The lead stars of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, Filipino-American actress Lzia Soberano and singer H.E.R., got candid about Filipino traits and social practices they believe people should learn to unlearn.
In an interview with BuzzFeed Australia, Liza shared why she believes utang na loob or a strong sense of obligation to return a favor, should not be treated as a lifetime debt.
“Utang na Loob, because I feel like yes it’s always nice to be grateful for the things you have achieved and people who supported you, but it shouldn’t be considered a lifetime debt that you have to repay those who have helped you,” Liza said.
For the actress, helping others should come from genuine kindness rather than the expectation of receiving something in return after.
“I feel like people should learn how to help out of the kindness of their heart without expecting nothing in return. It’s always nice to have something returned, but do not expect it,” she added.
H.E.R., meanwhile, called out the habit of relatives making unsolicited comments about someone’s body or appearance during family gatherings.
“Titas need to stop saying, ‘oh ooh mataba (you’re fat)’. Stop commenting on our bodies. You don’t need to comment on what we look like every time we see you. Titas need to stop doing that,” the singer said.
Liza echoed H.E.R.’s sentiment, recalling how Filipino relatives can comment on someone's weight whether they have gained or lost it.
“Whether it’s ‘ang payat mo na (you got really skinny) or ang taba mo (you are very fat),’ and they were also like ‘ang taba mo na (you are already fat) so eat more, eat more,’” she said.
Their comments resonated with some Filipino netizens, particularly those who shared their own experiences.
“YES!!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 @hermusicofficial Thank you for saying it loud enough for the Titas in the back to hear!!!” a netizen commented.
Another wrote, “As the new generation of Titas, I promise I try so hard to focus on positive comments. We can break the cycle.”
A fan also expressed, “I've witnessed how many times it traps people and family into situations just because of ‘UTANG NA LOOB’ 🙄🙄🙄.”
“Utang na loob, tantanan na natin ang utang na loob. It's become a social obligation rather than acknowledging gratitude. If you help someone not out of the goodness of your heart but as a tool to tether someone to you, then it's not kindness but emotional blackmail,” a netizen expressed.
Liza and H.E.R. discussed the Filipino traits during their promotional activities for Forgotten Island, DreamWorks Animation’s film that explores Filipino culture through the story of two best friends who find themselves lost in the magical world of Nakali.
READ: Liza Soberano hopes to inspire Filipinos to dream bigger
The film is set to be released in Philippine theaters on September 23.