-
[City name]: Alaminos
[Province]: Pangasinan
[Name origin]: Juan Alaminos y Vivar, Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
(City names) -
[City name]: Angeles
[Province]: Pampanga
[Name origin]: a contraction of its original Spanish name El Pueblo de los Angeles which means "The Town of Angels."
(City names) -
[City name]: Antipolo
[Province]: Rizal
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the Tagalog phrase ang tipolo which means "the breadfruit" in reference to the tree that grew abundantly in the city.
(City names) -
[City name]: Bacolod
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of bakolod, an old Hiligaynon word for "hill" in reference to the hilly area in the city that is now the barangay of Granada.
(City names) -
[City name]: Bacoor
[Province]: Cavite
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of bacood, derived from the Tagalog word which means "fence."
(City names) -
[City name]: Bago
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: from bago-bago, a local shrub.
(City names) -
[City name]: Baguio
[Province]: Benguet
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of the Ibaloi word bagiw which means "moss."
(City names) -
[City name]: Bais
[Province]: Negros Oriental
[Name origin]: Cebuano for "large, edible fresh-water eel."
(City names) -
[City name]: Balanga
[Province]: Bataan
[Name origin]: Pampango for "clay pot."
(City names) -
[City name]: Batac
[Province]: Ilocos Norte
[Name origin]: Multiple origins, however, it was believe that the place gets it name from batak, an Ilocano word which means "pull", in reference to pulling efforts together or the assistance given to another who is in need of help. Hence, the name must have been derived from the common trait of the people who are ever ready to extend a helping hand to anybody.
(City names) -
[City name]: Batangas
[Province]: Batangas
[Name origin]: from batang, Tagalog for "log", in reference to the trunks of logged trees that used to be floated down the Calumpang River which runs through the city.
(City names) -
[City name]: Bayawan
[Province]: Negros Oriental
[Name origin]: from bayaw, a Cebuano word which means "to hoist" or "to elevate."
(City names) -
[City name]: Baybay
[Province]: Leyte
[Name origin]: Cebuano word for "shore."
(City names) -
[City name]: Bayugan
[Province]: Agusan del Sur
[Name origin]: Manobo word for "pathway" or from bayug, the local name for bayur tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Biñan
[Province]: Laguna
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of binyagan, Tagalog for "baptismal place."
(City names) -
[City name]: Bislig
[Province]: Surigao del Sur
[Name origin]: from bizlin, an ancient gold currency.
(City names) -
[City name]: Bogo
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: from bogo, an incense tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Borongan
[Province]: Eastern Samar
[Name origin]: from borong, a Waray word for "fog," referring to the heavy fog that used to cover the place.
(City names) -
[City name]: Butuan
[Province]: Agusan del Norte
[Name origin]: from batuan, a Visayan sour fruit.
(City names) -
[City name]: Cabadbaran
[Province]: Agusan del Norte
[Name origin]: from badbad, a Cebuano word which means "to untie."
(City names) -
[City name]: Cabanatuan
[Province]: Nueva Ecija
[Name origin]: from banatu, a sturdy vine that grew along the swampy banks of Rio Grande de Pampanga.
(City names) -
[City name]: Cabuyao
[Province]: Laguna
[Name origin]: from cabuyao, common name for Citrus macroptera, a species of wild orange
(City names) -
[City name]: Cadiz
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: the Spanish city of Cádiz.
(City names) -
[City name]: Cagayan de Oro
[Province]: Misamis Oriental
[Name origin]: Cagayan, the Philippine province in northern Luzon, and the Spanish phrase de oro which means "of gold."
(City names) -
[City name]: Calamba
[Province]: Laguna
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of kalan-banga, Tagalog for "clay stove."
(City names) -
[City name]: Calapan
[Province]: Mindoro Oriental
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the old Tagalog word kalapang which means "branch."
(City names) -
[City name]: Calbayog
[Province]: Samar
[Name origin]: from bayog, a Visayan word for the "Pterospermum diversifolium" tree that grew in abundance in the city.
