Victory Liner, Inc.

A Victory Liner DMMW Volvo B8R bus heading back to Caloocan from Tuguegarao.
Founded	October 15, 1945 (1945-10-15)
Headquarters	713 Rizal Avenue Ext., Brgy. 72, Grace Park West, Caloocan, Philippines
Locale	Luzon
Service area	Metro Manila Central Luzon Pangasinan Cordillera Administrative Region Cagayan Valley
Service type	Provincial Operation
Hubs	Caloocan
Fleet	1,000+ bus units[1]
Operator	Victory Liner, Inc.
President	Marivic del Pilar
Website	www.victoryliner.com

Victory Liner Inc. (VLI) is one of the largest provincial bus companies operating in the Philippines, servicing routes mainly to the provinces of Central Luzon which includes Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan; and Northern Luzon which includes Benguet, Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Isabela, Nueva Ecija and Cagayan.^[2] It was founded in 1945, when mechanic José Hernandez repurposed Chevrolet trucks which the United States Army used as their primary transportation fleet for civilian transport between Olongapo and Manila;^[3][4] it has grown to become one of the largest bus transportation business groups in the Philippines, servicing all key destinations in Northern and Central Luzon. It is the largest bus company in terms of fleet size with more than 1000 units excluding their subsidiaries.

Victory Liner deploys more than 1,000 buses in its daily operations.^[1][5]

Etymology

The phrase "Victory Joe", which referred to America's victory in World War II, became commonplace in the Philippines in the 1940s. As such, the founder, José Hernandez, decided to name his bus firm Victory Liner.^[3]

History

Victory Liner's beginnings trace back from the years of Japanese occupation in the country. Jose I. Hernandez, a mechanic from Macabebe, Pampanga, collected bits and pieces of machinery, metals and spare parts from abandoned United States Armed Forces vehicles, intending to build a delivery truck from scratch for his family's resale business of rice, corn, vegetables and their home-made laundry soap. Upon completion of the truck, he was surprised to see that what he envisioned to be a delivery truck turned out to be more like a bus.^[4]

On October 15, 1945, Mr. Hernandez's first bus plied the Manila–Olongapo–Manila line. He was the driver and Leonardo D. Trinidad (a brother-in-law) was his conductor.^[6] Later on, the Hernandezes incorporated the business and Victory Liner became one of the main transport modes to shuttle passengers and goods to and from Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Tarlac, Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan, Apayao, and Kalinga.^[3]

In 2007, Victory Liner introduced its deluxe class for its Baguio and Cagayan Valley services.^[7] The company was eventually passed on to the son of Jose Hernandez, Johnny Hernandez.^[8]

In 2011, Victory Liner initially equipped 50 air-conditioned buses with Sun Cellular Wireless Broadband to allow passengers with Wi-Fi-capable devices to log on to the Internet.^[9] Victory Liner attained the Philippine national record of most buses with free Wi-Fi after Sun equipped its fleet of air conditioned buses before the end of the year. To date, more than 600 air conditioned buses and are equipped with Wi-Fi technology, with more to be added.^[10]

In April 2012, Victory Liner partnered with AirAsia Philippines to provide free shuttle service for inbound and outbound passengers of Clark International Airport for the convenience of AirAsia passengers and guests.^[11]

In August 2023, Victory Liner classified its bus services as "Express" (via Expressway) and "Inner Cities" (via provincial towns) to make simplified travel choices for the passengers.^[12]

The launching of Victory Liner's Royal Class attracted popular demand, causing some trips of the sleeper bus to be sold out.

On October 13, 2023, during the 78th anniversary event of Victory Liner, the bus company launched its Royal Class sleeper bus for its Baguio, Tabuk, and Tuguegarao services.^[13] The new buses were manufactured by Volvo, with Thaco assmebling the structural body.^[14] The videos of the sleeper buses went viral on social media, causing some Royal Class trips to be sold out due to popular demand. Passenger services of the Royal Class sleeper buses begun on October 23.^[15] As part of the anniversary, Victory Liner also restored its "Jardinera" vintage bus. The type, which was the very first bus that plied the Manila–Olongapo route in 1945,^[16] embarked on a "Nostalgia Ride" tour around several tourist spots in Baguio.^[17]

Fleet

Victory Liner maintains and operates different buses from various manufacturers.

Fare classes

Interior of a first class bus in 2023

Each and every unit of their buses has its own fare classes:

• Ordinary Fare: 3×2 seating (60 seater)
• Regular Airconditioned: 2×2 seating (45/49 seater)
• Deluxe: 2×2 seating with more leg room, USB–A charging ports and lavatory on board (41 seater)
• First Class: 2×1 seating spacious top–rated seats with leg support and footrest, media on–demand monitors, USB–A charging ports, a lavatory on board and free snacks with bottled mineral water are given to each passengers (29 seater)
• Royal Class: 1×1×1 double decker reclinable bed with a curtain in every suite for privacy, a blanket, USB A and C charging ports, cup holder, reading light, individual aircon vents, a lavatory on board, plus free amenity kit and snacks with a choice of warm or cold bottled mineral water are given to each passengers (28 beds)^[13]

Note: Baguio First Class and Royal Class has a stewardess, while Cagayan/Isabela/Tabuk First Class and Royal Class has no stewardess.

