective meaning "abundant with tarlak grass."
- Tarlac's first settlers came from Bacolor, Pampanga. They cleared the area,
fertilized the soil, and then established their settlement here in 1788. This
small community of settlers experienced rapid population growth, as
settlers from Bataan, Pampanga, and Zambales moved into the area. The
Kapampangan language, which is the dialect of Pampanga, became the
native language of this town. Roads and barrios were built over the
following decades through the hard work of its residents. Following the
foundation of the province of Tarlac in 1872, Tarlac was designated as the
capital of the new province.
TAYABAS CITY
Nicknames:
- The Most Noble Villa - Home of the Finest Lambanog
- City of 11 Spanish Bridges - Rest and Recreation Destination of Quezon
- City of Festivals
- Old Capital of Tayabas Province
Motto: Tayabas: You have no Equivalent

Anthem: Tayabas Hymn
Name of Origin: The origin of the word Tayabas remains unsure; There are
various versions as to the origin of the name and all of which are fascinating
though. It says Tayabas may have originated from the word Tayaban, is a night
creature known for having wings that glow like a tropical firefly. E. Arsenio
Manuel’s Dictionary of Tayabas Tagalog points to Tayaba which refers to the
local practice or ritual of the natives during New Year where they open up a farm
by cutting down three trees on the patch they chose to cultivate. The cut trees
then were placed to the border of the patch to mark it. In this sense, Tayabas may
be considered as a place intended for kaingin. Another interesting theory from by
sociologist, Rolando V. Redor. He mentioned that the name Tayabas was
suggested by the abundance of the well-loved fern (pako) called Tagabas, not to
popular bayabas, guava fruit (Psidium guajava) as the etymology of the name
Tayabas; bayabas, that endearing fruit as not being native to the Philippines.
TOLEDO CITY
Founded: 1861
Nicknames:
- The Copper City with a Heart of Gold
Motto: None.
Anthem: Toledo Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The city was formerly known as Pueblo Hinulawan (Wikipedia). Hinulawan
is actually the name of the river belonging to the city, a popular place
where the popular ‘Hinulawan River Festival’ is celebrated. It was named
after Toledo City in Spain and located in Toledo Province, Castile-La
Mancha Autonomous Community. Toledo is known as the "Imperial City"
because it was the main venue of the court of Charles V, Holy Roman
Emperor in Spain, and as the "City of the Three Cultures" for the cultural
influences of Christians, Muslims, and Jews reflected in its history. It was
the capital from 542 to 725 AD of the Visigothic kingdom, which followed
the fall of the Roman Empire, and the location of historic events such as
the Councils of Toledo.
TRECE MARTIRES CITY
Nicknames:
- Trece - The Drug and Gambling Free City
- Heart of Cavite - The Seat of Provincial Government
Motto: New Thirteen: Heart of Cavite, City of Hope.

Anthem: Trece Martires Hymn
Name of Origin:
- What is known as Trece Martires City used to be Quintana. This was the
largest, most remote, and one of the oldest barrios of Tanza, Cavite. The
whole barrio of Quintana was a friar land of the Santa Cruz de Malabon
Estate. The city was named in honor of the Thirteen (13) Martyrs of Cavite,
who were sentenced to death during the Spanish Regime. These were:
Antonio San Agustin (Quintana II), Alfonso de Ocampo (Quintana I),
Victoriano Luciano (Bitangan), Severino Lapidario (Bayog), Luis Aguado
(Fiscal Mundo), Eugenio Cabezas (Palawit), Feliciano Cabuco (Kanggahan),
Hugo Perez (Lukbanan), Jose Lallana (Panuka Gubat), Maximo Gregorio
(Aliang), Maximo Inocencio (Bagong Pook) Francisco Osorio (Project) and
Agapito Conchu (Lagundian). These also became the names of the Thirteen
(13) barangays in the city.
TUGUEGARAO CITY
Nicknames:
- Premier Ibanag City of the North
- Regional Center of Cagayan Valley
- Investment Window of Northern Philippines
- Gateway to the Ilocandia and the Cordilleras
Motto: Napafutu nga Passervi, Pammacapianan na Magili!

Anthem: Tuguegarao City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- There are several legends about the origin of the name. One is a species of
palm tree called taraw in the area and another is garao in reference to the
"swift river current.” The most accepted version is the Ibanags' reply to the
Spaniards when the latter asked for the name of the place — Tuggi gari yaw
("this was cleared by fire"). On the other hand, historical evidence that
might provide clues to the origin of the city's name comes from the fact
that in 1591, the place was listed as a Spanish encomienda, which was
originally a pre-colonial settlement called Tubigarao.
URDANETA CITY
Nicknames:
- Gateway to Northern Philippines
Motto: To serve God enough for the people.

