Acronyms in the Philippines

Geography is one area prone to acronyms. Many times, when a group of places is formed, instead of coining a descriptive term for the group, an acronym that stands for the individual places is created. An example outside the Philippines is Benelux, which stands for the countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

A premiere example in the Philippines is Luzviminda. This is an acronym that stands for Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, the three island groupings of the country. Luzviminda is actually used as a name for many Filipino women. Another example in the Philippines is the region Calabarzon. This is a region consisting of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.[2] Calabarzon was split off from the former Southern Tagalog region in 2002. The region containing the remaining provinces in Southern Tagalog is also named as an acronym, Mimaropa, which stands for the provinces of Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.[2] A last example is CAMANAVA, which stands for Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela—all of which are located in Metro Manila.

In political campaigns, many candidates names become acronyms stating their political platforms. A particularly stilted political acronym used was the slogan used by the People Power Coalition (PPC) in the 2001 senatorial elections: VOT FOR D CHAMMP. The slogan is an acronym that stands for the names of the 13 senator candidates fielded by PPC. The 11 administration senators who voted YES to block the opening of the second envelope containing evidence during impeachment trial of Joseph Estrada were called "Jose's Cohort" or "Joe's Cohorts": Jaworski, Osmeña, Santiago, Enrile, Sotto, Coseteng, Oreta, Honasan, Ople, Revilla, Tatad.

• ACJC – Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ
• INC – Iglesia ni Cristo
• LAMP – Lighthouse Apostolic Ministry of Pentecost
• MCGI – Members Church of God International
• UPC – United Pentecostal Church
• CBCP – Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines

• ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
• BUDA – Bukidnon-Davao
• BXU – Butuan
• Calabarzon – Region; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon
• CAMANAVA – Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (northwestern Metro Manila)
• ComVal – Province of Compostela Valley
• CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region
• CEB – Cebu, either the province or the city
• CDO – Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao
• DVO – Davao Region
• EDSA – Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, a major circumferential road (C-4) in Metro Manila
• IGaCoS – Island Garden City of Samal
• ILO – Iloilo, either the province or the city
• LB – Los Baños, Laguna
• LP – Las Piñas
• LeySam – Leyte and Samar
• Luzviminda – Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao
• MARILAQUE – Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon
• Mimaropa – Region; Mindoro (Occidental & Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan
• MisOcc – Misamis Occidental
• MisOr – Misamis Oriental
• MUNTAPAT – Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros
• MUNTIPARLAS – Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas (southern Metro Manila)
• NCR – National Capital Region (Metro Manila)
• NIR – Negros Island Region
  • BCD – Bacolod
  • DGT – Dumaguete
  • NegOcc – Negros Occidental
  • NegOr – Negros Oriental
• QC – Quezon City
• SOCCSKSARGEN – Region; South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos
  • GenSan – General Santos
• VisMin – Visayas, Mindanao
• ZC – Zamboanga City

• BAYAN – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance)
• KAMPI – Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino
• KBL – Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
• Lakas-CMD – Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats
• LAMMP – Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (Struggle of the Patriotic Filipino Masses)
• LP – Liberal Party
• PROMDI – Probinsya Muna Development Initiative
• STAND-UP – Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP
• TNB – Tupa NG Betlahem
• UNIDO – United Nationalist Democratic Organization

• BDO – Banco De Oro
• CEPALCO – Cagayan Electric Power & Light Company
• ETT – Enlightened Touch Trading
• iBank – International Exchange Bank
• LEYECO – Leyte Electric Cooperative
• Meralco – Manila Electric Railway Company
• NAPOCOR – National Power Corporation
• PAL – Philippine Airlines
• PBCom – Philippine Bank of Communications
• Philtranco – Philippine Transportation Corporation
• Piltel – Pilipino Telephone
• PLDT – Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company
• PSBank – Philippine Savings Bank
• VECO – Visayan Electric Company

