Home⇛LPU-Laguna Journal of Arts and Sciences⇛vol. 4 no. 3 (2023)

Attitudes and Perceptions of Firstborn Filipino Young Adults Towards Utang na Loob to Filipino Parents

Aaron Mae Exconde | Ma. Julianne Lara Galuyo

Discipline: Applied Psychology

 

Abstract:

Due to quickly changing times, today's youth approach issues differently and provide a fresh take on established values, such as every Filipino's well-known utang na loob value. The present study explores the attitudes and perceptions of firstborn Filipino young adults regarding their utang na loob to their parents. The researchers employed the phenomenological method to conduct an in- depth study on the participants lived experiences as firstborn Filipino young adults better to understand their attitudes and perceptions towards Filipino values. The study's findings show that firstborn Filipino young adults with a good relationship with their parents are far more eager to support the latter eventually than people with terrible relationships with their parents. Socioeconomic factors also contributed to understanding the attitudes and perspectives of the firstborn. In contrast to those who do not experience financial difficulty, financially struggling people are more obliged by their parents to repay in the future. In addition, most firstborns are still eager to support their parents, while others feel differently about utang na loob. People viewed Utang na loob differently based on their own experiences in life; for some, it was a way to express gratitude and give back, while for others, it was a duty.



References:

  1. Agaton, S. I. G. (2017). Vantage Points of Utang na Loob. https://ses-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Vantage-Points-of-Utang-na-Loob.pdf   
  2. Alampay, L. (2015). Parenting in the Philippines. Academia. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7503-9_9   
  3. Algoe, S. B., Gable, S. L., & Maisel, N. C. (2010). It’s the little things: Everyday gratitude as a booster shot for romantic relationships. Personal Relationships, 17(2), 217-233. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01273.x   
  4. Allen, S. (2018). The Science of Gratitude. Greater Good Science, 1–72. https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Gratitude-FINAL.pdf   
  5. Alm, S. (2019). Sibling configuration and the right to fail – parental and children’s own scholastic aspirations in different types of families. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 154–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2019.1601116  
  6. Bedford, O., & Yeh, K. H. (2019). The History and the Future of the Psychology of Filial Piety: Chinese Norms to Contextualized Personality Construct. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00100   
  7. Cabalquinto, E. C. (2018). Mobilities, Communication, and Asia| “I Have Always Thought of My Family First”: An Analysis of Transnational Caregiving Among Filipino Migrant Adult Children in Melbourne, Australia. International Journal of Communication, 12, 19. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/9661/2470   
  8. Castiello, M., del Barrio, É., Castejon, P., Tortosa, M., Sundström, G., Malmberg, B., & Johansson, L. (2008). Family care for elders in Europe : Policies and practices. In Caregiving Contexts : Cultural, familial and societal implications. (pp. 235– 267). Retrieved from https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:70810289   
  9. Celestino, D. (2014). The Irrationality of “Utang na Loob”. Filipino Freethinkers Organization. Retrieved from https://filipinofreethinkers.org/2014/05/26/27559/   
  10. Cleofas, J. A. (2019). Towards a Practical and Empirically Grounded Account of Útangna-loób as a Filipino Virtue. Archium Ateneo. https://doi.org/10.13185/3064   
  11. Coan, A., Garcia, K. D., & Sabuncu, P. (2018). Birth order theory and habit formation: a literature review. RSF Press Journals. https://doi.org/10.31098/ijebce.v2i1.635   
  12. Cruz, G. T., Cruz, C. J. P., & Saito, Y. (2019). Ageing and health in the Philippines. https://test2023.eria.org/research/ageing-and-health-in-the-philippines/?utm_source  
  13. Cultural Atlas. (2020). Filipino Culture - Family. https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/filipino-culture/filipino-culture-family  
  14. Dalayoan, G. (2019). Filipino Core Values. Manitoba Filipino Journal Vol. 24 No.14. https://filipinojournal.com/filipino-core-values/   
  15. De Leon, C. T. (1987). Social categorisation in Philippine organisations: Values toward collective identity and management through intergroup relations. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 5(1), 28-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01712573   
  16. De Villa, V. M. D., Fajardo, S. Z. M., Ilagan, R. D., & Magnaye, B. P. (2019). Home Care: Acceptable or Unacceptable to Batangueño Families. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences, 6(1) Retrieved from https://research.lpubatangas.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/APJEAS-2019.6.1.03.pdf   