(City names) -
[City name]: Caloocan
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the Tagalog root word lo-ok; kalook-lookan (or kaloob-looban) which means "innermost area."
(City names) -
[City name]: Candon
[Province]: Ilocos Sur
[Name origin]: the Spanish municipality of Candón in Huelva, Andalucia; or the kandung, an Ilocano sandalwood tree believed to be extinct.
(City names) -
[City name]: Canlaon
[Province]: Negros Oriental
[Name origin]: Kanlaon Volcano.
(City names) -
[City name]: Carcar
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: the Spanish municipality of Cárcar.
(City names) -
[City name]: Catbalogan
[Province]: Samar
[Name origin]: from balaug, a type of shrub that used to thrive along the seashore and mouth of the Antiao River.
(City names) -
[City name]: Cauayan
[Province]: Isabela
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of kawayan, Tagalog for "bamboo."
(City names) -
[City name]: Cavite
[Province]: Cavite
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of kawit or corruption of kalawit, Tagalog words for "hook," in reference to the small hook-shaped peninsula jutting into Manila Bay.
(City names) -
[City name]: Cebu
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of sugbu, Cebuano for "to walk on shallow waters," referring to the shallows through which one had to wade in order to reach dry land from the port of the city.
(City names) -
[City name]: Cotabato
[Province]: Maguindanao
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of kuta wato, Maguindanao (from Malay – "Kota Batu") for "stone fort."
(City names) -
[City name]: Dagupan
[Province]: Pangasinan
[Name origin]: from pandaragupan, a Pangasinense word which means "gathering place", due to the city's history as a market center.
(City names) -
[City name]: Danao
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of danawan, a Cebuano word for "small lake."
(City names) -
[City name]: Dapitan
[Province]: Zamboanga del Norte
[Name origin]: Cebuano for "to invite."
(City names) -
[City name]: Dasmariñas
[Province]: Cavite
[Name origin]: Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas, the seventh Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
(City names) -
[City name]: Davao
[Province]: Davao del Sur
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of dawaw, a Guiangan name for the Davao River.
(City names) -
[City name]: Digos
[Province]: Davao del Sur
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of padigus, a Lumad word which means "to take a bath" in reference to the Digos River.
(City names) -
[City name]: Dipolog
[Province]: Zamboanga del Norte
[Name origin]: from dipag, Subanon for "across the river."
(City names) -
[City name]: Dumaguete
[Province]: Negros Oriental
[Name origin]: from dagit, a Cebuano word which means "to snatch", in reference to the frequent marauding attacks of pirates in the past and the city's power to charm and keep tourists and visitors.
(City names) -
[City name]: El Salvador
[Province]: Misamis Oriental
[Name origin]: Spanish for "The Savior."
(City names) -
[City name]: Escalante
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: the Spanish municipality of Escalante.
(City names) -
[City name]: Gapan
[Province]: Nueva Ecija
[Name origin]: from gapang, a Tagalog word which means "crawl."
(City names) -
[City name]: General Santos
[Province]: South Cotabato
[Name origin]: Paulino Santos, Filipino Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
(City names) -
[City name]: General Trias
[Province]: Cavite
[Name origin]: Mariano Trías, Filipino revolutionary and politician.
(City names) -
[City name]: Gingoog
[Province]: Misamis Oriental
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of hingoog, a Manobo word which means "good luck."
(City names) -
[City name]: Guihulngan
[Province]: Negros Oriental
[Name origin]: from guihulugan, Cebuano for "a place where something was dropped."
(City names) -
[City name]: Himamaylan
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: from hima babaylan, a Hiligaynon phrase which means "foot doctor."
(City names) -
[City name]: Ilagan
[Province]: Ilagan
[Name origin]: The reverse of the Gaddang word nagali which means "transferred."
(City names) -
[City name]: Iligan
[Province]: Lanao del Norte
[Name origin]: Higaonon for "fortress".
(City names) -
[City name]: Iloilo
[Province]: Iloilo
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of irong-irong, Hiligaynon for "nose-like," referring to the shape of the delta formed by what are now called the Iloilo and Salog Rivers.
