Titles of Philippine Places

What's in a Name?

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has the habit of using titles as a way of endorsing tourist destinations in the country. However, other countries are also using similar titles. Aside from Filipinos, the Japanese also use the phrase "Pearl of the Orient" to refer to their country. While Filipinos describe the Banaue Rice Terraces as the eighth wonder of the world, the Chinese use the same title for the Great Wall of China and the Cambodians for Angkor Wat. According to Filipinos, Mount Mayon has the most beautiful cone figure among all volcanoes in the world, the same way the Japanese view Mount Fuji and Costa Ricans view Arenal volcano. Davao City is reportedly the world's largest city but other cities in the world protest, including Puerto Princesa City of Palawan. Boracay Island is sold as the world's most beautiful beach resort, but Thailand, Indonesia, Latin American countries and several Pacific islands are ready to contest this title.

Aklan - oldest province

Angono, Rizal - town of artists

Antipolo City - picnic area

Apalit, Pampanga - tapayan capital

Baclayon Church, Bohol - oldest stone church

Bacolod City - city of smiles

Bacolor, Pampanga - country's capital in 1762-1763

Baguio City - summer capital

Balabac Island, Palawan - land of Philippine mouse deer

Baliuag, Bulacan - the first town to have election

Banaue Rice Terraces - stairways to the sky

Barasoain Church - headquarters of the Malolos Congress

Basey, Samar - town of mat festival

Batanes - smallest province; northernmost province

Bataan - last stronghold during Japanese occupation

Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan - site of the Biak na Bato republic

Binondo - known for Chinatown district

Bocaue, Bulacan - firecrackers' capital

Bohol - land of chocolate hills

Boracay Island - world's finest beach resort

Bulacan - land of heroes and beautiful women

Bukidnon - pineapple country

Calamba, Laguna - birthplace of Jose Rizal

Calamian Islands - land of Calamian deer

Calauit Island, Palawan - animal sanctuary

Camiguin - land of volcanoes

Capiz - seafood capital

Catanduanes - land of howling winds

Cebu City - premiere city in the south

Central Luzon - rice bowl

Corregidor Island - island fortress; the rock

Crisologo Street, Vigan - kamestizoan district

Davao City- world's largest city; durian capital

Davao Oriental - easternmost province

Divisoria - bargain capital

Donsol, Sorsogon - sanctuary of whale sharks

Gapan, Nueva Ecija - newest city

General Santos City - most competitive city; tuna capital

Guiginto, Bulacan - cutflower capital

Guimaras - mango capital

Hundred Islands, Pangasinan - actually composed of 400 islets

Iligan City - land of waterfalls

Intramuros, Manila - walled city

Kabayan, Benguet - land of mummies

Kalibo, Aklan - land of ati-atihan

Kawit, Cavite - first independent town

Laguna - resort province

Laguna de Bay - largest lake

Lanao del Sur - center of Islam

Las Pinas City - land of the bamboo organ

Lipa, Batangas - coffee capital

Lubao, Pampanga - the birthplace of Diosdado Macapagal

Lucban, Quezon - Pahiyas town

Luzon - world's 17th largest island

Magallanes, Agusan del Norte - site of the oldest tree

Makati City - financial center

Malolos, Bulacan - site of the First Philippine Republic

Manila - capital city

Maria Cristina Falls, Iligan City - mother of industry

Marikina City - shoe capital

Mexico, Pampanga - formerly known as Masicu

Meycauayan, Bulacan - jewelry capital

Miag-ao Church, Iloilo - fortress church

Mindanao - world's 19th largest island

Mindoro - land of the tamaraws

Mount Apo - highest peak

Mount Arayat - legendary home of Mariang Sinukuan

Mount Mayon - a volcano with nearly perfect cone

Nayong Pilipino - Philippines in miniature. (The theme park was opened in 1972 and closed on June 25, 2002.)

Negros Occidental - sugar capital; sports capital

Pagsanjan Falls - Philippines' el dorado

Palawan - the last frontier; largest province; westernmost province

Pampanga - culinary capital of Luzon

Paete, Laguna - town of wood carvers

Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte - earthquake baroque

Paombong, Bulacan - vinegar capital

Philippine Deep - world's second deepest spot

Philippines - pearl of the orient

Rio Grande de Cagayan - longest river

Romblon - marble country

San Agustin Church, Intramuros - oldest church in Luzon

San Fernando, Pampanga - lantern capital of the world

San Juanico Bridge - longest suspension bridge

San Sebastian Church - the only steel church in Asia

Siargao Island - perfect waves island

Spratleys - the islands claimed by six countries

Sta. Maria, Bulacan - egg nest of the Philippines

Sta. Maria Church, Ilocos Sur - outstanding example of Spanish baroque architecture

Subic Freeport - American town

Taal Volcano - world's smallest volcano

Tagaytay City - the next summer capital

Tangub City - Christmas symbol capital

Tawi-Tawi - southernmost province

Trinidad Valley - land of strawberry and vegetables

Tubbataha Marine Park - world's richest bio-geographic area

Unisan, Quezon - oldest town

University of San Carlos, Cebu City - oldest university

Vigan, Ilocos Sur - Spanish colonial town

Zamboanga Sibugay - newest province

Note:

The following are information from Txtmania. For sources and more accurate and detailed information, you may visit their website at http://www.txtmania.com/