Malaka Gharib is an Egyptian, Filipino-American and making an impact as the Deputy Editor and Digital Strategist for NPR's Global Health and Development team. Now, she tackles the podcast sector with her episode on NPR's Code Switch talking about the Filipino concept of "utang na loob" (eternal debt).
The term, "utang na loob" is the Filipino concept of an eternal debt to others is how Malaka describes it. The debt she describes can be towards family, friends, or whoever did you a huge favor. She shares in a social post that it dates back to re-colonial times in the Philippines, and has passed from one generation to another.
On the podcast Malaka talks about how some Fil-Am want to do away with utang all together, especially when it clashes against "American" values of independence and self-reliance. Catch her breaking down the code to this "debt of the inner soul" — and discover a surprising side to this value.
Cover Photo Credit: Malaka Gharib Instagram
