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.
| City/Municipality | Province | Region | Nickname(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amadeo | Cavite | Calabarzon | Coffee Capital of the Philippines | After the town's coffee growing industry.[1] |
| Angeles | Pampanga (geographically only) | Central Luzon | City of Angels | After the city's etymology.[2] [3] |
| Angono | Rizal | Calabarzon | Art Capital of the Philippines | 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] |
| Antipolo | Rizal | Calabarzon | Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines | Due to the presence of 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 a continuous following among Filipino Catholics since the Spanish colonial era.[5] |
| Apalit | Pampanga | Central Luzon | Blacksmith Capital of Pampanga | 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] |
| Bacolod | Negros Occidental (geographically only) | Negros Island Region | City of Smiles | 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] |
| Bacoor | Cavite | Calabarzon | Marching Band Capital of the Philippines | 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] |
| Balanga | Bataan | Central Luzon | Banga Capital of the Philippines | 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] |
| Baguio | Benguet (geographically only) | Cordillera Administrative Region | Summer Capital of the Philippines | 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] |
| City of Pines | Baguio is known for its pine trees.[12] | |||
| Barotac Nuevo | Iloilo | Western Visayas | Football Capital of the Philippines | Due to the popularity of association football in the town compared to other parts of the country, where basketball has a better reception. The town is known for producing several players for the Philippines men's national team, including Ian and Mariano Araneta, Elmer Bedia, Jovin Bedic, Chieffy Caligdong, Antonio Piao, and Roel Gener.[13] [14] |
| Bocaue | Bulacan | Central Luzon | Fireworks Capital of the Philippines | After the town's firecrackers and fireworks industry.[15] |
| Butuan | Agusan del Norte (geographically only) | Caraga | Home of the Balangays | [16] [17] |
| Timber City of the South | [18] | |||
| Cabanatuan | Nueva Ecija | Central Luzon | Tricycle Capital of the Philippines | After the prominence of motorized tricycles in the city.[19] [20] |
| Cadiz | Negros Occidental | Negros Island Region | City of Whales | The nickname was adopted in reference to a 1967 event which saw several humpback whales get beached on the shores of Cadiz.[21] |
| Cagayan de Oro | Misamis Oriental (geographically only) | Northern Mindanao | City of Golden Friendship | Due to the warm welcoming smiles and the utmost hospitality of the locals.[22] |
| Calamba | Laguna | Calabarzon | Hot Spring Capital of the Philippines | Due to the proliferation of hot spring resorts in the city.[23] |
| Candon | Ilocos Sur | Ilocos Region | Tobacco Capital of the Philippines | Due to the abundance of tobacco in the city. |
| Carles | Iloilo | Western Visayas | Alaska of the Philippines | The Carles and Estancia towns share the nickname "Alaska of the Philippines" after its bountiful marine resources.[24] |
| Carmona | Cavite | Calabarzon | The Smart City | Used since 2021 before Carmona's cityhood. A spherical landmark was built, officially named Smart City Landmark, in honor of this nickname. |
| Cebu City | Cebu (geographically only) | Central Visayas | Queen City of the South | Due to an economic boom of the city in the mid to late 1900s. The title was originally claimed by Iloilo City only.[25] |
| Dagupan | Pangasinan (geographically only) | Ilocos Region | Bangus Capital of the Philippines | 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] |
| Dapitan | Zamboanga del Sur | Zamboanga Peninsula | Shrine City of the Philippines | This is where the national hero, José Rizal was exiled by the Spanish colonial authorities for his threat to start revolutionary activities. |
| Historic City of the South | ||||
| Rizal City of the South | ||||
| Davao City | Davao del Sur (geographically only) | Davao Region | King City of the South | [29] |
| Crown Jewel of Mindanao | [30] | |||
| Durian Capital of the Philippines | 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 20000ha of cacao farms in the Davao Region, including Malagos Chocolate which produced chocolate products that have garnered international recognition.[33] | |||
| Donsol | Sorsogon | Bicol Region | Whale Shark Capital of the World | After Donsol's ecotourism with the town touted as a good place for tourists to view whale sharks.[34] [35] |
| Dumaguete | Negros Oriental | Negros Island Region | The City of Gentle People | Due to the city's ability to enthral and captivate its visitors, charming them of its natural beauty and their lovely people. |
| General Luna | Surigao del Norte | Caraga | Surfing Capital of the Philippines | Inherited from the nickname of Siargao Island, which is promoted as a surfing destination.[36] |
| General Santos | South Cotabato (geographically only) | Soccsksargen | Tuna Capital of the Philippines | The tuna fish is among the major produce of the city which was commonly available at nearby Sarangani Bay.[37] |
| Iligan | Lanao del Norte (geographically only) | Northern Mindanao | City of Majestic Waterfalls | Named after Maria Cristina Falls which is located in the city. |
| Iloilo City | Iloilo (geographically only) | Western Visayas | Most Loyal and Noble City | 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] | |||
| City of Love | Ilonggos are known for having a certain way of speaking that is very soothing to the ears.[41] | |||
| Imus | Cavite | Calabarzon | Flag Capital of the Philippines | Imus is said to be the site where Philippine flag was unfurled for the first time during the Battle of Alapan of the Philippine Revolution.[42] |