  17. Espejo, A. C. (2017). The Filipino Family and its Influence on Business Ethics. Cfainstitute.Org, 1–7. Retrieved from  https://www.scribd.com/document/833422802/The-Filipino-Family-and-Its-Influence-on-Business-Ethics   
  18. Ferrera, Maria J. (2016) “The Burden of Colonial Debt and Indebtedness in Second Generation Filipino American Families,” The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 43 : Iss. 3 , Article 10. Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol43/iss3/10   
  19. Garcia, A. S. (2019). Education and Parenting in the Philippines. School Systems, Parent Behavior, and Academic Achievement, 79–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28277-6_7  
  20. Garcia, A., & de Guzman, M. (2020). The meanings and ways of parental involvement among low income Filipinos. DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska Lincoln. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/famconfacpub/285/   
  21. Goldberg, J. S., & Carlson, M. J. (2014). Parents’ Relationship Quality and Children’s Behavior in Stable Married and Cohabiting Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(4), 762–777. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12120   
  22. Guarino, A., Habig, E., Fallacorina, Jerald, Maria, & Munsayac. (2021). Conceptions of Parenthood and Parental Satisfaction among Filipino Families with Adult Children. DLSU Research Congress 2021, 6. https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-congress-proceedings/2021/WCFE-03.pdf  
  23. Hollnsteiner, M. R. (1961). Reciprocity in the lowland Philippines. Philippine Studies Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.13185/2244-1638.2927  
  24. Horioka, c. Y., gahramanov, e., hayat, a., & tang, x. (2018). Why do children take care of their elderly parents? Are the japanese any DIFFERENT? International Economic Review, 59(1), 113–136. https://doi.org/10.1111/iere.12264   
  25. Juang, L. P. & Cookston, J. T. (2009). A Longitudinal Study of Family Obligation and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese American Adolescents. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(3), 396-404. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015814   
  26. Jusay, M. A. (2021). Upholding an Accommodative Filipino Value: A Measure of Utang na Loob Orientation. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354320817_Upholding_an_Accommodative_Filipino_Value_A_Measure_of_Utang_na_Loob_Orientation   
  27. Kaut, C. (1961). Utang na loob: A system of contractual obligation among Tagalogs. Southwestern Journal of Anthropology.17:3, 256-272. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3629045   
  28. Kim, J. H., & Torquati, J. C. (2016). Does parental financial assistance assist young adults to be financially healthy? Effects of parentchild relationship qualities on financial outcomes and happiness. Faculty Publications, Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies.,172. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/famconfacpub/172/?utm_source=digitalcommons.unl.edu%2Ffamconfacpub%2F172&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages
  29. King, V., Boyd, L. M., & Pragg, B. (2018). Parent-Adolescent Closeness, Family Belonging, and Adolescent Well-Being Across Family Structures. Journal of family issues, 39(7), 2007– 2036. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X17739048   
  30. Lalicon, A. (2018, August 12). Utang na Loob: The Future or the Retirement? Her Culture. https://www.herculture.org/blog/2015/6/18/utang-na-loob-the-future-or-the-retirement
  31. Lansford, J. E., Godwin, Alampay, & Uribe. (2015). Mothers’, fathers’ and children’s perceptions of parents’ expectations about children’s family obligations in nine countries. Europe PMC, 7–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12185   
  32. Lihua, Z. (2013). China’s Traditional Cultural Values and National Identity. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved from https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2013/11/chinas-traditional-cultural-values-and-national-identity?lang=en   
  33. Liu, X., & Bai, S. (2022). Mediating Effect of Filial Piety Between the Elderly’s Family Resource Contribution and Their Family Power: Evidence from China. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.829678   
  34. Luthar, S. S., Crossman, E. J., & Small, P. J. (2015). Resilience and Adversity. Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science, 140. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118963418.childpsy307   
  35. Lynch, F. (1970). Social acceptance reconsidered.7Quezon City Ateneo de Manila University Press. https://pssc.org.ph/wp-content/pssc-archives/Institute%20of%20Philippine%20Culture/Select%20Articles%20and%20Papers/Social%20Acceptance%20Reconsidered.pdf    
  36. Mamauag, B. L., Alampay, L. P., Lachman, J. M., Madrid, B. J., Hutchings, J., Ward, C. L., & Gardner, F. (2021). A South‐to‐South Cultural Adaptation of an Evidence‐Based Parenting Program for Families in the Philippines. Family Process, 60(4), 1202–1216. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12625  
