Abstract
Employing Speech Act Theory, this paper traces the ethical contour of
gratitude among Bikolanos as conveyed in the utterance of “Dyos
Mabalos.” Utang na buot, the Bikolano counterpart of utang na loob is
explained with its complementary concept of atang kan buot (gift of
the self) as the two main conceptual conditions for the formation of
the type of gratitude contained in the utterance of “Dyos Mabalos.”
These normative conditions can also be culled from a number of
contemporary Philippine studies which have already established the
conceptual underpinnings of gratitude as a value. It will be shown
further that “Dyos Mabalos” elevates gratitude from an ethical to a
transcendental plane which becomes an emancipative mechanism for
its conveyor in the situation where he assumes the asymmetrical
position of being a recipient to an otherwise manipulative giver who
would utilize the commerce of utang na loob for self-aggrandizement.
This articulation achieves then on one hand a reappraisal of the
culturally specific Bikolano significance of “Dyos Mabalos” and a
contribution on the other to the already rich literature of
investigations on utang na loob, specifically on a possible resolution to
the ambivalence of gratitude in Philippine culture which could be
gleaned from the performative speech and transcendental dimension
of “Dyos Mabalos.”