John Arcilla says taking care of parents is child’s ‘natural duty,’ and not ‘utang na loob’

The veteran actor recently shared his take on “utang na loob” culture between parents and children on his Facebook post, saying that such terms are not the right words when talking about giving back to parents.

“This is not a rebuttal to anyone, this is just my take on Parent-Children Relationship generally speaking,” he clarified.

“‘Utang na loob’ and ‘Obligasyon’ are wrong words pag ang usapan ay mga magulang na ating pinanggalingan. Hindi naman talaga utang na loob o obligasyon ang Pagkupkop o pagtulong sa mga tumatandang magulang—dahil ito ay normal at natural na duty ng mga anak,” he stressed.

He added that it’s as normal as how parents have cared for their children, including providing food, shelter, and education until they can sustain themselves.

“Tama naman na responsibilidad yun ng mga magulang sa walang muwang na mga anak, kaya responsibilidad din ng bawat anak na alagaan at arugain ang mga magulang pag matatanda na, mahihina na at wala ng lakas at resources para magtrabaho at asikasuhin ang sarili,” he explained.

The Dirty Linen star furthered that giving back to parents is part of the “normal cycle of life,” and that it’s children’s responsibility to take care of their parents when they are no longer capable of it. “Hindi na dapat nagiging issue yon,” he said.

“Ngayon, kung naging masama silang magulang o pinamigay nila tayo sa ibang tao, ibang level ng kwento yun. Du’n lang siguro magkakaroon ng iba’t ibang pamantayan kung responsibilidad pa din ba sila ng mga anak,” he continued.

Arcilla added that it is “understandable” that money can be an issue in such situation, but stressed, “Ang mahalaga ay may kasama [silang] tumatawid sa natitira [nilang] buhay.”

He added that whether or not parents “obligated” their kids to give back, he believes that it is a child’s natural responsibility to fulfill.

“Kaya nga dapat habang lumalaki ang tao at nangangarap, kasama sa plano natin at ng ating mga kapatid kung paano aalagaan ang mga magulang natin pag tanda nila” he continued, adding that doing so would set an example when children would build their family of their own.

“Kasi aminin mo, pag tanda natin gusto din nating makita ang mga anak natin sa ating tabi, makasama sila hanggang sa huling sandali. [Mahirap] man sabihin o aminin gusto natin na sila ang mag alaga at magbantay sa atin kaysa ibang tao, hanggang tayo ay malagutan ng hininga, na posibleng hindi mangyari kung habang lumalaki ang mga anak natin ay hindi naman nila nakikita na ina-alagaan natin ang ating mga magulang,” Arcilla said.

“Kaya kung pinapangarap din nating makasama at alagaan tayo ng ating mga anak. Ipakita natin sa kanila na normal at natural ang pag alaga at pag aruga ng ating mga magulang,” he concluded his post.

Arcilla is known for his roles in films and TV series including Heneral Luna, Dirty Linen, Metro Manila, and On The Job: The Missing 8, among others.