Anthem: Urdaneta Hymn
Name of Origin: One theory suggests its original name is Organita, roughly
meaning "little organ or unit." Some theorists, the so-called purists, belie this by
saying that the Spanish root word is organo; therefore the right word should be
organito. Andrés de Urdaneta, was a maritime explorer for the Spanish Empire, an
Augustinian friar of Basque heritage. At the age of seventeen, he accompanied
the Loaísa expedition to the Spice Islands where he spent more than eight years.
Around 1540 he settled in New Spain and became an Augustinian monk in 1552.
At the request of Philip II, he joined the Legazpi expedition for a return to the
Philippines. He played an important role in establishing the Catholic faith in the
Philippines and was considered a "protector of the Indians" for his treatment of
the Philippine natives.
VALENCIA CITY
Nicknames:
- City of Golden Harvest
- Center of Trade and Commerce of Bukidnon
- Home of Valencia Rice
Motto: Golden Harvest.

Anthem: Valencia City Hymn
Name of Origin:
- The first site of the settlement was a sitio named "Panglibatuhan" because
the area was thickly forested by tree species called by the natives as
"Malibato trees". Named by the first local Barrio school teacher Leon
Galoport in the village, who hailed from Valencia, Bohol. However, the use
of the name "Valencia" is already seen in Spanish documents in 1893 or
even earlier which places it under the jurisdiction of Linabo or Sevilla (now
Mailag) in the Province of Misamis.
VICTORIAS CITY
Nicknames:
- The Sugarlandia of Negros
- The Sweet and Green City of Negros
Motto: The Sweet Green City.

Anthem: Victorias Hymn
Name of Origin:
- It named after from Nuestra Señora de las Victorias, Spanish for "Our Lady
of Victories".
VIGAN CITY
Nicknames:
- The Heritage City
Motto: Long Live Vigan!

Anthem: Vigan Hmn
Name of Origin: The city's full name at the time of its Spanish foundation was
Villa Fernandina, or "Town of Ferdinand", in honor of Prince Ferdinand, the
firstborn son of King Philip II of Spain. As the city grew, and the seat of the
Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia transferred to Vigan, it was later renamed Ciudad
Fernandina de Vigan. At the time of Spanish colonization, the Chinese settlers,
whose language was Southern Min (Min Nan, often referred to as "Hokkien" by
most Filipinos), referred to the area as Bee Gan, which means "Beautiful Shore."
Since the Spanish conquistadors interchanged V and the B to refer to the /b/
sound, they spelled the Hokkien Chinese name "Bee Gan" as Vigan, which is the
name used to this day. The most commonly known source of the city's name is
from the Biga'a plant, which once grew abundantly along the banks of the Mestizo
River, from which captain Juan de Salcedo derived the city's name (after a
misunderstanding with the locals, thinking he was asking the name of the plants).

Provinces and Cities of The Philippines

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PROVINCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

Founded: 1846 (official)

Motto: Moving up Abrenio.

Founded: August 20, 1907 (as Sub-Province of Butuan) (official)

Founded: September 20, 1907 (as Agusan Province) (official)

Motto: Hail, Agusan del Sur.

Motto: Accelerate, Aklan.

Motto: Alluring Albay.

Motto: Where the Mountains meet the Sea.

Motto: Apayao, be proud.

Motto: Rising Aurora.

Motto: Weavers of Peace.

Motto: A Living Monument of Valor, Gallantry, and Heroism.

Motto: Breathtaking Batanes - Explore Simplicity.

Motto: Rich Batangas!

Motto: Unity, Industry, Prosperity.

Motto: Undiscovered Paradise.

Motto: Heart of the Islands, Truly the Philippines.

Motto: Bukidnon, My Home.

Motto: A Prosperous Province Forged by History and Heroism.

Motto: To renew Cagayan.

Motto: Come Again to CamNorte, come with a purpose.

Motto: Hard Together, Best People, Best Province.

Motto: Ancestral Homecoming.

Motto: Captivating Capiz.

Motto: Moving forward Catandungan, Moving forward the Philippines!

Motto: Honor and Love for Country.

Motto: Prosperous Cotabato, participatory governance.

Motto: The Living Treasure.

DAVAO DEL NORTE

Motto: You have to prepare something, Know Our Own.

DAVAO DEL SUR

Motto: We Love Davao del Sur.

Motto: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Motto: The Place of Unexplored and Unspoiled Natural Wonders.

Motto: Our Province, People First.

Motto: The Island that Fits Your Taste.

Motto: The Best of Culture and Nature.

Motto: Sure Ilocos Sur!

Motto: It has to be Iloilo.

Motto: Isabela Reigns...

Motto: Kalinga Shines.

Motto: Love, Union, Concord.

Motto: Fight, Laguna!

LANAO DEL NORTE

Motto: The Land of Beauty and Bounty.

LANAO DEL SUR

Motto: Lanao Rising.

Motto: Once you see Leyte, you shall return.

MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE (TBD)

- The Maguindanao division plebiscite will be held in the province of

MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR (TBD)

- The Maguindanao division plebiscite will be held in the province of

Motto: Heart of the Philippines.

Motto: Continuing Unity for Peace and Prosperity!

Motto: Better Image, Better Lives.

Motto: Explore MisOr. / Explore Misamis Oriental.

Motto: A good Mountain Province.

Motto: To move forward Negrense.

Motto: The truth of the way of life.

Motto: Discover Northern Samar. Explore, Experience, Enjoy.

Motto: Never Ending Beauty and Charm of Wonders!