Lessons From The Pandemic: Relationships Inclusively by Be Inclusive

Lockdowns have helped some families stay healthy while separating others, and social distancing has isolated many people from their regular support networks. In the last episode of the Lessons From The Pandemic season, Petrina and Laurindo speak to Ching Shuyi who had to put her wedding plans on hold and Jean Chong who surveyed the mental health impact of Covid 19 on LGBTQ people. The artist in residence for this episode is musician Candice De Rozario from Sangriento.
Find out more in the show notes.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:00] Welcome to another episode of Inclusively. In this series, we're asking, how is the pandemic changed people's lives? And what lessons have we learned that could make a post pandemic world more inclusive? I'm your host, Laurindo Garcia.
Petrina Kow: [00:00:14] And I'm Petrina Kow. In today's episode will be putting the spotlight on relationships, how we've, I suppose, survived or not. Our relationships with our families and loved ones during this lockdown.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:29] We'll be looking at how we've people have searched for love in a time when we've had to be socially distant from each other in order to stay healthy and also examine how relationships still may be facing challenges even after the pandemic is over.
Petrina Kow: [00:00:44] And as course with with every episode, we have a panel of special guests. And today. Today we'll be. They'll be here to help us explore the theme from various different perspectives. We'll be hearing from Miss Shuyi Ching, who got engaged last year. And this year was all about, you know, wedding planning and going out there and searching for, you know, venues. But clearly, things might have just, you know, changed somewhat. So we really look forward to your story there, Shuyi. Hi, welcome.
Shuyi Ching: [00:01:14] Hello. Hi everybody. I'm Shuyi.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:01:17] And also I'll be sharing a story, my own story as well, talking a little bit about my own experience in Singapore and what the impact of the pandemic has been on my life. My relationship also with my husband and us caring for my 90 year old mother in law who has dealing with late stage dementia as well, and what it's meant for us as a couple. I'll also be speaking to Jean Chong, the founder of the LGBT organisation called Sayoni. Jean we'll be sharing a new research that she, her organisation has gathered on the impact of the pandemic on the LGBT community. Welcome, Jean,
Jean Chong: [00:01:52] Hey everyone.
Petrina Kow: [00:01:53] Thanks, Jean. And our artists in residents for this episode is Candice De Rozario, who will be also giving her perspective in the world of online dating and offer us a song to wrap up the show. So glad to have you with us today Candice, welcome.
Candice De Rozario: [00:02:07] Thank you. Hi everyone. This is Candice. Artist in residence. That actually has a really nice ring to it? I've never been called that before.
Petrina Kow: [00:02:14] We like to have that every with every episode. So we always have something, you know, that we can offer to our listeners. Thank you so much, all of you, for joining us today. But let's kick off the show today with you, Shuyi. Thanks for joining us. And I'm so I'm a bit bummed that we couldn't have your fiancee to join join us, too. But he is also artist in residence at nine years, theater and training very hard at the moment. Now, both of you, I guess, are. Well, showbiz power couple, in a way, right so both of you are actors. We've seen on stage together. And I suppose love blossomed. And you got engaged last year. So congratulations.
Shuyi Ching: [00:03:00] Thank you. Thank you. Yes, we did. Yeah.
Petrina Kow: [00:03:02] And and I guess when this year when things were supposed to pick up for you guys and, you know, you're planning to get married and, you know, start your family together and then the lockdown happened. So tell us a little bit about what the decision would have was like with the two of you. So no