Dani Barretto clarifies ‘utang na loob’ remark anew: Stop twisting my words

Dani Barretto. Image: Instagram/@danibarretto

Dani Barretto once again clarified her sentiment about children giving back to their parents, as she stressed that some use the term “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude) as a “weapon” to get what they want.

On Facebook last Saturday, April 6, Barretto explained that not all parents guilt-trip their children into submitting to their desires or needs, as she pointed out that “some media outlets” twisted her words.

This comes after the internet personality pointed out on her “Bare It All” podcast on March 29 that it’s “unfair” for some parents to obligate their children to be generous to them — instead of them to “not love their parents” in general.

“I don’t understand why something so simple and came from a place of love and concern blew out of proportion. But I guess that’s just how the world works nowadays. This is to address the ‘utang na loob’ statement that was posted on the Bare It All Tiktok Page, and some media & news outlets,” she said.

Image: Facebook/Dani Barretto

Barretto explained that she meant to address “one group of people” in her statement, saying children give back to their parents “naturally” out of love, not because they were forced into doing so.

“I was only addressing one group of people on that statement, which is the Filipino parents who guilt-trips, force, sinusumbatan mga anak nila, obligate and require their children to provide for them and use the word ‘utang na loob’ as a weapon to get what they want. Not the word utang na loob in general,” she said.

“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 further added. (I never said to not practice a debt of gratitude to your parents. I never said you shouldn’t take care of them.)

The internet personality also underscored that she was meant to use “utang na loob” as a way for parents to be aware of their responsibilities to their children, and not for children to stop showing gratitude to them.

“Ang point ko lang po is that I think its unfair na gamitin ang word na utang loob sa isang bagay na dapat naman talaga ibigay or i-provide ng bawa’t magulang para sa mga anak nila,” she said. “Ang pagtanaw ng utang na loob comes naturally to people, para saakin hindi mo dapat yun pinipilit or sinusumbat. Kusa po yun binibigay dahil mahal po natin ang mga magulang natin.”

(My point is that I think it’s unfair to use the word “utang na loob” towards something that parents should give or provide to their children. Practicing “utang na loob” comes naturally to people. It shouldn’t be forced or demanded. It is given because we love our parents.)

In her post, Barretto also reminded netizens to “try to watch” her podcast episode “Toxic Filipino Culture: Utang na loob sa magulang” properly to understand where she’s coming from.

“Please stop twisting my words,” she said. “I will never tell people to not love their parents, and not give back or take care of them. I love my mother more than my life, and I will spend the rest of my life giving back to her and spoiling her.”

Barretto is the eldest daughter of actors Marjorie Barretto and Kier Legaspi. She tied the knot with Xavi Panlilio in April 2019 and they have one daughter, Millie.