This partial list of city and municipality nicknames in the Philippines compiles the aliases, sobriquets, and slogans that cities and municipalities in the Philippines are known by (or have been known historically by), officially and unofficially, to municipal governments, local people, outsiders, or their tourism boards or chambers of commerce.
Due to the town being able to produce two National Artists despite its small population; namely, Botong Francisco for painting and Lucio San Pedro for music. The nickname is unofficial in the sense that there is no legal document conferring the title although the designation has been used to promote tourism in the town.[4]
Due to being the hometown of a Spanish-era blacksmith named Pande Pira who is said to be the first cannon maker in the Philippines. He is said to be the progenitor of the town's metal crafts industry. Among the town's known metal-derived products include bolos, machetes, and knives.[6]
Came from introduction of the MassKara Festival, which is known as a "festival of smiles", in 1980 as a response to a socioeconomic crisis in that period.[7]
As per Proclamation No. 939 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2020. A recognition to Bacoor being the birthplace of the country's oldest marching bands and continued tradition of producing music troupes such as community marching bands, and school-based drum and lyre corps.[8]
It is said that the name “Balanga” was derived from a kind of pot used for cooking or fetching water. This cooking pot is made of special clay and it is locally known as “banga” or “balanga”. During the Spanish occupation people of this community often use this pot for fetching water and the Spaniards would ask what they call it, and they would answer, “Banga”. The Spaniards would repeat the word until they adopt the name of the community. From then on this place was called Balanga.[9]
During the American period, Baguio became a chartered city and was declared the Summer Capital of the Philippines. The Mansion became the official residence of the Governor-General in the city.[10] Nowadays, the nickname is a reference to the city's relatively cool weather, which is comparable to areas which have a temperate climate.[11]
After Dagupan's local milkfish (bangus) industry.[26] In 2002, the city government organized the first Bangus Festival as part of a "bid to gain the title"[27][28]
The durian fruit is among the major produce of the city.[31]
Chocolate Capital of the Philippines
As per Republic Act No. 11547 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.[32] Davao City hosts majority of the 20,000 hectares (49,000 acres) of cacao farms in the Davao Region, including Malagos Chocolate which produced chocolate products that have garnered international recognition.[33]
In the late 1800s, Iloilo City was known and was given the title "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo" by the then Queen Regent Maria Christina of Spain, which means "The Most Loyal and Noble City of Iloilo". This is an inscription in the coat of arms from the royal decree of 1896 in recognition of the local people's loyalty to the Spanish crown. Since then, the title has always been engraved in the city's official seal.[38][39]
Queen City of the South
Due to the economic boom of the city during the 18th and 19th centuries, the then Queen Regent of Spain raised the status of the town to the Royal City of the South on October 5, 1889. This honorific made Iloilo the first "Queen City of the South" where the city government was established. The title is also now claimed by Cebu City. As of 2013, there were efforts to "reclaim" the title from Cebu.[40][25]
City of Love
Ilonggos are known for having a certain way of speaking that is very soothing to the ears.[41]
The iconic bamboo organ is located inside St. Joseph Parish Church which has a total of 1,031 pipes of which 902 are made of bamboo and the remaining pipes are made of metal.[47][48]
Special Science and Nature City of the Philippines
As per Proclamation Order No. 349 issued by President Joseph Estrada on August 7, 2000. The issuances cited the city's recognition as a "national and international center of learning in the various fields of human knowledge such as the arts, humanities, ecology, socio-economics and mostly notably science in its basic, natural and applied forms" and the motivation of Los Baños' residents to pursue a "higher status while preserving the ecology" for their city.[50]
The nickname comes from the classification of Mandaluyong as a "Tiger City" under the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project 2002 report of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center due to the city's increase in generated income from 1986.[53][54]
After the city's fishing industry which is a major part of Navotas' economy. The status of the city as the "Fishing Capital of the Philippines" is represented on its city seal by a fish.[62]
The nickname was adopted in 2015 by the city government as part of a tourism campaign. Bay City is a reference to the city bordering two bodies of water; Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay.[67]
After the Taal Heritage Town, a tourist attraction known for its ancestral houses and centuries-old churches. For this reason, the town is known also known as the Vigan of the South a reference to the town Vigan in Ilocos Sur.[82][83]
After a tourism campaign adopted by the city government in 2018.[84] The moniker came from the tagline "Happiest people in the world", which in turn represents the optimistic aspirations of the city after it was devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013.[85]
This city is one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites[88] and it is one of the few Spanish colonial towns left in the Philippines whose old structures have mostly remained intact like Calle Crisologo.
Due to the city being known as the origin of the Spanish-basedcreole, Chavacano.[89] This is the result of the Spanish long presence in the city, particularly in Fort Pilar.[90] The nickname was adopted by the city government in 2006 under Mayor Celso Lobregat during the 15th Mindanao Business Conference.[91]
City of Flowers
After the etymology of "Zamboanga". Zamboanga was derived from the Malay word "Jambangan" which means "land of flowers".[92][93]
^"House Bill No. 974"(PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. November 15, 2016. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 11, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
^"CESB CONCLUDES FIRST PAGLAUM WORKSHOP IN MINDANAO". Career Executive Service Board. June 20, 2012. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019. The Career Executive Service Board, in partnership with the Association of CARAGA Executives (ACE), brought the Project Paglaum to Butuan City, the home of the Balangays.
^"JrNBA starts nationwide sweep with basketball clinic in Butuan". Manila Standard. February 7, 2016. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019. Butuan came to national prominence during the late 1940s to the 1970s as the "Timber City of the South" because of its booming logging industry.
^Paunan, Jerome Carlo (August 17, 2020). "Makati City is 'all systems go' for pooled testing". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved March 15, 2021. ...has prioritized Makati City in its pooled testing project as the city is regarded as the Business Capital of the Philippines.
^"Our Seal". Navotas City Government. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
^"AUICK Newsletter No.54 AUICK News". Asian Urban Information Center of Kobe. 2010. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019. The City Council of Olongapo recently passed an ordinance adopting the title "City of Volunteers" for Olongapo City, to reflect its strong community-based volunteerism.
^Songco, Pauline (August 13, 2018). "Gift of a legacy". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
^"Giant Lantern Festival at The City of San Fernando". City of San Fernando - Christmas Capital of the Philippines. City Information and Communications Technology Office of San Fernando. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
^Tejano, Ivy (December 31, 2018). "Experience Asia's Latin City". Sunstar. Retrieved November 1, 2021. Zamboanga is dubbed as "Asia's Latin City," for its Latin-originated dialect. Chavacano or Philippine Creole Spanish is the language of the Zamboangueños.
^Arnaldo, Maria Stella (November 13, 2017). "DOT allots P2M to Zamboanga City for reblooming project". BusinessMirror. Retrieved November 1, 2021. Zamboanga derives its name from "Jambangan," a Malay word that means "City of Flowers."
^ abJacinto, Al (September 25, 2006). "Philippines' Southern Gateway Wants to Be Known as 'Asia's Latin City'". Arab News. Retrieved November 1, 2021. "Zamboanga City has been variably called the 'Convention Capital of the Country' or the 'Sardines Capital,' because canning factories here provides about 70 percent of all sardines sold and consumed in the country today," he said.