(City names) -
[City name]: Imus
[Province]: Cavite
[Name origin]: Old Tagalog word for "a piece of land cutting into the junction of two rivers."
(City names) -
[City name]: Iriga
[Province]: Camarines Sur
[Name origin]: from i raga, a Bicolano phrase which means "there is land."
(City names) -
[City name]: Isabela
[Province]: Basilan
[Name origin]: Isabella II, Queen of Spain.
(City names) -
[City name]: Kabankalan
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: from bangkal, a Philippine Leichhard tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Kidapawan
[Province]: Cotabato
[Name origin]: from tida pawan, a Manobo phrase which means "highland spring".
(City names) -
[City name]: Koronadal
[Province]: South Cotabato
[Name origin]: from koron nadal, a B'laan phrase which means "grass plain."
(City names) -
[City name]: La Carlota
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: the Spanish municipality of La Carlota.
(City names) -
[City name]: Lamitan
[Province]: Basilan
[Name origin]: from lami-lamihan, a Yakan word which means "merry-making."
(City names) -
[City name]: Laoag
[Province]: Ilocos Norte
[Name origin]: Ilocano for "light or clarity."
(City names) -
[City name]: Lapu-Lapu
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: Lapu-Lapu, the ancient ruler of Mactan.
(City names) -
[City name]: Las Piñas
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Spanish for "The Pineapples"; the city's old name however is "Las Peñas" meaning "The Rocks".
(City names) -
[City name]: Legazpi
[Province]: Albay
[Name origin]: Miguel López de Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
(City names) -
[City name]: Ligao
[Province]: Albay
[Name origin]: from ticao, a Bicolano word for a tree with poisonous leaves.
(City names) -
[City name]: Lipa
[Province]: Batangas
[Name origin]: from lipa, a Philippine linden tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Lucena
[Province]: Quezon
[Name origin]: The Spanish municipality of Lucena.
(City names) -
[City name]: Maasin
[Province]: Southern Leyte
[Name origin]: Cebuano for "salty."
(City names) -
[City name]: Mabalacat
[Province]: Pampanga
[Name origin]: from balakat, a species of tree endemic to the Philippines.
(City names) -
[City name]: Makati
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: from kumakati, Tagalog for "ebbing tide"; shortened and Filipinized form of its original Spanish name "San Pedro de Macati."
(City names) -
[City name]: Malabon
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: from tambobong, which denotes a place full of labong (bamboo shoots)
(City names) -
[City name]: Malaybalay
[Province]: Bukidnon
[Name origin]: from a Cebuano phrase which means "house of the Malays".
(City names) -
[City name]: Malolos
[Province]: Bulacan
[Name origin]: from paluslos, a Kapampangan word which means "downstream" in reference to the Calumpit River.
(City names) -
[City name]: Mandaluyong
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: from daluyong, Tagalog for "big waves from the sea"; the city's original name is San Felipe Neri.
(City names) -
[City name]: Mandaue
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of mantawi, a Cebuano variety of vine.
(City names) -
[City name]: Manila
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name 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.
(City names) -
[City name]: Marawi
[Province]: Lanao del Sur
[Name origin]: from rawi, a Maranao word which means "reclining" in reference to the lilies that bend northward on the banks of the mouth of the Agus River.
(City names) -
[City name]: Marikina
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Félix Berenguer de Marquina, the Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines.
(City names) -
[City name]: Masbate
[Province]: Masbate
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of masabat, Bicolano for "to meet along the way," referring to the strategic position of the city within Philippine maritime trade routes.
(City names) -
[City name]: Mati
[Province]: Davao Oriental
[Name origin]: from maa-ti, a Mandaya word which means to "dry quickly," referring to the Mati Creek which dries up quickly even after a heavy rain.
(City names) -
[City name]: Meycauayan
[Province]: Bulacan
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the Tagalog phrase may kawayan meaning "a place full of bamboos."
(City names) -
[City name]: Muntinlupa
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: munting lupa, Tagalog for "small land."
