Victory Liner

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Victory Liner, Inc., is one of the largest and pioneer bus companies in the Philippines today, it is a "product" of the ruins of the Japanese occupation.

1 "Victory Joe" - origin of the name Victory Liner
2 History
3 Photos
4 List of passenger terminals

[edit] "Victory Joe" - origin of the name Victory Liner

The phrase "Victory Joe", reminiscent of America's victory in the World War II became a household word. Since Hernandez's first name is Jose, the English version of which is "Joe", Mr. Hernandez thought that Victory Liner would be a catchy name for his enterprise and so he adapted it.

[edit] History

Founded by Mr. Jose I. Hernandez Sr., a pre-war mechanic, he collected bits and pieces of machinery, metals and spare parts from abandoned U.S. Military vehicles. He intended to build a delivery truck from scratch for his family's buy and sell 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.

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.

[edit] 1960s

Victory Liner pioneered in the conversion of front engine buses and the use of steel-bodied buses. In the late 1960s,the company adapted the use of diesel engines for its growing fleet.

[edit] 1970s

Victory Liner provided the riding public with air-conditioned provincial bus service, a novelty at that time. It was also the first bus company to institute the queuing system for orderly boarding of buses.

[edit] 1980s

Victory Liner was the first to use the automatic transmission (the General Motors, Allison Transmission automatic transmission) for its buses, and the use of television and video facilities in its buses. Also, during this decade the company embarked on an aggressive training program for its drivers, conductors, and mechanics on proper road safety, customer service, and bus maintenance. The company started expanding its franchise routes as well.

[edit] 1990s - present

The emergence of new bus terminals in strategic locations in Metro Manila. It has maintained stability amidst setbacks resulting from the 1990 earthquake, the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the 1992 withdrawal of U.S Military Bases, the 1995 heavy lahar flows, and the high borrowing cost that crippled the country’s economy since July 11, 1997 de facto devaluation , all of which adversely affected its main routes.

Also, today, Victory Liner is now utilizing Hyundai, King Long, Nissan, MAN, and Isuzu buses.

Though times are harder than it was 50 years ago, the company is continuously undertaking an aggressive computerization program of its systems along with the ongoing modernization and upgrading of its bus fleet and facilities.

[edit] Recent Incidents

Last November 30, 2006, about 4:30pm (16:35), a Victory Liner aircon bus exploded and burned at the Olongapo City terminal after a bomb detonated. The bus conductor was killed instantly when he inspected a box inside the bus that was left by a passenger, the box exploded and killed the conductor instantly. Luckily the passengers had just disembarked from the bus when the bomb exploded. The driver also luckily escaped when he got of the bus to report to the dispatcher. Some bystanders was also injured by the blast and suffered burns. The Olongapo City Fire Department responded immediately and took off the flames from the burning bus. Olongapo City Mayor James "Bong" Gordon also responded to the scene together with the police and medical teams.

The Victory Liner bus with a body number 1565 was from Pasay City enroute to Olongapo. The New People's Army was suspected responsible for the bombing because the company was not able to pay revolutionary taxes.