Stations and terminals

Provincial

Victory Liner's terminal in Olongapo

Central Luzon

• Pampanga
  • Apalit - San Vicente, Apalit, Pampanga
  • San Fernando - Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga
  • Mabalacat - Dau Bus Terminal, R9, Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga
• Bataan
  • Balanga - Bataan City Terminal, Ibayo, Balanga, Bataan
• Zambales
  • Iba - Palanginan, Iba, Zambales
  • Olongapo - West Bajac-bajac, Olongapo
  • Santa Cruz - Poblacion North, Santa Cruz, Zambales
• Tarlac
  • Tarlac City - Zamora St, Tarlac City, Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
  • San Jose - AH26, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

Ilocos Region

• Pangasinan
  • Sison - Sison Bus Stop, MacArthur Hwy, Sison, Pangasinan
  • Alaminos - Quezon Avenue, Poblacion, Alaminos, Pangasinan
  • Bolinao - Concordia, Bolinao, Pangasinan
  • Dagupan - Perez Boulevard, Herrero-Perez, Dagupan
  • Lingayen - Avenida Rizal East, Lingayen, Pangasinan

Cordillera Administrative Region

• Baguio
  • Baguio - Upper Session Road, Barangay Marcoville, Baguio
• Kalinga
  • Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga
  • Daguitan Street, Poblacion, Dagupan Weste, Tabuk, Kalinga

Cagayan Valley

• Nueva Vizcaya
  • Aritao - CCQ Bus Stop and Resto, AH26, Dupax Del Sur, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya
• Isabela
  • Cauayan - Dy-Seven Gasoline Station, San Fermin, Cauayan, Isabela
  • Ilagan - Guinatan, Ilagan, Isabela
  • Roxas - Bantug, Roxas, Isabela
  • Santiago - Calao East, Santiago, Isabela
• Cagayan
  • Aparri - United Petron Station 2, Gen. Luna St., Macanaya District, Aparri, Cagayan
  • Tuao - Tuao Integrated Bus Terminal, Tuao, Cagayan
  • Tuguegarao - Maharlika Highway, Penge-Ruyu, Tuguegarao, Cagayan

Destinations

Source:^[18]

Metro Manila

Buses of Victory Liner at its Kamias terminal in Quezon City

• Monumento, Caloocan City
• Cubao, Quezon City
• Kamias, Quezon City
• Earnshaw Sampaloc, Manila
• EDSA, Pasay

Provincial

Old Baguio bus terminal of Victory Liner for short inter-provincial routes.

• Calumpit, Bulacan
• Malolos, Bulacan
• Apalit, Pampanga
• San Fernando, Pampanga
• Guagua, Pampanga
• Mabalacat, Pampanga (Dau Bus Terminal)
• Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
• Balanga, Bataan
• Olongapo, Zambales
• Iba, Zambales
• Santa Cruz, Zambales
• Tarlac City, Tarlac
• Alaminos, Pangasinan
• Calasiao, Pangasinan
• Bolinao, Pangasinan
• Dagupan, Pangasinan
• Rosales, Pangasinan
• Manaoag, Pangasinan
• Lingayen, Pangasinan
• Sison, Pangasinan
• Agoo, La Union
• Baguio, Benguet
• San Jose, Nueva Ecija
• Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya
• Roxas, Isabela
• Santiago, Isabela
• Ilagan, Isabela
• Cauayan, Isabela
• Aparri, Cagayan
• Tuao, Cagayan
• Tuguegarao, Cagayan
• Tabuk, Kalinga

Note: All regular service buses pass through the SCTEX Concepcion/Luisita Exit. Metro Manila-Cagayan Valley buses use the TPLEX Pura Exit, while Baguio First Class buses use the TPLEX Pozorrubio Exit or TPLEX Rosario Exit.

Former destinations

• Divisoria, Manila
• Gonzaga, Cagayan
• Jones, Isabela
• San Carlos, Pangasinan
• Banaue, Ifugao
• Santa Ana, Cagayan
• Tayug, Pangasinan
• Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija
• Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
• Mariveles, Bataan

Subsidiaries

• Five Star Bus Company
• Bataan Transit
• First North Luzon Transit
• Luzon Cisco Transport
• Bicol Isarog Transport System
• German Espiritu Liner

Gallery

• Victory Liner buses
• 
  Yutong ZK6122HD9
• 
  MAN A85 18.280 (Santarosa Motorworks "Modulo" body)
• 
  Daewoo BV115 (Santarosa Motorworks "Jetliner" body)
• 
  Hyundai Universe Space Luxury "Premium"
• 
  Nissan Diesel PKB212N (Santarosa Motorworks "Exfoh" body)
• 
  MAN R39 18.350 (Almazora Motors "Tourist Star Deluxe" body)
• 
  Daewoo BH117H (Santarosa Motorworks "Cityliner" body)
• 
  King Long XMQ6117Y3
• 
  Volvo B7R (Del Monte Motor Works DM16 S2 body)
• 
  Volvo B8R (THACO Mobihome Limousine body)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victory Liner.