Origin of Names of Places

Abra - abrir, a Spanish term which means opening

Antipolo City - antipolo, a tree that used to abound in the area

Agusan - agusan, a Tagalog term referring to a spot where water flows

Aklan - from Akean River

Albay - albaybay, a Bicolano term meaning by the bay

Angeles City - Don Angel Pantaleon de Miranda

Antique - hantic or large ants

Apayao - apayaw, a native word for negotiable river

Aurora - Maria Aurora Quezon, wife of former President Manuel Quezon

Babuyan Island - babuyan, which refers to a place where pigs are kept

Bacolod City - buklod, referring to a hilly terrain

Bago City - bago, a large tree in the area

Baguio City - bigjiw, an Igorot term for a moss

Balagtas, Bulacan - Francisco Balagtas

Balanga, Bataan - balanga, referring to a cooking pot

Baliuag, Bulacan - maliway, an adjective meaning tardy

Basilan - basilan, which means iron trail

Batanes - Ivatan, the natives of the area

Batangas - batang, or huge logs

Benguet - benget, a Nabaloy term meaning head scarf

Biliran -biliran, a native grass used for weaving mats

Bohol - bool, a village in Tagbilaran City

Bulacan - bulak or cotton

Bukidnon - bukidnon, referring to the people of the mountain

Butuan City - butuan, a sour fruit in the area

Cadiz City - named after Cadiz, Spain

Cagayan - carayan, an Ilocano word for river

Cagayan de Oro City - kalambaguhan, evolved from the word lambago, a type of tree

Calamba, Laguna - kalamba, a wide-mouth earthen jar

Calumpit, Bulacan - kalumpit, the name of trees, which used to abound in the area

Caloocan City - look, meaning interior

Camarines - camarine, a Spanish term for granary

Camuigin - kamagong, a tree of the ebony family

Capiz - kapis, a Visayan term for pearl shells

Caraga - caraga, or inhabitants of the area

Catanduanes - named after Catandungan river, along whose banks tando trees used to abound

Cavite - kawit or hook

Cebu - sugbu

Cotabato - kuta bato, or a stone fort

Dagupan City - nandaragupan, meaning where once stood a commercial center

Dapitan City - dapit, a Cebuano term meaning to invite

Davao City - daba-daba, a native term for mythical figures

Dumaguete City - managuit, a Cebuano term meaning to capture

EDSA - Epifanio delos Santos Avenue

Guimaras - himal-us, as local inhabitants called the place in the pre-Spanish period

Hagonoy, Bulacan - hagonoy, the name of a weed that used to abound in the area

Hermosa, Bataan - hermosa, a Spanish word for beautiful

Ifugao - pugo, which means hills

Ilocos - loco, a Malay term for lowland

Iloilo - ilong or nose

Isabela - Queen Isabela of Spain

Kalinga - kalinga, a native word for headhunters

Lanao - lanaw, a term referring to the people of the lake

Laguna - la laguna, meaning the lake

Laoag City - iluag, meaning clear or light

La Union - from the Spanish term union

Legazpi City - Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

Leyte - hiraite, the name of the place formerly known as Ete

Lucena City - named after the town of Lucena in Andalucia, Spain

Luzon - lu zung, a Chinese phrase meaning a far away land

Makati City - makati na, meaning the tide is ebbing

Maguindanao - danao, or flood

Malacanang Palace - may lakan diyan, meaning there lives a gentleman or the Spanish words mala cana (bad

sugarcane)

Mandaluyong City - may daluyong, meaning where big waves roll

Manila - may nilad, a phrase referring to a spot where nilad grows.

Marinduque - Marina and Garduke, a legendary couple

Masbate - masa bati, which means mix and beat as in making bread

Mayon Volcano - magayon, a Bicolano term for beautiful

Meycauayan - may kawayan, which refers to a place where bamboos grow

Mindoro - mina de oro, or gold mine

Misamis - kuyamis, referring to sweet coconut

Mountain Province - mountain

Mount Makiling - Mariang Makiling, a legendary name

Mount Pinatubo - pinatubo, a term meaning left to grow

Muntinlupa City - monted de lupa, a vernacular phrase meaning hills

Naga City - naga, a Bicolano term for narra tree

Negros - negros, a Spanish term for black people

Norzagaray, Bulacan - Governor General Fernando Norzagaray

Nueva Vizcaya - a Spanish phrase meaning New Biscayne

Pagsanjan, Laguna - pinagsangahan, or where the river branched out

Palawan - palan yu, a Chinese phrase for beautiful harbor

Palayan City - palayan, or rice field

Pampanga - pampang, which means riverbank

Pangasinan - asin, which means salt

Panay - pan hay, a Spanish word

Paranaque City - para aqui, a Spanish phrase meaning stop here

Pasay City - paso hay, a Spanish phrase meaning there is a pass

Pasig River - passi, probably evolved from the word mabagsik, meaning violent in force

Pateros - pato, meaning duck

Philippines - Philip II of Spain

Plaridel, Bulacan - Marcelo del Pilar

Pulilan, Bulacan - pulo ng ulan, meaning island of rain

Quezon City - Manuel L. Quezon

Quiapo, Manila - kiyapo, a cabbage-like weed

Quirino - Elpidio Quirino

Rizal - Jose Rizal

Romblon - lomlon or donblon

Samar - zamal

Sarangani - sangir, the language spoken by inhabitants of Sarangani Island

Silliman University - Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman, a philanthropist from New York

Siquijor - quipjod, a native term that means the tide is ebbing

Sorsogon - solsogon, a Bicolano term meaning to follow the river

Sultan Kudarat - Sultan Kudarat, a Muslim ruler in the 17th Century

Sulu - sug, meaning water current

Surigao - saliagao, a native term meaning to grab

Tarlac - tarlac, an Aeta word which refers to a weed

Tagaytay City - taga itay, two words which mean cut and father

Tawi-Tawi - jaui jaui, evolved from the Malay term jau that means far

Tuguegarao City - tuggui gari yaw, an Ibanag phrase meaning it used to be fire

Valenzuela City - Pio Valenzuela

Visayas - Bisayas, or the name of the people in the area

Zambales - zambals, or the name of the inhabitants in the area

Zamboanga -samboangan, evolved from the local term sabuan, which refers to a wooden pole.