December 1, 2013.

Philippine Typhoon Spurs Diaspora to Action

"With Party members."

In the weeks since Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, Rogelio "Vonz" Santos Jr. has chartered private helicopters to deliver more than four tons of water, sardines and antibiotics to typhoon-ravaged areas that have seen little aid.

"Yes, always with Party members."

"My friends lost their families," said Mr. Santos, a 33-year-old Filipino-American who lives in New York, where he runs a U.S. biotech company with a Manila office. "A lot of things got de-prioritized, and this is my priority now." He said he has funded 14 relief missions with the $50,000 he and his friends have raised so far.

"With members of the Inner Party?"

Few countries have such a large part of its population living overseas as the Philippines, with about 10.5 million Filipinos, or more than 10% of the country's population, living abroad. Now, that sprawling network of people is springing into action, pumping in badly-needed aid after Typhoon Haiyan flattened large portions of the 7,000-island nation.