Meaning of the word gat?

[g***@yahoo.com]

I've been doing some reading of the folklore of the Philippines and
have come across a word in reference to male characters in the stories;
the thing is the word is used for characters from gods to kings to
heroes to just average guys so I'm having a hard time figuring out
just what it means.

I've looked using different Tagalog dictionaries and such and have
been unable to find the meaning of the word and I was wondering if
anyone could tell me just what the word GAT, which is usually placed
before the proper name of the character, means?

Thanks

G

[b***@gmail.com]

According to the Tagalog-English dictionary by Leo James English:

Gat adj, title of nobility because of recognized greatness, similar to
"Don" of Sp. Accdg. to the late Dr. Jose Panganiban such ancestral
titles are traceable in present family names such as Gatdula,
Gatbonton, Gatsalian, etc. Today we sat Gat jose Rizal, Gat Andres
Bonifacio, Gat Apolinario Mabini, etc., for people of recognized
greatness.