This is truly a heartbreaking loss, difficult to come to terms with, marking the permanent departure of We MacDonald the late young actor and travel YouTuber. Among friends, singer and actress Katriya English, who was We's classmate, and Peter Corp Dyrendal a close industry friend since their early modeling days, came to pay respects at We's funeral held at Wat Yang Royal Monastery, Rattanapram Hall. They opened up about their fond memories of We.
Are you here today to express your condolences?
Peter: Yes, I am.
Katriya: Actually, those of our generation know that Kat, We, and Chakrit were all in the same high school class. So we’ve known each other long before entering the entertainment industry. We’ve been friends since childhood, really young. We were all in the same high school, Trails. Yesterday, I heard the school was hosting the event but I couldn’t attend due to work. We were classmates, and those three of us were quite mischievous. I was the most well-behaved (points to herself), while We was kind of a nerdy, awkward type in class but very lovable.
Katriya: I came later; Chakrit and We had known each other since kindergarten. When I joined, those two would compete over who would look after the new girl (laughs). Being the new girl, they’d each say, 'Take this book to read,' and since We’s Thai wasn’t very clear back then, it was cute. We became a fairly close friend since school days.
When you heard the news that morning, how did you feel? It must have been shocking.
Katriya: Yes, very shocking. I thought, “Is this really true?” We had planned many reunions. The last one was over ten years ago. Everyone said they didn’t want a reunion like this. It’s a huge loss. I also met Mom Mam today and felt so sorry for her.
Did he pass away before you could meet?
Katriya: Yes. We hadn’t met for a long time, and I told Mom Mam I didn’t want to meet under these circumstances. It’s such a pity. We had arranged to meet many times but never found the time. When Mam saw me, she cried immediately because she knew We since childhood and was very close to him.
Did you offer support to Mam, We's wife?
Katriya: I told her to stay strong because We wouldn’t want to see her cry. Now she must be strong for herself and their child. I gave her my support.
Peter, how did you know We?
Peter: I’ve known him for a very long time, since our modeling days during the half-Thai, half-foreign trend. We often worked with many models together and became close from the start. It’s truly a great loss. He was smart, talented, hardworking, and unique. He was thriving, so it’s very sad. But at least he passed peacefully without suffering. Today, Grammy is hosting the event, so I met many people but haven’t talked much with Mam yet, only greeted her briefly and offered some encouragement.
Do you think this is a lesson about taking care of one’s health?
Katriya: It’s like a wake-up call. Friends keep asking if I’ve had a health checkup lately, and I realized I hadn’t had one for a year. It makes you think that even if you feel strong and exercise regularly, there might be hidden issues you don’t know about. So...
Peter: At this age, there are many possible illnesses, not just one. It’s a reminder to start getting checked and take care of ourselves.
Did We have many admirers?
Katriya: Yes, many. He was very lovable.
Peter: He was a very kind person.
There’s been talk that Peter was the first to tell We to invest money in making his own show and then sell it later. Is that true?
Peter: Oh, I didn’t talk about money. I’ve known We a long time, and he had something special—a unique vision and high entertainment value. One day, while drinking together, he actually listened for once. I strongly encouraged him, saying, “You can do it yourself. You have the experience and unique ideas.” I tried to convince him it could become a big business with good income and a stable life. He agreed, and later I found out he had formed his own company.
How did you feel when the project took shape and you saw the results?
Peter: I was happy. At first, I didn’t even know he had a show or company. When I found out it was his own, I felt proud. He’s someone who commits fully to what he does and gives more than 100% when passionate.
Did We naturally like this kind of travel content?
Peter: Yes. He was a wanderer in his own style, exploring unique places. With a camera, it became very interesting. I often told him so.
In the early days, did he face any obstacles?
Peter: I’m not sure about the company development process. When I found out it was his own, I asked if he was following my advice. It had already succeeded to some degree, but I’m not sure about the details.
Why do you think everyone loved We so much?
Peter: We was naturally lovable. In the past, some people might not have understood him well. He was very straightforward—if he liked something, he liked it fully; if not, he didn’t. But if you really knew him beyond his alternative style, he was very caring and always concerned about friends.
Katriya: He was very lovable and loved his friends a lot.
Finally, what would you like to say to We?
Katriya: Rest well.
Peter: He was an adventurer, and now he’s the first to explore the next adventure. See you, friend.Click to read moreEntertainment News
/additional