List of recorded datu in the Philippines

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (January 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Pre-colonial history of the Philippines
Barangay government
Ruling class (Maginoo, Tumao): Apo, Datu, Lakan, Panglima, Rajah, Sultan, Thimuay
Middle class: Timawa, Maharlika
Serfs, commoners and slaves (Alipin): Aliping namamahay, Alipin sa gigilid, Bulisik, Bulislis, Horohan, Uripon
States in Luzon
Caboloan
Cainta
Ibalon
Ma-i
Rajahnate of Maynila
Namayan
Tondo
States in the Visayas
Kedatuan of Madja-as
Kedatuan of Dapitan
Rajahnate of Cebu
States in Mindanao
Rajahnate of Butuan
Sultanate of Sulu
Sultanate of Maguindanao
Sultanates of Lanao
Key figures
Jayadewa Dayang Kalangitan Ache Agustin de Legazpi Dimasangcay Adel Gat Pangil Gugu Sarikula Lakandula Laut Buisan Lontok Magat Salamat Regimo Diraja Salalila Sasaban Sulayman III Kamal ud-Din Katuna Tarik Sulayman Tupas Urduja Kabungsuwan Kudarat Humabon Lapulapu Alimuddin I Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram
The book of Maragtas
Religion in pre-colonial Philippines
History of the Philippines
Portal: Philippines
view talk

Part of a series on the
History of the Philippines
show Prehistory (pre–900) Callao and Tabon peoples Austronesian expansion Angono Petroglyphs Lal-lo and Gattaran Shell Middens Jade culture Sa Huỳnh culture Ancient barangays Events/Artifacts Balangay Grave goods Manunggul Jar Prehistoric beads Kalanay Cave Maitum anthropomorphic pottery
show Precolonial period (900–1565) Historically documented city-states/polities (North to South) Caboloan Tondo Namayan Maynila Ma-i Madja-as Cebu Butuan Sultanate of Maguindanao Lanao confederacy Sultanate of Sulu Events/Artifacts Maragtas Laguna Copperplate Inscription Butuan Ivory Seal Limestone tombs of Kamhantik Batanes citadels Agusan image Monreal Stones Butuan Silver Paleograph
show Spanish period (1565–1898) Magellan's circumnavigation Battle of Mactan Voyage of Miguel López de Legazpi Spanish capture of Manila New Spain Spanish East Indies Captaincy General Manila galleon Revolts and uprisings Spanish–Moro conflict British invasion Propaganda Movement 1872 Cavite mutiny La Liga Filipina Katipunan Cry of Pugad Lawin Philippine Revolution Tejeros Convention Republic of Biak-na-Bato Spanish–American War Battle of Manila Bay Declaration of Independence American capture of Manila Malolos Congress First Republic Philippine–American War
show American period (1898-1946) Tagalog Republic Negros Republic Moro Rebellion Insular Government Jones Law Tydings–McDuffie Act Commonwealth Japanese occupation Battle of Bataan Battle of Corregidor Second Republic Battle of Leyte Gulf Philippines campaign
show Post-independence (1946-1965) Treaty of Manila Hukbalahap Rebellion Filipino First policy
show Under Marcos (1965-1986) Communist rebellion Moro conflict People Power Revolution
show Contemporary (1986–present) 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo 1997 Asian financial crisis 2000 campaign against the MILF Second EDSA Revolution EDSA III Oakwood mutiny Typhoon Yolanda Philippine drug war COVID-19 pandemic
show By topic Ancient religions Rulers Queen consorts Economic Military Political Communications
Timeline
Archaeology
Philippines portal
v t

The datu have ruled over portions of the islands that are now the Philippines before Spanish colonization in the 16th century. This article lists the pre-colonial leaders of individual kingdoms and polities in Philippine history.

Tondo Empire[]

Name	Image	Title held	From	Until
Sang pamegat senāpati di Tundun (Unnamed Senapati of Tondo), represented by Hwan Nāyaka Jayadewa of Pailah in the LCI		Lord Minister of Pailah	c.900	?
Timamanukum		Lakan Timamanukum	1150?	?
Alon		Lakan Alon	1200?	?
Gambang		Lakan Gambang	1390?	1417?
Suko		Lakan Suko	1417?	1430?
Lontok		Rajah Lontok	1430?	1450?
Kalangitan		Dayang Kaylangitan, Queen of Namayan and Tondo	1450?	1515?
Lakandula		Banaw Lakandula, King of Tondo and Sabag	1521?	1571
Agustin de Legazpi		Don Agustin de Legazpi, Last native paramount ruler of Tondo	1575	1588

The Datus of Madja-as[]

Rulers of Maynila[]

Name	Image	Title held	From	Until
Salalila		Rajah Salalila or Rajah Sulayman I	1500?
Matanda		Rajah Matanda or Rajahmuda (Prince) Ache	c.1500	1571
Sulayman		Rajah Sulayman III	1571	1585

Monarchs of the Butuan Kingdom[]

