Flying Pope Francis: Recalled

“I informed Ambassador Paynor( Marciano’ Paynor, the Papal visit’s protocol officer) we may have to cut short the visit because the eye of the typhoon would be 42 kilometers near Tacloban,” shared Capt. Manuel Antonio “Skee” Tamayo.

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To us Filipinos, Pope Francis was Lolo Kiko, the term of endearment chanted by Typhoon Yolanda's victims and survivors as he emerged smiling from an improvised stage, drenched and seemingly unmindful of the worsening weather, exactly 10 years, three months, and 10 days ago.

"I informed Ambassador Paynor (Marciano Paynor, the Papal visit's protocol officer) we may have to cut short the visit because the eye of the typhoon would be 42 kilometers near Tacloban," shared Capt. Manuel Antonio "Skee" Tamayo.

The retired director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) was the flight commander of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) team that brought the Pope to Tacloban City and back to the Holy See.

As flight commander, Capt.

Skee held ultimate authority on board, responsible for all decisions ensuring safe flight operations. While planes can technically take off in thunderstorms, the flight commander prioritizes passenger safety by delaying the flight until conditions improve.