After “Yolanda” tore through Tacloban, Samsung (Sepco) president and managing director CL Lee mobilized employees to help those affected by the supertyphoon. He was also instrumental in the $1-million donation by Samsung Global: $250,000 went to World Vision, $250,000 went to the Philippine National Red Cross while $500,000 was given to the ABS-CBN Foundation.
Instead of simply turning over the donations, Lee took an active stance and made it a point to meet with Jun Godornes, Richard Gordon and Tina Monzon Palma, the respective presidents of the three organizations, to discuss the plans of rehabilitation and distribution of goods.
In Cebu on a business trip a few days later, Lee joined Samsung employees in the packing and distribution of relief goods. He carried relief packs around like everyone else in the team. Lee got dirty and sweaty like the others after several hours of work but did not pull rank.
He was a volunteer.