The rebirth of PAL

Taipan Lucio “Kapitan” Tan’s sprawling business empire marks a new chapter in its long, winding saga with the rebirth of Philippine Airlines in a glittering 81st anniversary celebration last week.

But the new chapter is as much about the rebirth of the flag carrier as it is about the quiet yet telling presence of Carmen Tan, wife of the taipan, who for the first time in recent memory, appeared in a grand and live public event without Kapitan.

For decades, she stood by Tan’s side in public celebrations, but last week the taipan was noticeably absent. And yet, the patriarch’s empress was there to fill the void, somewhat sending a message to stakeholders that as the newly-reborn PAL transitions its leadership into the hands of the younger ones, it is her grip that rocks the cradle.

Thus, Carmen, in a simple but elegant gold top and dark pants, and in her trademark Tang dynasty-era bun, sauntered on stage, relaxed and all smiles, with a presence that was understated yet strong enough to let the world know that if the chairman isn’t available, it is she who is there.

“The airline of 81 years is currently being managed by a new team – the young and innovative executive and staff alike. The chairman and I assure you that through the leadership of Captain Stanley Ng, and my grandson Lucio Tan III, PAL will reach new heights,” Carmen said.

Where is Kapitan?

But where, some observers might ask, is the enigmatic Kapitan and how has he been?

In a recent chat over lunch days after the PAL anniversary celebration, businesswoman and LT Group director Mary Ng, who is close to the Tans, told me the taipan is still quite active, attends Zoom meetings with executives, and takes the time to walk around his sprawling Biak-na-Bato home in Quezon City.

Perhaps the 86-year-old taipan is just being very careful after surviving a bout with COVID-19 last year.

The young Lucio

In any case, Kapitan, who pledged that PAL would continue to serve the Filipino people, need not worry, at least for now. His grandson, the 29-year old Lucio “Han” Tan III, director of PAL, vowed to help him fulfill his promise.

“We will carry out that vision relentlessly,” said Lucio III, who also promised he is here for the long haul.

The summa cum laude Stanford engineering graduate was summoned back to the Philippines after the sudden death of his father, Lucio “Bong’’ Tan II in 2019, even as he was already starting out a career as software engineer in the US.

During the anniversary, he and his grandmother Carmen led the toast to hopefully, clearer skies for the airline.

Somewhere out there, his father Bong must be raising his glass, too, proud that his son is playing the part of Kapitan’s wingman in the flagship carrier.

This is your captain speaking

As the young Lucio talked about the airline’s new vision of becoming a better and tech-driven company, the task of carrying this out rests on Capt. Stanley, the new president and COO.

It’s a huge, if not Herculean task, but perhaps being a veteran pilot gives Capt. Stanley the skills necessary to take the helm of PAL at a challenging time.

He said that in the skies, anything can happen – from bird strikes to extreme weather conditions – so pilots need to keep calm, have a strong sense of discernment and presence of mind, qualities he believes, will certainly help him in his new role.

“As pilots, our golden rule is: Fly, navigate and communicate,” Capt. Stanley told me when I sat down with him in an interview days after the anniversary celebration.

He said he would apply the same golden rule in his new task of piloting PAL toward greater horizons.

Pilots are known to be unbelievably calm, even in extreme situations. Some say they request for an emergency landing as if they’re ordering their dinner.

Capt. Stanley struck me as that, perhaps even more. He discussed PAL’s problems calmly, almost stoically, even as I reminded him of how much turbulence he might encounter as PAL’s new leader.

Perhaps it helps that he is a longtime PAL insider and knows airline operations like the back of his hand. He started as a customer service agent at the airport, a captain on the Airbus A320/A321 fleet before heading PAL’s Airline Operations Group for the last three years.

More importantly, he has the full support of his fellow pilots and employees.

“You can’t drive anything if you don’t have the support of the pilots and employees,” he said.

I am reminded of those times I’ve been on turbulent flights and just when I imagine the plane might not make it through, I hear the pilot’s reassuring voice and I tell myself, it’s all good.

Now in the case of PAL, I can imagine stakeholders hearing Capt. Stanley’s calm voice inside their heads, giving them that steady assurance that with him at the helm, they can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

“This is your captain speaking...” I imagine him saying.

Oh and by the way, Capt. Stanley can actually say that in five languages – Mandarin, Cantonese, Fukien, English, and Filipino. Needless to say, he speaks the language of the Tan family.

Salute to Capt. Stanley and best of luck to you on your task of a lifetime.

Iris Gonzales’ email address is [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at eyesgonzales.com