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Abstract

Filipino family dynamics and culture may influence how traditional values like “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude) are understood across time. The purpose of the study is to understand the concept of utang na loob in the Southern Philippines from the perspective of working panganays (eldest children). The research investigated the narratives of the eldest child in the Filipino family regarding their experiences with utang na loob. It employed Murray’s three levels of narrative analysis as a framework and elicited themes on personal, positional, and ideological levels. Results revealed personal experiences of early maturity and filial pressure, gratitude, and fulfillment, among others. The positional narratives complement the personal narratives as they describe their roles as second parents, financial providers, and decision-makers. Similarly, their ideological narratives revealed internalized familial obligations shaped by cultural expectations, empowered responsibility arising from adversity to provide family support, and increased hope in the capacity to cultivate a better future for one’s family. Implications of the findings regarding community interventions to address difficulties in socioeconomic disparities, family responsibilities, and personal development are discussed.

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