| Kidapawan | Cotabato | Soccsksargen | City of Fruits | After the city's fruit industry. Kidapawan is known for the Timpupo festival, a harvest festival showcasing locally grown fruits.[43] |
| La Trinidad | Benguet | Cordillera Administrative Region | Strawberry Capital of the Philippines | After the town's strawberry cultivation industry.[44] |
| Salad Bowl of the Philippines | After the town's vegetable cultivation industry. Nickname also applies to the Benguet province.[45] | |||
| Lapu-Lapu City | Cebu (geographically only) | Central Visayas | Historic Resort City | From a marketing campaign launched in 2014 by the city government to promote the city as destination for resorts.[46] |
| Legazpi | Albay | Bicol Region | Gateway City of Bicol | [47] |
| Los Baños | Laguna | Calabarzon | 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.[48] |
| Makati | n/a | Metro Manila | Business Capital of the Philippines | Due to the city being the host of numerous corporate and office buildings, particularly its central business district.[49] [50] |
| Mandaluyong | n/a | Metro Manila | Tiger City | 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.[51] [52] |
| Mandaue | Cebu (geographically only) | Central Visayas | Furniture Capital of the Philippines | The city is known for its furniture shows and furniture manufacturing industry.[53] |
| Manila | n/a | Metro Manila | Pearl of the Orient | See also: Nicknames of Manila |
| Marawi | Lanao del Sur | Bangsamoro | Islamic City | Due to its Muslim-majority population and historic roots with Islam. Marawi was declared as an "Islamic City" by the city council in 1980.[54] [55] |
| Marikina | n/a | Metro Manila | Shoe Capital of the Philippines | After the city's shoemaking industry.[56] |
| Muntinlupa | n/a | Metro Manila | Emerald City | After the city's urban biodiversity.[57] |
| Naga | Camarines Sur (geographically only) | Bicol Region | The Queen City of Bicol | [58] [59] |
| Navotas | n/a | Metro Manila | Fishing Capital of the Philippines | 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.[60] |
| Paete | Laguna | Calabarzon | Woodcarving Capital of the Philippines | As per Proclamation No. 809 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005[61] |
| Pagadian | Zamboanga del Sur | Zamboanga Peninsula | Little Hongkong of the South | [62] |
| Parañaque | n/a | Metro Manila | Bay City | 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.[63] |
| Passi | Iloilo | Western Visayas | Sweet City at The Heart of Panay | Due to its vast pineapple plantations and annual output in fruit production, and because the city lies in the bosom of Panay.[64] |
| Pateros | n/a | Metro Manila | Balut Capital of the Philippines | After the town's balut industry.[65] [66] |
| Puerto Galera | Oriental Mindoro | Mimaropa | Poor Man's Boracay | Comparison to the resort island of Boracay. Reportedly it cost less to visit Puerto Galera as a tourist.[67] |
| Puerto Princesa | Palawan (geographically only) | Mimaropa | Eco-Tourism Capital of the Philippines | As per the Puerto Princesa Board. After the city's ecotourism industry.[68] |
| Quezon City | n/a | Metro Manila | The City of Stars | Due to the city being the hub of several media companies and television networks, such as ABS-CBN Corporation (ABS-CBN) and GMA Network, Inc. (GMA)[69] |
| Roxas | Capiz | Western Visayas | Seafood Capital of the Philippines | Due to its abundance in marine life from prawns to crabs, marlins to catfish, and mussels to angel wings (diwal).[70] |
| San Fernando | Pampanga | Central Luzon | Christmas Capital of the Philippines | After the local parol or Christmas lantern-making industry of the city and the Giant Lantern Festival.[71] [72] |
| San Juan | n/a | Metro Manila | Tiangge Capital of the Philippines | The city is known for its tiangge or flea markets. The Greenhills Shopping Center is a major host of tiangge.[73] |
| San Mateo | Isabela | Cagayan Valley | Munggo Capital of the Philippines | [74] |
| Santo Tomas | Pampanga | Central Luzon | Coffin Capital of Central Luzon | After the coffin-making industry of the town, which is concentrated in Barangay San Vicente.[75] |
| Sitangkai | Tawi-Tawi | Bangsamoro | Venice of the South | In comparison with the Italian city of Venice due to the town having canals and waterways as its main thoroughfare instead of roads.[76] |
| Taal | Batangas | Calabarzon | Heritage Town | 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.[77] [78] |
| Vigan of the South | ||||
| Tacloban | Leyte (geographically only) | Eastern Visayas | Home of the Happiest People in the World | After a tourism campaign adopted by the city government in 2018.[79] 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.[80] |
| Tagum | Davao del Norte | Davao Region | Music Capital of the South | The city is known for its Musikahan sa Tagum music festival.[81] |
| Tuguegarao | Cagayan | Cagayan Valley | Premier Ibanag City of the North | The nickname or "tagline" highlights the Ibanag ethnolinguistic group.[82] |
| Vigan | Ilocos Sur | Ilocos Region | Heritage City | This city is one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites[83] and it is one of the few Spanish colonial towns left in the Philippines whose old structures have mostly remained intact like Calle Crisologo. |
| Zamboanga City | Zamboanga del Sur (geographically only) | Zamboanga Peninsula | Asia's Latin City | Due to the city being known as the origin of the Spanish-based creole, Chavacano.[84] This is the result of the Spanish long presence in the city, particularly in Fort Pilar.[85] The nickname was adopted by the city government in 2006 under Mayor Celso Lobregat during the 15th Mindanao Business Conference.[86] |
| City of Flowers | After the etymology of "Zamboanga". Zamboanga was derived from the Malay word "Jambangan" which means "land of flowers".[87] [88] | |||
| Convention Capital of the Philippines | [89] | |||
| Sardines Capital of the Philippines | Due to Zamboanga City being a major hub of sardine canning factories in the Philippines. |
