Philippines(Country)English, French From Spanish Filipinas, which was derived from the given name Felipe, bestowed in honour of King Phillip II of Spain by the Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos, who originally used it only to refer to the islands of Leyte and Samar. It now refers to the entire archipelago and nation of the Philippines in southeastern Asia. In English it is usually referred to using the definite article, the.