Dani Barretto clarifies viral 'utang na loob' statement on Filipino families: 'Please stop twisting my words'

Dani Barretto has set the record straight regarding her viral "utang na loob" statement, saying that she just used the term to address a certain kind of Filipino parent who "obligates and requires" their children to provide for them.

"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," Dani began her statement on Facebook.

She continued, "I was only addressing one group of people on that statement, which is the 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. Not the word utang na loob in general."

To her defense 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. 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 explained.

The 31-year-old celebrity mom enumerated some expected things parents should provide their children, such as "food, schooling, and a roof over their heads." She also implied that utang na loob comes naturally to people and, hence, should not be imposed.

"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 nation."

Dani ended her statement by asking the public to stop twisting her words and watch the whole episode first before judging her character.

"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," she concluded.

'Giving back should be voluntary, not obligatory'

The statement came to light after the eldest daughter of Marjorie Barretto and Kier Legaspi discouraged the "toxic" culture among Filipinos on her Bare It All podcast episode titled "The Difference Between Utang na Loob and Giving Back" which was posted on Spotify. In the said episode, Dani implied that children are not obligated to give back to their parents for raising them by elaborating on the subject she believes should no longer be observed.

"Hindi ka pwedeng magkaroon ng utang na loob sa isang bagay na dapat nilang gawin para sa’yo. The other things maybe, like maybe they sacrificed this to be able to give you this life—I get na utang na loob na fact ‘yon," Dani said during that time.

Dani also published a follow-up TikTok video clarifying her statements after the podcast episode.

"I never said na huwag kayong mag-give back sa pamilya niyo, na huwag niyong susuportahan 'yung pamilya niyo, or huwag kayong maging mabuting anak... I never said that," Dani said.

"Ang opinion ko po is giving back should be voluntary, not obligatory. 'Yun lang po ang opinion ko," she continued. "Because mayroon pa rin pong toxic Filipino culture dito sa ating bansa na inoobliga o nire-require nila ‘yung mga anak nila suportahan sila, buhayin sila dahil sinusumbat nila sa mga anak nila na pinaaral sila, pinakain sila, they put a roof over their heads."

She believes it to be "unfair" for parents to resort to this scolding as their children have their own lives and families to support when they grow older.

"You wanna give back out of love, hindi dahil sinumbat nila sa’yo lahat 'yung buong childhood mo or 'yung buong pagkatao mo kaya mo sila binibigyan ng ganun. Kaya mo sila sinusuportahan," Dani said.

She stressed that she has nothing against those who support their families, saying, "I respect you, I respect your hustle, I respect your hard work and the way you take care of your parents."

Dani is a mom to her four-year-old daughter Camilla Marguerite, also known as Millie. She gave birth to the latter five months after she tied the knot with Xavi Panlilio in 2019.