Rajas of Cebu[]

Sultans of Maguindanao[]

The Sultans of Sulu (1405–present)[]

Sultans	Image	From	Until
Sharif ul-Hashim of Sulu		1480	1505
Sultan Kamalud-Din		1505	1527
Sultan Amirul-Umara		1893	1899
Jamal ul-Kiram I		1893	1899
Mahakuttah Kiram		1974	1986
Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram		1986

Datus in the Maragtas epic[]

• Datu Kalantiaw III /Rajah Bendahara Kalantiaw, according to the local oral tradition of Panay, is said to have enacted a body of laws, which is now called the Code of Kalantiaw in 1433.
• Datu Puti – One of the 10 Bornean Datus to arrive in Iloilo before the Spanish colonization.
• Datu Sumakwel – Leader of the 10 Bornean Datus. He settled in Antique.
• Datu Bangkaya
• Datu Paiburong
• Datu Marikudo – the Ati (Aeta) Datu of Panay, from whom the 10 Bornean Datus purchased the lowlands of the Island, in exchange for a golden Salakot (Bulawan nga Saduk), and a long pearl necklace that could touch the ground (Manangyad).

Datus during the Spanish colonization[]

• Rajah Kolambu – King of Limasawa in 1521, brother of Rajah Siagu of Butuan. He befriended Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and guided him to Cebu on April 7, 1521.
• Rajah Humabon – King of Cebu who became an ally of Ferdinand Magellan and the Spaniards. Rival of Datu Lapu-Lapu. In 1521, he and his wife were baptized as Christians and given Christian names Carlos and Juana after the Spanish royalty, King Carlos and Queen Juana.
• Sultan Kudarat – Sultan of Maguindanao.
• Lakandula – King of Tondo, one of the last princes of Manila.
• Datu Lapulapu – King of Mactan Island. He defeated the Spaniards on April 27, 1521.
• Datu Sikatuna – King of Bohol in 1565. He made a blood compact with Spanish explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi.
• Datu Pagbuaya – King of Bohol. He governed with his brother Datu Dailisan, a settlement along the shorelines between Mansasa, Tagbilaran and Dauis, which was abandoned years before the Spanish colonization due to Portuguese and Ternatean attacks. He founded Dapitan in the northern shore of Mindanao.
• Datu Dailisan – King of Mansasa, Tagbilaran and Dauis and governed their kingdom along with his brother Datu Pagbuaya. His death during one of the Portuguese raids caused the abandonment of the settlement.
• Datu Manooc – baptized as Pedro Manuel Manooc, son of Datu Pagbuaya who converted to Christianity, defeated the Higaonon tribe in Iligan, Mindanao. He established one of the first Christian settlements in the country.
• Datu Macabulos – King of Pampanga in 1571.
• Rajah Siagu – King of the Manobo in 1521.
• Apo Noan – Chieftain of Mandani (present day Mandaue) in 1521.
• Apo Macarere – Famous Chieftain of the Tagbanwa warrior tribe in Corong Island (Calis).
• Rajah Sulaiman III – One of the last King of Manila, was defeated by Martín de Goiti, a Spanish soldier commissioned by López de Legazpi to Manila.
• Rajah Tupas – King of Cebu, conquered by Miguel López de Legazpi.
• Datu Urduja – Female Leader in Pangasinan.
• Datu Zula – Chieftain of Mactan, Cebu. Rival of Lapu-lapu
• Datu Kalun – born Pedro Cuevas Javiér on May 6, 1845 from Bacoor, Cavite. Ruler of the Island of the Basilan and the Yakans in Mindanao, defeated the real Datu Kalun after a Yakan-Chavacano confrontation, assumed the title and converted his line to Catholicism. Founder of Lamitan City.
• Datu Sanday – Ruler of Marawi City
• Datu Saiden Borero – King of Antique
• unnamed Datu – King of Taytay Palawan. Mentioned by Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan. The king, together with his wife were kidnapped by the remnant troops from Magellan's fleet after fleeing Cebu to secure provisions for their crossing to the Moluccas.
• Datu Cabaylo (Cabailo) – The last king of the Kingdom of Taytay
• Datu Piang - the most prominent datu of Cotabato during the late Spanish period up to the American era. He is also the first Governor of Cotabato.