• ADC – Academia de Davao College
• ADDU – Ateneo de Davao University
• ADMU – Ateneo de Manila University
• ADNU – Ateneo de Naga University
• ADU – Adamson University
• ADZU – Ateneo de Zamboanga University
• AMACLC – AMA Computer Learning Center
• AMACU – AMA Computer University
• AmBriMed – American British Medical Skills Institution
• AU – Arellano University
• BatStateU – Batangas State University
• BHNHS – Batasan Hills National High School
• BU – Bicol University
• BulSU – Bulacan State University
• BCC – Binangonan Catholic College
• CC-OC – Columban College, Inc. Olongapo City
• CDGC – Child Development and Guidance Center
• CDW – College of Divine Wisdom
• CIS – Cebu International School
• CIT-U – Cebu Institute of Technology – University
• CMU – Central Mindanao University
• CSJL – Colegio de San Juan de Letran
• CvSU – Cavite State University
• DBC – Don Bosco College, Canlubang
• DBTC – Don Bosco Technical College
• DBTI – Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati
• DCenHS – Davao Central High School
• DCHS – Davao Christian High School
• DCNHS – Davao City National High School
• DLSU – De La Salle University
• DLS-CSB – De La Salle College of Saint Benilde
• DRANHS – Daniel R. Aguinaldo High School
• DWU – Divine Word University
• ESEP – Engineering and Science Education Program
• EVSU – Eastern Visayas State University
• FEU-FERN – Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation
• FS – Falcon School
• JRU – Jose Rizal University
• LNU – Leyte Normal University
• LPU – Lyceum of the Philippines University
• LSPU – Laguna State Polytechnic University
• MMFC – Mindanao Medical Foundation College
• MONSAY – Ramon Magsaysay High School
• NCST – National College of Science and Technology
• NCBA – National College of Business and Arts
• NDDU – Notre Dame of Dadiangas University
• NEU – New Era University
• NEUST – Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology
• Pisay – Philippine Science High School
• PLM – Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
• PLV – Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
• PLMUN – Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa
• PNC – Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
• PNHS – Plaridel National High School
• PUP – Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• RCC – Republic Central Colleges
• RSHS – Regional Science High School
• SCS – South Crest School
• SIC – Santa Isabel College
• SLU – Saint Louis University
• SMCM – St. Mary's College of Meycauayan
• SMCQC – Saint Mary's College of Quezon City
• SPC – St. Paul College (Makati, Pasig, Parañaque)
• STEFTI – St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban, Inc.
• TCU – Taguig City University
• TSU – Tarlac State University
• TUP – Technological University of the Philippines
• TIP – Technological Institute of the Philippines
• UE – University of the East
• UM – University of Mindanao
• UNEP – University of Northeastern Philippines
• UP – University of the Philippines
• UPLB – University of the Philippines, Los Baños
• UPHS-D – University of Perpetual Help System – Dalta
• UPHS-J – University of Perpetual Help System – Jonelta
• UPV – University of the Philippines Visayas
• UPVTC – University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College
• URS – University of Rizal System
• USANT – University of Saint Anthony
• USC – University of San Carlos
• USPF – University of Southern Philippines Foundation
• USeP – University of Southeastern Philippines
• USI – Universidad de Sta. Isabel
• UST – University of Santo Tomas
• UV – University of the Visayas
• VMUF – Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
• WMSU – Western Mindanao State University
• XU – Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan

• ABS-CBN – Alto Broadcasting System – Chronicle Broadcasting Network
• AP – Araling Panlipunan
• BLISS – Bagong Lipunan Improvement of Sites and Services
• FFA – Football Filipinas Association, Inc.
• GMA – Greater Manila Area; Global Media Arts
• HUKBALAHAP – Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (People's Army Against the Japanese)
• IBC – Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
• MILF – Moro Islamic Liberation Front
• MNLF – Moro National Liberation Front
• NPA – New People's Army
• MOA – Mall of Asia
• NAMFREL – National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections
• PTV – People's Television Network
• RPN – Radio Philippines Network
• PCAC – Presidential Complaints and Action Committee
• PEFTOK – Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea