Inclusively by Be Inclusive 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

Migrant workers carry a disproportionate burden of Covid 19 infections. The conditions of workers in construction and manufacturing industries have grabbing international headlines. But the plight of Asia's foreign domestic workers has largely remained invisible. In this episode Petrina and Laurindo shed light on the systemic migrant labour issues that Covid 19 has helped to illuminate with guests Eni Lestari Andayani Adi - chairperson of the International Migrants Alliance, Ramasamy Madhavan - filmmaker of $alary Days, Bhing Navato - helpdesk volunteer for HOME and Eli Nur Fadilah - winner of Migrant Worker Storytelling Competition 2018.
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TRANSCRIPT
Petrina Kow: [00:00:00] Hi and welcome another episode of Inclusively, in the series, we're asking, how has 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 Petrina Kow.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:13] And I'm Laurindo Garcia.
Petrina Kow: [00:00:14] Today, we shine the spotlight on migrant workers. Now, I think in Singapore, this has been one of the biggest issues that have come up for us in the last few months. When Covid hit Singapore and I think, you know, looking at it as a whole now, it I mean, I'm I'm not sure I'm right in saying and I'm glad, but I'm really, in a way, sort of grateful that the situation that we've seen in Singapore has allowed us to really sort of sit up and pay attention to the people who are most vulnerable right here in Singapore.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:52] From a personal perspective, this this conversation is coming at a time when, at least globally, there is much more heightened consciousness about who are most vulnerable during the pandemic. We've got protests in the United States, in the UK, in Australia that are really exposing systematic racism that is contributing to two people getting sick and not having what they need to to to be able to survive the pandemic. And at the same time, we're also at least very aware that for a migrant, if you're a migrant in many places, it's very difficult for you to stand up and to make your voice heard because you're oftentimes you are a guest in the in the country. Your situation about your your ability to stay and integrate into side into society is also a challenge as well. And so it makes it very difficult for for migrant workers, for for migrants as a whole to be part of this process and trying to work work out some of the challenges and the problems in these systems. So I'm really excited that we've got a chance to talk through some of these issues with a fantastic panel today who one of our guests is Ali Noor Fadhila. She's a domestic worker in Singapore from Indonesia. She's also a volunteer with an Invisible Hands Singapore and a winner of the migrant storytelling competition here. Welcome to the show, Eli. She's also our artist in residence today, and she'll be offering us a poem later on in the show. So please stay with us. Also joining us is , who is an engineer from India who works here in Singapore's construction industry and Singapore. And Madhavan was also a director of a short film called Salary Days as well, which has gotten a lot of people talking and really gaining a greater understanding of the situation for construction workers here in Singapore. So welcome to you to Madhavan.
Petrina Kow: [00:02:53] And we also joining us on the show we have been Novato, who's a volunteer here who works in one of the crisis hotlines for the Humanitarian Organization for Migrant Economics, also known as Home. And she will also be offering her perspective. And she's also been a foreign domestic worker, here in Singapore for many, many years. Plus, we're also very fortunate to have Eni Lestari Andayani Adi joining us from Hong Kong. Any is the founder of the Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers and the chairperson of the International Migrants Alliance. Welcome, everybody.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:03:28] So E

Coronavirus lockdowns have meant the Olympics are postponed, small gyms face threat of permanent closures, professional athletes are training in isolation and a plethora of home workouts are offered online. Could the way we have continued to do sports through a pandemic help the industry become more inclusive in the future? In this episode Petrina and Laurindo check in with Moses James from Innervate Fitness, Paralympic medalist Theresa Goh, rising junior tennis star Michelle Yeo and fitness buff/actor Dwayne Lau.
TRANSCRIPT
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:00] Welcome to another episode of Inclusively. In this series, we are asking the question, how has the pandemic changed people's lives and what lessons have we learned that could make a quick pandemic world more inclusive? I mean, host Laurindo Garcia.
Petrina Kow: [00:00:13] And I'm Petrina Kow. Welcome, everybody. Well, today's theme is all about sports and fitness. How has this whole circuit breaker affected your ability to do sport and keep fit? You know, as a ex national swimmer, Laurindo. Wow. Let me tell you. I think so. It's so so far as you've known me. I've been the most unathletic both. And, you know, right.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:40] That's not true. That's not true. You're the one. You're one of the very few people has been very consistent with putting Instagram fitness workouts on in the time that I've known you.
Petrina Kow: [00:00:50] So you see, this is the problem, Laurindo. Because every time you do actually see a pose for me is the only time I exercise. So if you count the number of posts, that's the number or type of I've actually exercised and I have a very fraught relationship with them, with sport only because, you know, I think in my youth I overdid it to that point where it wasn't I don't think it was in my blood to be a national, you know, athlete really. I very much wanted to be singing and dancing on stage, which is why I think when I when I decided to take a different path, sports, at least fitness for me took a real backseat because like I always viewed exercise as some sort of punishment. You know, it was a very emotional thing. Like every time I had to put on a swimsuit, it was like, you know, like my body just goes into, like a thing and, you know. But then I kind of took that fitness for granted a lot. From my twenties to my thirties are now in my 40s when I'm feeling everything break down and I'm starting up again. I really kind of wished I didn't have that two year, two decade long sort of hiatus where I did nothing to keep my body in shape, writes it today. And I think, you know, I've been seeing so many people sort of work out on together. And I myself have been taking weekly sort of Zoom yoga classes. So I'm I'm really interested to find out from our company today how they've been all sort of like, you know, doing like those professional sports and athletes. And how is it really affected them? And so today on our panel, we have Moses. James, I think you might find him familiar because we interviewed him for our first episode. He's a co-founder of Innervate Fitness, a fitness social enterprise who offers cross cross fit to senior citizens and people with physical disabilities. And so he is coming, coming to join us. And we'll also be joined by two rising young national sports stars, Michelle Yeo, who has represented Singapore for the Junior Federation Cup under 16. And we'll also be speaking to Dwayne Lau, who was our artisan residents for this episode. Hello. Welcome, Dwayne.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:02:54] And our panel would not be complete without national swimmer and Paralympic medalist two years ago. Also be joining us as well and giving her perspective on sports in the time of Covid as well. Welcome Theresa. Right. So shall we dive in? I'm going to go to you, Moses. It's great to have you back on the show. You you Innervate. Fitness had the honour of being featured in our very first episode of this podcast. We're so proud to to hav

Covid 19 has been a catalyst for Asia's corporate world to rethink the future of work. In this episode Petrina and Laurindo hear how co-working spaces have adapted from The Great Room's Jaelle Ang. Lu-Lyn Chang from Bray Leino Splash shares creative ways for maintaining connection with teams in isolation. Shashi Nathan from Withers KhattarWong explains how the court system has gone virtual. Carrie Tan from Daughters of Tomorrow considers the impact of working from home on domestic workers. And songwriter Miss Lou explains how shifting online could make a performer's life more sustainable.
*TRANSCRIPT*
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:00] Welcome back to another episode of inclusively in the series, we'll be asking the question, how has the pandemic help change people's lives and what lessons we have learned that could make the post pandemic world more inclusive? I'm your host Laurindo Garcia.
Petrina Kow: [00:00:15] And I'm Petrina Kow. Welcome. Today's theme is all about work and I think all of us have been probably in our lives. This is the area that has had the biggest shifts and biggest sort of seismic movements for most of us who have been working. And for me at least, I feel like, you know, it it kind of dawned on me with the work that I do, it's like, oh, I could have been doing this all my life. Why didn't I do this before? You know, and I'm very blessed. I'm very, very grateful that I'm still able to do a lot of work and in this time. And so for me, it's been really interesting just finding new audiences, finding new clients internationally, which is something I would never have, you know, thought to kind of pursue. But then it's like, oh, yeah, I can have a Canadian client. Yeah, I can you know, I can have claims from all over the world because I can see them, you know, in this way. So it's been really interesting for me just to to kind of broaden my idea of what work can be like, you know, at my end.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:01:24] I feel I'm pretty privileged. I have been working remotely and working in remote teams for the past 16 years. So I'm feeling kind of comfortable in a setup like this. But what has been the real disruption at home is my husband has now been working at home for the first time in his broadcast media and they never thought that he and his teams would be shifting to working from home. So now we're having to work out how to navigate and share the space together at home. And so for this part, because I had to kick him out and kind of move him to the other area because this is the better sounding room. So it's been interesting for him. And he's already going into the three month period because they they started quite early. But all in all, it's been pretty good. We've been both very productive and I'm feeling kind of lucky. And I know not everybody has that same same situation.
