Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos, during his expedition in 1542, named the islands of Leyte and Samar "''''" after Philip II of Spain, then the Prince of Asturias. Eventually the name "''''" would be used to cover the archipelago's Spanish possessions. Before Spanish rule was established, other names such as '''' (Islands of the West) and Magellan's name for the islands, '''', were also used by the Spanish to refer to islands in the region.