Acronyms in the Philippines

Acronyms are very popular in the Philippines.

Pedantic discussions on the differences between abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms is non-existent since for most Filipinos, all are acronyms whether or not the acronym is spelled out or spoken like a word.

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, 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. During the late 1990s, these Southern Tagalog provinces were targeted for development due to their proximity to Metro Manila. A descriptive name for these provinces might have been Greater Manila Development Area, but legislators and policy makers decided on the CALABARZON acronym. This name was still used when Southern Tagalog was split into two regions in 2001. The region containing the remaining provinces in Southern Tagalog was also named as an acronym, MIMAROPA, which stands for the provinces: Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental), Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

Another example is CAMANAVA. CAMANAVA stands for Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas, and Valenzuela City—all located in Metro Manila. The name was created to refer to the poorest, most densely-populated areas, and flood-prone areas in the metropolis. A descriptive name, if an acronym was not chosen, would be Northwestern Metro Manila.

Acronyms are not only prevalent in geography. Almost all government agencies and institutions, virtually every political party, most TV stations, many companies, and a large percentage of educational institutions are often referred to by their acronyms. In addition hundreds of non-governmental organizations, student organizations, cooperatives, and foundations are also named with acronyms in mind. Many times, the acronym is first chosen before creating a phrase that will fit that acronym.

Most banks in the country are more known by their acronyms, to the point that people no longer can recall what the acronym stands for. The Bank of the Philippine Islands, the largest and oldest bank in the Philippines, is known as BPI. Other banks include Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

Acronyms also abound in educational institutions. The top four universities in the country, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas are more known by their acronyms: ADMU, DLSU, UP, and UST respectively (although DLSU and ADMU are also known simply as La Salle and Ateneo). Other universities that are more known by their acronyms include St. Louis University (SLU), Centro Escolar University (CEU), National University (NU), Far Eastern University (FEU), and University of the East (UE). Mapua Institute of Technology, while usually known simply as Mapua is also referred to as MIT, which the institution uses as a subtle way to say that the Mapua is comparable to the MIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Many business owners also use acronyms in their company names. The name of the popular clothing company, Bench, is actually an acronym for the company's president, Ben Chan. The AMA chain of computer schools derives its name from the initials of the company's founder: Amable M. Aguiluz.

Acronyms are often used in product advertisements. The number one beer in the country, San Miguel Beer, is frequently known as SMB. In a recent blitz of TV commercials, San Miguel Corporation (itself known as SMC) marketed their beer by creating slogans whose acronyms are SMB. Examples include Sarap mag-beer (It's fun to drink beer) and Sarap maging barkada (It's fun to have friends).

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 CHAMPP. The slogan is an acronym that stands for the names of the 13 senator candidates fielded by PPC.

Acronyms are even used to name TV shows. Popular noontime variety shows like SOP and ASAP have appropriated common acronyms as the name of the TV show. Other shows that are also referred to by their acronyms are Magandang Gabi Bayan (MGB), Magandang Tanghali Bayan (MTB), and the defunct Alas Singko Y Medya (ASYM).

Contents

1 List of Philippine acronyms 1.1 People 1.2 Geography 1.3 Government 1.4 Political Parties 1.5 Companies and Commerce 1.6 Educational Institutions 1.7 Miscellaneous

List of Philippine acronyms

People GMA* - Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines FVR* - Fidel V. Ramos, former President of the Philippines Gomburza - Filipino priests Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, martyrs of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny FPJ* - Fernando Poe, Jr., popular actor BF* - Bayani Fernando, former mayor of Marikina City, current chair of the MMDA JAZA - Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, entrepreneur, CEO of the successful Ayala Corporation JG - John Gokongwei, entrepreneur, owner of the JG Summit Corporation AMA - Amable M. Aguiluz, entrepreneur, owner of the AMA Computer School chain Geography ARMM* - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao BUDA - Bukidnon-Davao CAR - Cordillera Administrative Region CALABARZON - Region; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon CAMANAVA - Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas, Valenzuela City (northwestern Metro Manila) CDO* - Cagayan de Oro, city ComVal - Compostela Valley, province GenSan - General Santos City GMA* - Greater Manila Area IC - Iligan City IGaCoS - Island Garden City of Samal LP* - Las Piñas City Luzviminda - Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao MIMAROPA - Region; Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan MM - Metro Manila MUNTIPARLAS - Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City (southern Metro Manila) MUNTAPAT - Muntinlupa City, Taguig, Pateros (southeastern Metro Manila) NCR - National Capital Region (Metro Manila) NegOr - Negros Oriental, province QC* - Quezon City SJDM* - San Jose del Monte, Bulacan SOCCSKSARGEN - Region; South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City Government AFP* - Armed Forces of the Philippines ATO* - Air Transportation Office BFAD - Bureau of Food and Drugs BIR* - Bureau of Internal Revenue BSP* - Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) CCP* - Cultural Center of the Philippines CHED - Commission on Higher Education COA - COmmission on Audit COMELEC - Commission on Elections DAR - Department of Agrarian Reform DBM* - Department of Budget and Management DECS - Department of Education Culture and Sports DENR* - Department of Environment and Natural Resources DepEd - Department of Educations DFA* - Department of Foreign Affairs DILG* - Department of Interior and Local Government DND* - Department of National Defense DOF* - Department of Finance DOH* - Department of Health DOJ* - Department of Justice DOST* - Department of Science and Technology DOST-SEI - DOST-Science Education Institute DOST-TAPI - DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute DOT* - Department of Tourism DOTC* - Department of Transportation and Communications DPWH* - Department of Public Works and Highways DSWD* - Department of Social Welfare and Development DTI* - Department of Trade and Industry ERC* - Energy Regulatory Commission GSIS* - Government Service Insurance System HLURB* - Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board HUDCC* - Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council ITECC* - Information Technology and E-Commerce Council LTFRB* - Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board LTO* - Land Transportation Office MMDA* - Metro Manila Development Authority MWSS* - Manila Water and Sewerage Services NAMRIA - National Mapping and Resource Information Authority NAPOCOR - National Power Corporation NBI* - National Bureau of Investigation NBN 4* - National Broadcasting Network Channel 4; government-owned TV station NCCA* - National Commission for Culture and the Arts NDCC* - National Disaster Coordinating Council NEDA - National Economic and Development Authority NSO* - National Statistics Office NTC* - National Telecommunications Commission PAGASA - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration POC* - Philippine Olympic Committee PSC* - Philippine Sports Commission PAOCTF** - Presidential Anti Organized Crime Task Force PCGG* - Presidential Commission on Good Government PCSO* - Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Phivolcs - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology PNP* - Philippine National Police POEA* - Philippine Overseas Employment Administration PRC* - Professional Regulatory Commission SEC* - Securities and Exchange Commission SSS* - Social Security Systems TESDA - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Political Parties BAYAN - Bagong Alyansang Makabayan CPP* - Communist Party of the Philippines CPP-NPA* - Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army LAMMP - Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (Struggle of the Patriotic Filipino Masses) LDP* - Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino LP* - Liberal Party NPC* - Nationalist People's Coalition PMP - Partido ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Filipino Masses) PPC* - People Power Coalition PRP* - People's Reform Party STAND-UP - Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP

Companies and Commerce ABC 5* - Media company; stands for Associated Broadcasting Company Channel 5 ABS-CBN 2* - Media company (primarily in television); stood for Alto Broadcasting Corporation - Chronicle Broadcasting Network Channel 2 BF* - Banco Filipino BPI* - Bank of the Philippine Islands DBP* - Development Bank of the Philippines EPCIB* - Equitable PCI Bank;(PCIB stood for Philippine Commercial International Bank before merging with Equitable Bank) GMA Network 7* - TV media company; stood for Greater Manila Area Channell 7 IBC 13* - TV media company; stands for Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation Channel 13 LBC* - Luzon Brokerage Company Meralco - Manila Electric Company NAPOCOR - National Power Corporation NSC - National Steel Corporation PAL - Philippine Airlines PCX* - PC Express PLDT* - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company PNB* - Philippine National Bank PSE* - Philippine Stock Exchange RCBC* - Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation RPN 9* - TV media company; stood for Radio Philippines Network channel 9 SBC* - Security Bank Corporation SM* - Shoemart, the number one chain of shopping malls SMC* - San Miguel Corporation UCPB* - United Coconut Planter's Bank YGC* - Yuchengco Group of Companies Educational Institutions ADMU* - Ateneo de Manila University ADNU* - Ateneo de Naga University AdU* - Adamson University AIM* - Asian Institute of Management AUP - Adventist University of the Philippines BSU* - Batangas State University BU* - Bicol University BSU* - Bulacan State University CCP* - Central Colleges of the Philippines CEU* - Centro Escolar University CRC* - Center for Research and Communications, now UA&P (see below) CSB* - College of St. Benilde CSJL* - Colegio de San Juan de Letran DBTC* - Don Bosco Technical College DLSU* - De La Salle University DLSZ* - De La Salle Zobel FEU* - Far Eastern University ICA* - International Christian Academy JRU* - Jose Rizal University LSGH* - La Salle Greenhills MaSci - Manila Science High School MIT* - Mapua Institute of Technology MLQU* - Manuel L. Quezon University MSU* - Mindanao State University MSU-IIT* - Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology MVC - Mountain View College (Bukidnon) NCBA* - National College of Business Administration (Philippines) NU* - National University PCU* - Philippine Christian University Pisay* - Philippine Science High School PLM* - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila PMA* - Philippine Military Academy PNU* - Philippine Normal University PSBA* - Philippine School of Business Administration PUP* - Polytechnic University of the Philippines PWU* - Philippine Women's University SBC* - San Beda College SLU* - St. Louis University SPC* - St. Paul College SSCR* - San Sebastian College Recoletos TIP* - Technological Institute of the Philippines TUP* - Technological University of the Philippines UA&P* - University of Asia and the Pacific UNO-R* - University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos UP* - University of the Philippines UPD* - University of the Philippines, Diliman UPLB* - University of the Philippines, Los Baños UPM* - University of the Philippines, Manila UPMin** - University of the Philippines, Mindanao UPOU** - University of the Philippines, Open University UPHR* - University of Perpetual Help Rizal UPV* - University of the Philippines, Visayas UE* - University of the East USC* - University of San Carlos USLS* - University of St. La Salle UST* - University of Santo Tomas Miscellaneous ASYM* - Alas Singko Y Medya, defunct morning TV show ATC* - Alabang Town Center, a first-class shopping mall in Muntinlupa City NAMFREL - National Movement for Free Elections Hukbalahap - Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (People's Army Against the Japanese) MBA* - Metropolitan Basketball Association MGB* - Magandang Gabi Bayan (Good Evening People), documentary news TV show MMFF* - Metro Manila Film Festival MTB* - Magandang Tanghali Bayan (Good Afternoon People), noontime variety TV show MUB* - Magandang Umaga Bayan (Good Morning People), morning show that replaced ASYM PBA* - Philippine Basketball Association PGH* - Philippine General Hospital RAM - Reformed Armed Forces Movement SMB* - San Miguel Beer SWS* - Social Weather Stations UERMMC* - University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center