(City names) -
[City name]: Muñoz
[Province]: Nueva Ecija
[Name origin]: Francisco Muñoz, Spanish politician and former gobernadorcillo of Nueva Ecija.
(City names) -
[City name]: Naga
[Province]: Camarines Sur
[Name origin]: Bicolano for narra, a type of rosewood tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Naga
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: Cebuano for the narra tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Navotas
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word nabutas which means "breached" or "pierced through" in reference to the formation of the Navotas River.
(City names) -
[City name]: Olongapo
[Province]: Zambales
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of olo nin apo, a Zambal phrase which means "head of the elder."
(City names) -
[City name]: Ormoc
[Province]: Leyte
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of ogmok, a Cebuano word which means "lowland" or "plain."
(City names) -
[City name]: Oroquieta
[Province]: Misamis Occidental
[Name origin]: the barrio of Oroquieta in the district of Villaverde in Madrid, Spain.
(City names) -
[City name]: Ozamiz
[Province]: Misamis Occidental
[Name origin]: José Ozámiz, a Filipino politician from Mindanao.
(City names) -
[City name]: Pagadian
[Province]: Zamboanga del Sur
[Name origin]: from padian, an Iranun word for "market."
(City names) -
[City name]: Palayan
[Province]: Nueva Ecija
[Name origin]: Tagalog for "rice field."
(City names) -
[City name]: Panabo
[Province]: Davao del Norte
[Name origin]: from taboan, a Cebuano word which means "marketplace."
(City names) -
[City name]: Parañaque
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of Palanyag, the old Tagalog name of the Parañaque River.
(City names) -
[City name]: Pasay
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Dayang-dayang Pasay, a Namayan princess. The city's old name is Pineda, after Spanish horticulturist Cornelio Pineda.
(City names) -
[City name]: Pasig
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: from pasi, a Sanskrit word meaning "riverbank."
(City names) -
[City name]: Passi
[Province]: Iloilo
[Name origin]: from passis, a Kinaray-a word which means "unhusked rice."
(City names) -
[City name]: Puerto Princesa
[Province]: Palawan
[Name origin]: a contraction of its original Spanish name Puerto de la Princesa which means "Port of the Princess" named after Princess Eulalia of Spain.
(City names) -
[City name]: Quezon
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Manuel Luis Quezon, the second president of the Philippines.
(City names) -
[City name]: Roxas
[Province]: Capiz
[Name origin]: Manuel Acuña Roxas, the fifth president of the Philippines.
(City names) -
[City name]: Sagay
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: from sigay, a Hiligaynon word for "shell."
(City names) -
[City name]: Samal
[Province]: Davao del Norte
[Name origin]: Sama, an indigenous ethnic group in Mindanao.
(City names) -
[City name]: San Carlos
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: Saint Charles Borromeo.
(City names) -
[City name]: San Carlos
[Province]: Pangasinan
[Name origin]: named after Charles III of Spain, who ordered the Spanish rulers to raze the town of Binalatongan (its former name) to the ground.
(City names) -
[City name]: San Fernando
[Province]: La Union
[Name origin]: Saint Ferdinand, King of Spain.
(City names) -
[City name]: San Fernando
[Province]: Pampanga
[Name origin]: Saint Ferdinand, King of Spain.
(City names) -
[City name]: San Jose
[Province]: Nueva Ecija
[Name origin]: Saint Joseph
(City names) -
[City name]: San Jose del Monte
[Province]: Bulacan
[Name origin]: Saint Joseph of the Mountain.
(City names) -
[City name]: San Juan
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Saint John the Baptist; the city's longer official name is San Juan del Monte, Spanish for "Saint John of the Mountain."
(City names) -
[City name]: San Pablo
[Province]: Laguna
[Name origin]: Saint Paul the First Hermit.
(City names) -
[City name]: San Pedro
[Province]: Laguna
[Name origin]: Saint Peter, the Apostle
(City names) -
[City name]: Santa Rosa
[Province]: Laguna
[Name origin]: Saint Rose of Lima.
(City names) -
[City name]: Santiago
[Province]: Isabela
[Name origin]: Saint James the Apostle.
(City names) -
[City name]: Santo Tomas
[Province]: Batangas
[Name origin]: Saint Thomas Aquinas
(City names) -
[City name]: Silay
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: from kansilay, a local Philippine tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Sipalay
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: Suludnon for "there is rice"
(City names) -
[City name]: Sorsogon
[Province]: Sorsogon
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of sogsogon, a Bicolano verb meaning "to continuously follow a course, such as a trail or a river."
(City names) -
[City name]: Surigao
[Province]: Surigao del Norte
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of suligan, a Manobo word for "where there is sulig," a species of fish.
(City names) -
[City name]: Tabaco
[Province]: Albay
[Name origin]: Spanish for "tobacco."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tabuk
[Province]: Kalinga
[Name origin]: from tobog, Ilocano for "living stream."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tacloban
[Province]: Leyte
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of tarakluban, a Waray-Waray word which means "to catch fish."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tacurong
[Province]: Sultan Kudarat
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of talakudong, a Maguindanao word which means a traditional "head covering" or "hat."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tagaytay
[Province]: Cavite
[Name origin]: Tagalog for "ridge".
(City names) -
[City name]: Tagbilaran
[Province]: Bohol
[Name origin]: from tagubilaan, a Boholano phrase which means "to hide from the Moros."
(City names) -
[City name]: Taguig
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word taga-giik meaning "rice thresher."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tagum
[Province]: Davao del Norte
[Name origin]: from magugpo, a Mandaya word which means "tall tree."
(City names) -
[City name]: Talisay
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: from talisay, a Visayan variety of Indian almond tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Talisay
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: from talisay, a Visayan variety of Indian almond tree.
(City names) -
[City name]: Tanauan
[Province]: Batangas
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the Tagalog word tanawan which means "vista" or "view."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tandag
[Province]: Surigao del Sur
[Name origin]: from tangad, Cebuano for lemongrass.
(City names) -
[City name]: Tangub
[Province]: Misamis Occidental
[Name origin]: from tangkob, a Subanon word which means "rice basket."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tanjay
[Province]: Negros Oriental
[Name origin]: Hispanicized corruption of taytay, a Cebuano word which means "bamboo bridge."
(City names) -
[City name]: Tarlac
[Province]: Tarlac
[Name origin]: Hispanicized rendering of tarlak, Aeta term for a certain grass related to talahib (cogon) and tanglar (Zambal for lemongrass).
(City names) -
[City name]: Tayabas
[Province]: Quezon
[Name origin]: from bayabas, a Tagalog word for the "guava" fruit.
(City names) -
[City name]: Toledo
[Province]: Cebu
[Name origin]: the Spanish city of Toledo.
(City names) -
[City name]: Trece Martires
[Province]: Cavite
[Name origin]: Spanish for "thirteen martyrs." The city was named in honor of the Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite.
(City names) -
[City name]: Tuguegarao
[Province]: Cagayan
[Name origin]: Hispanicized form of the Ibanag phrase tuggui gari yaw meaning "this used to be fire."
(City names) -
[City name]: Urdaneta
[Province]: Pangasinan
[Name origin]: Andrés de Urdaneta, Spanish friar, circumnavigator and explorer.
(City names) -
[City name]: Valencia
[Province]: Bukidnon
[Name origin]: Named by the first local Barrio school teacher in the village, who hailed from Valencia, Bohol.
(City names) -
[City name]: Valenzuela
[Province]: Metro Manila
[Name origin]: Pío Valenzuela, a Filipino patriot.
(City names) -
[City name]: Victorias
[Province]: Negros Occidental
[Name origin]: from Nuestra Señora de las Victorias, Spanish for "Our Lady of Victories".
(City names) -
[City name]: Vigan
[Province]: Ilocos Sur
[Name origin]: Hispanicization of bî-gán (美岸), Hokkien for "beautiful shore".
(City names) -
[City name]: Zamboanga
[Province]: Zamboanga del Sur
[Name origin]: 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.
(City names)
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