This is an abbreviation of the Spanish word viuda, meaning “widow.”
The Tagalog transliteration is biyuda, but its the Spanish Vda. that has been used by older Filipino women in their names, in keeping with traditions from the colonial period.
For example, the founder of the Philippine soap company C.Y. Gabriel wrote her name as Crisanta Yanga Vda. de Gabriel after the death of her husband Mr. Gabriel. Her maiden name was Yanga. In the English style, she would have identified herself as Mrs. Crisanta Yanga-Gabriel.
Her mother, after whom she was named, wrote her name as Crisanta Santiago Vda. de Yanga — her maiden name was Santiago and her deceased husband’s surname was Yanga.
