Top 10 Cities of the Philippines

10. Malaybalay City Bukidnon

Malaybalay City, the capital and the first city of Bukidnon Province, is in Northern Mindanao. It is bounded on the east by the Pantaron Range separating Bukidnon from the Provinces of Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte, on the west by the municipality of Lantapan and Mount Kitanglad, on the north by the municipality of Impasug-ong and on the south by the city of Valencia and municipality of San Fernando. The whole eastern and southeastern border adjoining Agusan and Davao called Pantaron Range are elevated and densely forested mountains, which is the remaining forest blocks of Mindanao.

The city is a landlocked area, the nearest sea and airports are in Cagayan de Oro City, which is 91 kilometers away.

9. Dipolog City

is a 1st class city and the capital of the province of Zamboanga del Norte on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Geographically, the city is surrounded by rolling hills to the southeast and the Sulu Seato the north.

Dipolog is known for its wild orchids and its sardine industry which stems from the rich fishing area off its shores. It is known as the “Gateway to Western Mindanao” through the Western Nautical Highway[1] and has also been called the “Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines.”[2]

8. Baguio City

is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway. Baguio City was designated by the Philippine Commission as the Summer Capital of the Philippines on June 1, 1903 and incorporated as a city by the Philippine Assembly on September 1, 1909. Baguio is the seat of government of the Cordillera Administrative Region. The name of the city is derived from the word bagiw in Ibaloi, the indigenous language of the Benguet Region, meaning ‘moss’. The city is at an altitude of approximately 1500 meters (5100 ft) in the Luzon tropical pine forests ecoregion conducive to the growth of mossy plants and orchids. Baguio City has become the center of business and commerce as well as the center of education in the entire Northern Luzon.

According to the 2007 census, Baguio City has a population of 301,926.

The City of Baguio celebrated its Centennial on September 1, 2009. The celebrations marked the first 100 years of the Baguio City Charter, which was authored by former Philippines Supreme Court Justice George A. Malcolm. Baguio City is also the Ghost Capital of the Philippines.

7. General Santos City

is the southern most port city of the Republic of the Philippines. It is one of the most populous urban centers in the country with a population of 530,129 as per data of 2007 census.[1][2] GenSan is bounded by municipalities of Sarangani Province namely Alabel in the East of the city, and Maasim in the South. The city is likewise bounded by South Cotabato municipality of Polomolok and Sarangani Province municipality of Malungon in the North, and the municipality of T’boli in the West of the city. General Santos City is a component of province South Cotabato

6. Cagayan de Oro City

officially the City of Cagayan de Oro, is the provincial capital city of the province of Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. It lies along the northern coastline of the island of Mindanaoin the country’s south.

Dubbed locally as the “City of Golden Friendship” (Dakbayan sa Bulawanong Panaghigala-ay in Cebuano language, as the phrase appears on the city’s seal) for the camaraderie and hospitality that are inherent and traditional traits of its people.

A growing metropolis classified as a first-class city, Cagayan de Oro serves as the regional center being the most populous highly-urbanized city in Northern Mindanao (Region X) noted for its accessibility, business growth, and tourism attractions. According to the 2007 Census, the city has an estimated population of 553,996 inhabitants.

Cagayan de Oro is considered as a melting pot in Mindanao. The name Cagayan de Oro may appear abbreviated as CDO, CDOC, CdeO or Cag. de Oro.

5. Zamboanga City

It is the former capital of Moro Province now Mindanao Island (1903 to 1913) in the Philippines. On September 15, 1911, the Municipalidad de Zamboanga was converted into a Ciudad by the legislative order Act. No.272.It is known as CIUDAD LATINA DE ASIA in ZamboangueƱo Language or in English Language Asia’s Latin City for its strong Hispanic/Latin influence.

Currently, Ciudad de Zamboanga is one of the primary hubs in the Philippines, being the premier city in Zamboanga Peninsula Region in terms of commerce, trade, health services, financial institutions and education

4. Davao City

is the largest city on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airportand seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines.

Davao City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. The city serves as the regional center for Davao Region (Region XI). It has a population of 1,464,301 (2010 census), making it the country’s third largest city, and is named by the Foreign Direct Investment Magazine as the 10th “Asian City of the Future”. In recent years, Davao City has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The city has good beaches and mountain resorts, and is close to diving spots and the highest peak in the Philippines, Mount Apo.It is awarded by the Department of Tourism as the Most Livable City in the Philippines in 2008.

3. Manila City

the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities comprising Metro Manila.

Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast, and Pasay to the south.

Manila has a total population of more than 1,660,714 according to the 2007 census. Manila is the second most populous city in the Philippines behind Quezon City. The populace inhabit an area of only 38.55 square kilometers, making Manila the most densely populated city in the world.[5] Metro Manila is the most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines and the 11th in the world with an estimated population of 16,300,000. The greater urban area is the fifth-largest in the world and has an estimated metropolitan population of 20,654,307 people

2. Makati City

Makati is noted for its highly cosmopolitan culture, also being a major cultural and entertainment hub in Metro Manila. Many expatriates live and work in the city. Makati is home to many first-class shopping malls, such as Ayala Center and Rockwell Center, top hotels like The Peninsula Manila, the Shangri-La Hotel Makati and the Intercontinental Hotel Manila, and the tallest buildings in the Philippines like PBCom Tower, G.T. International Tower. The city is the economic capital of the Philippines and also faces challenges due to the gap between the new city in the west, which contains the Central Business District, and the old city in the east, which is largely poor and where most of the slums are located.

1. Cebu City

is the capital city of Cebu and the second city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centrein the Philippines and known as the oldest city established by the Spaniards in the country.

The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. Cebu is the Philippines’ main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country’s domestic shipping companies. Cebu also holds the second largest international flights in the Philippines and is a significant centre of commerce, trade and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao region. According to the 2009 LGPMS census, the city has a population of about 822,628 people.