Present day Datus in Mindanao[]

1. Muslim Datus in Mindanao[]

In some indigenous Lumad and Muslim societies in Mindanao, titular Datus of ancient royal and noble families still exist. Some of them are active government officials of the Republic of the Philippines, while continuing their cultural and tribal roles as community leaders of their people. Some, although do not have official duties in the Republic, exercise some leadership roles in their tribes. Still others are claimants to these titles. Some of these present day Datus are:

• Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. – Present datu and one of the most infamous among datus, because he is the culprit of Maguindanao Massacre.
• Datu – Present day datu and governor of Sultan Kudarat (2001–2004)
• Datu Zaldy Ampatuan – Regional Governor, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
• Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan – Undersecretary, "Department of Energy"
• Datu also known as – born in 1995, was the next in line to the datus. He is the successor of Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr..
• The Sultanate of Sulu has had succession of titular Sultans^[1] during the past decades: Mohammad Jamalulul Kiram III (1984–1990);^[2][3] Mohammad Akijal Atti (1990–1999), who was to self-proclaimed Sultan Mohammad Jamalulul Kiram III before he assumed the title as self-proclaimed titular Sultan;^[4][5][6] However at present, the legitimate ruling house of the Sultanate of Sulu (Cf. Royal Sultanate of Sulu), states Raja Muda Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram of Sulu is the legitimate head and Sultan of Sulu. Datu Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram was crowned in 1974 as Raja Muda ( Crown Prince) through an official Memorandum Order N. 427, issued by Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos.^[7][8] He was crowned beside his father, Sultan Moh. Mahakuttah A. Kiram, the last Philippine Government recognised Sultan of Sulu.^[9] Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram is the last Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Sulu to receive official recognition from a Philippine President.^[10][11]
• The Sultanate of Maguindanao has an incumbent titular Sultan, Hajji Datu Amir bin Muhammad Baraguir – the 25th Sultan of Maguindanao.Son of Al-Marhum Sultan Hajji Datu Muhammad G.M. Baraguir, Llb. the 24th Sultan of Maguindanao^[12]
• The Maranaos have sixteen royal houses who rule the four principalities in what is referred to as the Confederation of Sultanates in Lanao.

2. Lumad Datus in Mindanao[]

A 1926 photograph of Bagobo (Manobo) warriors in full war regalia. The Bagobo tribe is one of the Lumad tribes in Mindanao.

• Datu Benhur – Lumad leader of the Banuaon tribe^[13]
• Datu Viloso Suhat, also known as Datu Lipatuan – a tribal leader from the Tinananon Menuvo tribe in Arakan, North Cotabato, and the first Lumad to sit in a local legislative body in central Mindanao.^[14]
• Datu Lamparan Talima Danda – the tribal chief from Subanen tribe, and a second generation descendant of Timuay Danda Antanao from Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay. Elected Mayor of Kabasalan, serving from 1961 to 1964. He was the Secretary General of United Subanen Community Association Inc.
• Datu Wata Eduardo Lihao Danda- a tribal leader in charge of the communications for the entire Subanen Tribe. He functioned under Datu Lamparan Lihao Danda, his elder brother. He was enlisted into United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) during World War II, attach to the Medical Detachment of 106th Infantry (Filipino) Division with rank of Corporal, and captured by the Japanese in May 1942. Datu Wata Eduardo was imprisoned in Camp 78 in Davao, escaped the same year and re-joined with US Army 41st Division. After the liberation of the Philippines from Imperial Japanese forces, he reenlisted to the Philippine Constabulary and retired in 1972. He served as the Secretary General of United Subanen Community Association, Inc. in Zamboanga Sibugay, succeeding his elder brother.
• Datu Labi José Lihao Cayon – a tribal chief of the Subanen tribe and the 1st cousin of Datu Wata Eduardo Lihao Danda and Datu Lamparan Lihao Danda
• Datu Labi Julius Mascarinas Cayon – board member of Zamboanga Sibugay Province And the Son of late Datu Labi JoseLihao Cayon, he is recognized as the Tribal Chieftain not just in Zamboanga Sibugay but entire Region 9 and partly in Region 10. "NCIP" - national commission on indigenous people, record section.
• Datu Lumok Imbing – 2nd cousin of Datu Laparam Talima Danda and a tribal leader from Subanen Tribe, who leads the aborigins of the Municipality of Lapuyan, Zamboanga Del Sur Province.
• Datu Wilborne Sanghanan Danda – a board member of Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga Sibugay (2000–2013), Elected Vice Mayor of Municipality of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay from year 2010–2013, He is the son of Datu Lamparan Talima Danda.
• Datu Langhap Dacanay – he is the 2nd generation of the royal blood stream and a 3rd degree relative of Datu Wilborn Sanghanan Danda
• Bae Sonita Manda Ryde – the 1st highest women handle the position she was proclaimed by former President Gloria Arroyo and she is in the 2nd generation royal blood stream a relative of Datu Lamparan T. Danda, Datu Wata Eduardo Lihao Danda and Datu Labi Jose Lihao Cayon
• Datu Wilfredo Lunsayan Sunggayan – 1st Indigenous Peoples representative in local legislative councils in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay an none blood stream ordained appointed as Datu for Subanen political affair from the provincial down to the barangay level pursuant to RA 8371.

Other Present day Datus in Ancestral Domains under IPRA Law[]

• Apo Dr. Pio Lledo – Tagbanwa Tribal Chieftain of Calauit Is. Ancestral Domain^[15]
• Apo Rodolfo Aguilar – Tagbanwa Paramount Tribal Chieftain of Coron Is. Ancestral Domain^[16]

See also[]

References[]