Victory Liner

Victory Liner, Inc.
	A Victory Liner DMMW Volvo B8R bus heading back to Caloocan from Tuguegarao.
Founded	October 15, 1945; 78 years ago
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
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.^{[citation needed]}

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^[when?], 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,^[when?] 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]

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.

Current

Santarosa Motor Works

Daewoo BV115 Cityliner
Daewoo BV115 Jetliner
Daewoo BF106 Cityliner (non-airconditioned units)
Daewoo BS106 Cityliner
Daewoo BH117H Cityliner
Hyundai NV620
Iveco Euromidi CC150
MAN RR3 19.360 Modulo
MAN R39 18.350 Modulo
MAN A85 18.280 Modulo
Nissan Diesel RB46S Exfoh
Nissan Diesel JA450SSN Exfoh
Nissan Diesel PKB212N Exfoh
Nissan Diesel SP215NSB Exfoh

Zyle Daewoo Corporation

Daewoo FX120 Cruising Star
Daewoo FX212 Super Cruiser

Higer Bus

Higer V91 KLQ6119QE3
Higer A80 KLQ6123K

Hino Motors

Hino RK1JST
Hino RK1JMT
Hino RN8J

Hyundai Motor Company

Hyundai Universe Space Classic
Hyundai Universe Space Comfort
Hyundai Universe Space Luxury (including Powertec variants)
Hyundai Universe Xpress Noble
Hyundai Super Aero City
Hyundai Unicity

Kia Motors

Kia Granbird Parkway
Kia Granbird Bluesky
Kia Granbird Silkroad
Kia Granbird Sunshine

King Long

King Long XMQ6117Y3

Almazora Motors

Hyundai Tourist Star RE (Hyundai Universe chassis)
MAN Tourist Star RE Deluxe R39 18.350 HOCL
MAN Tourist Star RE Regio 18.350 HOCL
MAN Tourist Star RE Regio RR3 19.360 HOCL

Yutong

Yutong ZK6105H
Yutong ZK6107HA
Yutong ZK6122HD9
Yutong ZK6128H
Yutong ZK6129H

Autodelta Coach Builders

Volvo B7R
Volvo B8R
Volvo B11R
Guilin Daewoo GL6127HKC1
THACO Mobihome Volvo B8R

Del Monte Motor Works

DM10 Series 2
DM14 Series 1
DM14 Series 3 (Hino RK8J chassis and Hyundai Aero Space chassis)
Volvo B7R DM16 Series 2
DM18 (MAN RR3 19.360 chassis)
DM23 (MAN RR3 19.360 chassis)

Former

Ankai

Ankai HFF6110KO6D

Almazora Motors

MAN Lion's Star 18.310
MAN Travel Star 18.310

Del Monte Motor Works

DM12 Series 1
Lion's Star

Hyundai Motor Company

Hyundai Aero Space LS
Hyundai Aero Queen
Hyundai Aero City (1st-generation)

Isuzu Motors

Isuzu Cubic (1st-generation)

King Long

King Long XMQ6118Y (Nissan Diesel PE6-T engine)
King Long XMQ6119T
King Long XMQ6126Y

MAN Truck & Bus

MAN 16.290
MAN A55 18.310

Mitsubishi Fuso

Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Bus

UD Nissan Diesel

Nissan Diesel Philippines Corporation

Nissan Diesel Euro Trans JA430SAN
Nissan Diesel Euro Trans RB46SR

Santarosa Motor Works

Santarosa MAN Exfoh Hi-Deck
Santarosa MAN Explorer
Santarosa Nissan Diesel CPB87N
Santarosa Nissan Diesel NV620
Santarosa Nissan Diesel Flexi
Santarosa Nissan Diesel Flexstar
Santarosa Nissan Diesel SDX

Kassbohrer-Setra

Setra S215

Kia Motors

Kia Granbird KM948 SD-II
Kia Granbird HD

Yutong

Yutong ZK6100H

Fare classes

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

Metro Manila

Rizal Avenue Extension, Caloocan
EDSA Cubao, Quezon City
EDSA Kamias, Quezon City
EDSA Pasay
Earnshaw St., Sampaloc, Manila

Provincial

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

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

Provincial

Note: All regular service buses pass through the Metro Manila-SCTEX Concepcion/Luisita Exit enters from Zambales, then enters from Tarlac to Benguet. Metro Manila-Cagayan Valley buses use the TPLEX Pura Exit, while Baguio First Class buses use the TPLEX Pozorrubio Exit and Baguio Royal Class buses use the TPLEX Rosario Exit.