The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) joins the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, a humble shepherd with deep mercy, compassion, faith, and service who has inspired millions. Fondly known as โLolo Kikoโ by Filipinos, he brought the Church closer to its people, especially the most vulnerable.
CAAP will always hold dear his historic Apostolic Visit to the Philippines in 2015, particularly his arrival at Tacloban City on January 17. Despite the heavy rains at that time, Pope Francis proceeded with his scheduled Homily at the grounds of Tacloban Airport, where thousands of the faithful waited with hope in their hearts. That moment was marked by his powerful and heartfelt words:
โ๐โ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ช๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฆ๐ญ๐ญ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ค๐ญ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ต. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ ๐ด๐ข๐ธ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต [๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐บ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ข] ๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฆ, ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ข๐บ๐ด ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ค๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ. ๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ โ ๐ข ๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ช๐ต ๐ญ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ, ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐โ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ.โ
Behind the solemnity of that day was a quiet but determined effort from CAAP Tacloban Airport employees. Though the airport had been heavily damaged by Yolanda in 2013, and again by another typhoon just a month before the Popeโs arrival, it was fully rehabilitated in time for his visit.
Among those who played a part in that historic day was former CAAP Director General, Captain Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo, the pilot-in-command of โShepherd One,โ (Philippine Airlines Flight PR 8010) flying the Pope from Manila to Tacloban. Battling rough skies aboard, Captain Tamayo and the crew safely brought Pope Francis to Leyte, just before the storm worsened โ a flight described as both โa challenge and a blessing.โ Captain Tamayo and his crew also flew the Pope back to Rome on January 19, 2015.
Meanwhile, one of those air traffic controllers in the tower that day was Renz Bulseco, who recalled: โPope Francis held a mass at the airport’s new ramp. Everyone in attendance was clad in bright yellow ponchos, creating a vibrant sea of color from the control tower’s vantage point. […] After 12 years in air traffic service, this moment stands out as one of the highlights of my career. I felt a surge of pride, knowing I had the chance to be close to the Pope.โ
Tacloban Airport Fire Marshall Allan Cahingcoy recalls: โThat day, the CAAP team, spearheaded by then-Tacloban Airport Manager Toto Alfonso, were gathered and briefed prior to His Holinessโ arrival. Everybody prayed and wished for a safe, smooth, and successful event, amidst bad weather. It was a great honor and opportunity to witness the Apostolic arrival of Pope Francis. Notwithstanding the cold, tiresome, and exhaustion that our body felt that moment, it was all worthwhile and fulfilling. Truly, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.โ
CAAP is profoundly humbled to have played a small part in welcoming the Holy Father in the airport and ensuring the safe and meaningful realization of that day in Tacloban. Reflecting on his passing, we remember a man who taught how to serve with love, mercy, and compassion.
Rest in eternal peace, Pope Francis. 
Your legacy will forever live on in our skies, in our hearts, and in the faith of the people you touched.