  37. Manguiat, G. C., Gundran, A. M. P., Manalo, J. R. J., Soriano, P. a. S., & Cagsawa, R. L. O. (2022). THE CONCEPT OF UTANG NA LOOB IN THE PHILIPPINES: UTANG NA LOOB SCALE. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=17184   
  38. Mariñas, E., de Vera, J., Rivero, K. C., Sadiwa, J. E., Sanchez, A., Cabral, A. N., & Guites, L. (2020). Birth Order Paradox: A Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Eldest Sibling in the Birth Sequence Hierarchy. International Journal of Research Publications. https://ijrp.org/paper-detail/924   
  39. McLaughlin, T. J. (2018). Effects of benefactor type on gratitude and indebtedness. EWU Digital Commons, 1–64. https://dc.ewu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1516&context=theses   
  40. Menguin, J. (2022). Utang na Loob: Filipino’s Sense of Gratitude and Generosity. Retrieved from https://jefmenguin.com/utang-na-loob/  
  41. Mercado, L. N. (1976). Elements of Filipino Philosophy. Divine Word University Publications. https://archium.ateneo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1943&context=phstudies   
  42. Oh, K. M., & Warnes, A. M. (2001). Care services for frail older people in South Korea. Ageing and Society, 21(6), 701–720. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0144686x01008479  
  43. Palis, F. (2019). Aging Filipino Rice Farmers and Their Aspirations for Their Children. Philippine Journal of Science, 0031–7683. https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/aging_filipino_rice_farmers_.pdf   
  44. Pathak, V., Jena, B., & Kalra, S. (2013). Qualitative research. Perspectives in clinical research, 4(3), 192. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-3485.115389   
  45. Peng, C., Nelissen, R. M. A., & Zeelenberg, M. (2018). Reconsidering the roles of gratitude and indebtedness in social exchange. Cognition and Emotion, 32(4), 760– 772. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2017.1353484   
  46. Perez, A. (2022). Exploring the Tagasalo Personality and Its Implication as a Localized Personality Scale. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Creative Economy, 2(1), 48–66. https://doi.org/10.31098/ijebce.v2i1.635   
  47. Ramos, A. M., & Baldopea, K. H. (2019). Lived Experiences of First Born Male Children: a Phenomenological Study. Ascendens Asia Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Abstracts, 3(20). https://ojs.aaresearchindex.com/index.php/AAJMRA/article/view/12155   
  48. Reyes (1973). Sources of Filipino thought. Philippine Studies,  21(4),  429–437. https://doi.org/10.13185/2244-1638.1990    
  49. Reyes (2015) Loób and Kapwa: An Introduction to a Filipino Virtue Ethics, Asian Philosophy, 25:2, 148-171, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09552367.2015.1043173   
  50. Rungduin, T. T., Rungduin, D. C., Joshua, A., Catindig, R. B. J., & Gallogo, L. (2015). The Filipino character strength of utang na loob: Exploring contextual associations with gratitude. International Journal of Research Studies in Psychology, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsp.2015.1322   
  51. Salayo, J. (2021). Gratitude Strategies as Pragmatic Parameter of Filipino Pre-Service Teachers’ Identity. International Journal of Linguistics and Translation Studies, 2(1), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlts.v2i1.122   
  52. Sansone, R. A., & Sansone, L. A. (2010). Gratitude and wellbeing: the benefits of appreciation. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa.: Township)), 7(11), 18–22. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3010965/   
  53. Sorenson, C. (n.d.). The Value and Meaning of the Korean Family. Asia Society. https://asiasociety.org/education/value-and-meaning-korean-family  
  54. Tablan, F. (2019). Virtue ethics and meaningful work: a contemporary Buddhist approach. Humanities bulletin, 2 (2), 22-38. https://journals.lapub.co.uk/index.php/HB/article/view/1240   
  55. Teng, J. C. C., Hilario, A. D. F., Sauler, L. M. A., Reyes, M. C. M. D. L., & Arcinas, M. (2021). Parentification Experiences of Filipino Young Professional Daughters During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Studies, 3(4), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.32996/jhsss.2021.3.4.3   
  56. Tsukada, R. (2002). The First-Born Burden. Journals, 26. Retrieved from https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/48330/1/77_tsukada.pdf   
  57. Ubaidi Ba, A. (n.d.). Cost of Growing up in Dysfunctional Family. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.23937/2469-5793/1510059.
  58. Watkins, P. C., Scheer, J., Ovnicek, M., & Kolts, R. (2006). The debt of gratitude: Dissociating gratitude and indebtedness. Cognition and Emotion, 20(2), 217-241. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/02699930500172291   

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic