Farewell to a good man, Paul Walker

The sudden death of the "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker was exceptionally heartbreaking for some Filipinos--knowing that the man's final act was his drive to aid the Philippines’ latest catastrophe.

 On December 1 at around 10:30 a.m. Manila time, news broke out that Walker died in a car crash shortly after attending a charity event to raise funds for the victims of supertyphoon "Yolanda" ("Haiyan").

 Before the benefit car show, Walker and ROWW (Reach Out World Wide), the charitable organization he and his friends founded four years ago, sent a medical team of doctors, nurses, paramedics and construction specialists to help typhoon victims from Tabontabon, Leyte.

ROWW also sent aid to Cagayan De Oro two years ago, when the province was hit by tropical storm “Sendong” (“Washi”). ‘Fast & Furious’ gives back The Philippines is undeniably a huge market for the “Fast & Furious” franchise. The last film premiered in Manila and topped local box office for two weeks. On November 22, Walker—along with the cast of “Fast & Furious”—took a break from shooting their seventh installment to appear in the 45-second video appealing for aid to the Philippines.

 “We’re happy to be making another ‘Fast & Furious’, but there are times, you know, you gotta check yourself. I mean, what’s going on out there? People without homes, people without food, people without water,” the 40-year-old actor said.

 PH: ‘Thank you, Paul’ For the Philippines, the actor’s untimely passing isn’t just losing Walker’s well-loved movie character Brian O' Conner. It’s also losing a philanthropist who has the country’s welfare in his thoughts.

 Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. recognized Walker’s "humanitarian compassion and solidarity."

Filipinos admire him for his artistic talents and will honor his memory for his humanitarian compassion and solidarity in our time of need.” “Paul wasn’t someone who would just write a check and lend his name to an organization; he was the heart and soul of Reach Out WorldWide.

Paul was the first one in and the last one out, he led by example and his hard work and dedication inspired everyone who had the privilege of working with him,” ROWW’s JD Dorfman said.

 “He led one of the first teams into the hardest hit areas of Haiti and traveled to Chili to bring water, medical aid and hope after the Earthquake and Tsunami. Some people play a hero, Paul was a hero,” he continued.