Dani Barretto is firm in her opinions about utang na loob culture between Filipino parents and their children. This comes a week after her comments on The Bare It All Podcast made rounds on social media, garnering supportive comments and backlash. Dani clarifies her statements, showing understanding but staying true to her beliefs.
Dani Barretto Stands Behind Her Opinions On Utang Na Loob
Dani Calls For Understanding And To “Stop Twisting My Words”
Dani took to her Facebook and TikTok accounts to re-iterate that her comments regarding utang na loob are aimed towards “Filipino parents who guilt trips, forces, sinusumbatan mga anak nila, obligates and requires their children to provide for them and uses the word UTANG NA LOOB as a weapon to get what they want.”
The social media personality doesn’t find anything wrong with utang na loob, a Filipino trait that entails gratefulness and giving back to those who have helped you. “Never ko po sinabi na wag kayo magtanaw ng utang na loob sa mga magulang niyo, never ko din sinabi na wag niyo sila alagaan.”
She urges everyone to listen to the entire podcast episode to understand her statements' context. “Please stop twisting my words. Try to watch the episode first before you judge me and my character.”
Dani Says “Giving Back Should Be Voluntary, Not Obligatory”
On March 29, Dani published episode 19 of The Bare It All Podcast entitled “The Difference of Utang Na Loob & Giving Back” on Spotify. In it, Dani and guest content creator Chardie B. got into a conversation about how utang na loob is used in a toxic scenario, especially by some parents to justify why they lean on their children for support.
A particular sound bite trended on social media in which Dani says, “Hindi ka dapat magkaroon ng utang na loob para sa isang bagay na dapat nilang gawin para sa’yo. The other things, maybe. Like, let’s say they sacrificied this to be able to give you this life. I get na utang na loob na factor. But there are some people who uses that against some people. ‘Pina-aral kita, pina-ganito kita, ganyan-ganyan so dapati ito yung binibigay mo sa akin.’”
Shortly after, Dani posted on her podcast’s TikTok page. She explained how it is not wrong for children to be grateful for their parents and what they have done, but it is problematic when parents start demanding from their children in the guise of utang na loob.
“I never said na never kayong magi-give back sa pamilya nyo, na wag nyong susuportahan yung pamilya nyo, or wag kayong maging mabuting anak at i-spoil sila. Ang point po nung video na yun is, ang opinyon ko po, is that giving back should be voluntary, not obligatory,” Dani said in the video.
