original_query: What is the significance of the title "Datu" in the Philippine archipelago?
query: What is the significance of the title "Datu" in the Philippine archipelago?
answer: The title "Datu" signifies a ruler, chief, or monarch of various indigenous Philippine groups.  Its significance varied across regions and time periods, ranging from paramount leader in large polities to head of a smaller barangay.  While often hereditary, a Datu's power depended on factors like war prowess, leadership, and wealth. The title held social prestige comparable to European nobles and continues to be used today, albeit with legal distinctions from pre-colonial times.