Petrina Kow: [00:02:21] I'm very excited to get right into it because I got a packed show. We have got five guests in the show today. And, you know, apart from looking at small businesses and medium to large enterprises, we're also gonna be talking to a lawyer in Singapore to think about how the legal system is continue through this lockdown in this period. I suppose like virtual courtrooms and things like that. And we'll also be speaking to a matinee executive who's led a transition from brainstorming in person to brainstorming and isolation and having to make decisions that way. So it's all gonna be very, very exciting.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:03:00] Plus, we'll have an executive director of a non for profit who's been helping women from low income families gain employment. That is Carrie Tan from Daughters of Tomorrow. Carrie will be offering a perspective on how the workforce of the future in the post pandemic world could be more inclusive. And finally, we'll also be having a guest artist today, a jazz songwriter and performer, Miss Lu.
Petrina Kow: [00:03:21] Yeah, but to kick us off, I'd like to introduce our very first gu

The coronavirus has pushed the global health system to its limits. Sadly access to testing and treatment is unequal.
Amidst lockdowns should mental health services be classified as essential? And how do health care workers cope in cities without reliable public transport or supplies of personal protective equipment?
Inclusively hosts Petrina Kow and Laurindo Garcia examine health as a human right against the backdrop of Covid 19. Guests: clinical psychologist Dr. Kim Lian Rolles-Abraham, a health support volunteer based in Manila Tesa Celdran, AIDS activist and Executive Director of Asia Catalyst, Karyn Kaplan. TJ Taylor from Sing Theatre offers a song of hope for a healthier future.
TRANSCRIPT
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:05] This was the day on April 26 when Singaporeans came together to tribute health care workers and migrant workers who were working on the front line. And you can hear this chorus of singers from this video that was published by Mediacorp. Similar tributes have been happening around the world. You may have seen them. Sometimes these tributes to healthcare workers happening on a daily basis. And I think what this illustrates is how the pandemic has really illuminated the sacrifice that so many individuals are making in order to save lives. Now, Petrina, I want to hear from you. What was the significance of the song being sung in that video?
Petrina Kow: [00:00:45] Hi Laurindo. Yeah, it was interesting. And I remember that day because we knew it was happening and we also knew that where we lived. I mean, I face the opening up of a house of of a highway. So I knew that we won't be able to get that feeling of community singing because there was nobody around us was going to. We're going to hear. So we all got in a car and drove around trying to catch the singing. And it was it was kind of finally we we managed to hear, like in our neighborhood, some people like popping their heads out and, you know, clapping and singing. And it was it was really interesting because while we were trying to bask in that moment. You know, after that online, I think there was a lot of discussion about who that was for and if it was even meaningful. Right. And then and then now I'm reading all these rather distressing reports about how we are paying these volunteer swappers and people who are trying to do testing so much more than our actual healthcare workers. Right. And that's really a big the part that makes me want to go. Hang on a minute. There's something wrong here. Right. And I think we need to take this opportunity, hopefully, to really look at what's, um, what's his idea of, you know, what we've decided to sort of term essential workers and and stuff like that. So, yeah, it's sort of a kind of a weird, bittersweet feeling that when I when I see that happening. Yeah. It it it pinches a little. I have to be honest.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:02:20] We're back with another episode of Inclusively in the series. We're talking about how the pandemic has changed people's lives and what lessons that we have learned that could make a post pandemic world more inclusive. I'm your host, Laurindo Garcia.
Petrina Kow: [00:02:33] And I'm Petrina Kow. Gret glad to be back to be back.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:02:36] So happy to be back.
Petrina Kow: [00:02:37] Well, today's theme, as we've heard, is about health. And, you know, I think all of us have had our whole lives that are thrown into a new sort of well, I wouldn't say disarray, but just just having to adjust to new normals. Right. We've been calling it. And I think whether you know and people like somebody said the other day, which I thought was a wonderful sort of analogy, was like, we're all in the same storm, but we're in different boats. So, you know, everyone has their own style, I suppose, or own situations that they have to kind of overcome. Or, you know, some people are thriving. Some people are not doing so well. But I think definitely because this is a pandemic, I think healt

A heartbreaking tale of pending closure of a fabulous bakery, hawker stalls who cook for social good and a vision of a future where you can pick fresh durians on every street for free.
All this and more as hosts Petrina Kow and Laurindo Garcia examine how lessons learned from the coronavirus could ensure no one goes hungry in a post-pandemic world. Guests: Juwanda Hassim -Fabulous Baker Boys, Jason Chua - Beng Who Cooks, Siew Yen Chong - food poverty volunteer, Bjorn Low - Edible Garden City and musician, Joshua Simon.
TRANSCRIPT
*SOUND EFFECTS: MOTORCYCLE*
Laurindo Garcia: [00:00:05] In the time of Covid 19 delivery bikes are now the king of the road. Home delivery was previously viewed as a luxury. But now delivery bikes from Foodpanda delivery to Grab Food are all essential services, and millions of people rely on them to get the food that they need to bring to the table. So, Petrina, I want to ask you, has how is food delivery usage changed for you during the and then haha.
Petrina Kow: [00:00:31] Interestingly, I think I found that we, we try and deliver less now because we, we also are very cognizant of the wastage with all the packaging material. So in fact so, so my cooking, as you know, if you're following on social media, has been up several levels. No, I mean I just have to provide for a family. So I cook a lot more now. And so if we do buy takeout, we we we kind of use that as an opportunity to go and pick up the food so that we can kind of like work in a trip out of the house, you know, legitimately. Right. As we're kind of being locked down. So, yeah, I, I we try and deliver as little as possible if we can. And if we can't, we just get stuff delivered anyways. Yeah. So yeah,
Laurindo Garcia: [00:01:18] On our end it's been more of a special treat. We are eating at home more and cooking for ourselves, which has been really good. But for me I one of the people who's had to celebrate their birthday in isolation. And so I took that as an opportunity to look for a special meal that usually I wouldn't have had a home delivery. But I was really quite surprised at what was available. It was a 12 course vegan Korean meal that was delivered to the door, you know, piping hot. And it was really quite amazing. So I was really quite awed by what was what was available. So, yeah, there's some of the things that you do during during the pandemic. But I also want to welcome everyone to another episode of inclusively in this series. First of all, my name is Laurindo Garcia. And this series, we are asking the question how people are changing the way that they work or do business during the pandemic and what lessons that you've had you have learned that have the potential to make the post pandemic worldwide.
Petrina Kow: [00:02:23] Yeah. And hello, everyone. My name is Petrina and this topic is very close to my heart. As a big food lover and food eater myself, so I'm very excited about today's episode because we have guests from all over the world joining us and we have some really wonderful local heroes that are going to chat with as well.
Laurindo Garcia: [00:02:45] So before we kick off with the interviews, it's going to kind of set the tone here. So before the pandemic, you know, according to The Economist, you know, food was generally more affordable around the globe for four people more than ever before, and fewer people were hungry than previous generations. So it's according to the most recent edition of The Economist. But all that has changed because the pandemic, as you've heard there, have been empty supermarket shelves and wet markets due to the panic buying during the early days of the pandemic. And now several months after that, one trillion dollar global food supply chain has demonstrated its present resilience with some really fast adaptations to me by companies. But all that being said, there are still some risks that lie in food security and less so on the supply side, but definitely on the demand side.