Loob & Ledger
The journal

Ten essays, four parts

Part 1 · The Concept · 3 min

Retirement Plan, Yarn?

A joke about children as a "retirement plan" hides a real question: what do Filipino youth feel they owe their families, and why?

Part 1 · The Concept · 3 min

What We Mean When We Say Utang na Loob

It is not a loan, and it is not just "thank you." A plain-language tour of one of the most discussed ideas in Filipino psychology.

Part 1 · The Concept · 3 min

Kapwa Comes First

Utang na loob makes more sense once you see the self the way kapwa does: as part of a "we."

Part 1 · The Concept · 3 min

Gratitude Isn't a Receipt

Gratitude research from outside the Philippines helps explain why "paying back" can never fully capture what thankfulness is.

Part 2 · The Duty · 3 min

Filial Piety Travels

Respect and care for parents exists in many cultures, but it changes with place, era, and stage of life.

Part 2 · The Duty · 3 min

When Gratitude Becomes Pressure

The same love that creates a sense of debt can also create strain. The research is careful about which is which.