Victory Liner

Victory Liner, Inc. (VLI) is a bus company in the Philippines that was established in 1945 by José Hernandez, is recognized as one of the primary providers of bus transportation in the Philippines, servicing key locations across Luzon. Initially using a fleet of repurposed military vehicles, the company was instrumental in meeting the post-WWII demand for public transport.

Over the years, Victory Liner has strategically grown its operations, upgrading its fleet and expanding service routes to meet the evolving needs of travelers. Today, it operates a comprehensive network that connects Central and Northern Luzon provinces, such as Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Benguet (Baguio City), Pangasinan, Bataan, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and Cagayan.

Victory Liner deploys more than 1,000 buses in its daily operations.

Etymology
The name "Victory Liner" draws its inspiration from the post-World War II era sentiment. In the 1940s, the term "Victory Joe," a nod to America's victory, resonated widely within the Philippines. José Hernandez, correlating his first name "Jose" with the English equivalent "Joe," deemed "Victory Liner" an apt and evocative name for his emerging transport business.

This naming choice coincided with the company's early expansion, incorporating a team that included Hernandez as a driver-mechanic and Angel Mangahas in a similar role, with Leonardo D. Trinidad (a brother-in-law) as the conductor, Santiago Crisostomo as the mechanic, and Marta, Hernandez's wife, overseeing finances. Subsequently, Eugenio D. Trinidad, another brother-in-law, joined as a helper-conductor, contributing to the growing family operation.

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.

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. 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.

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

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.

In April 2012, Victory Liner partnered with AirAsia Philippines to provide shuttle service for inbound and outbound passengers of Clark International Airport.

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.

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. The new buses were manufactured by Volvo, with Thaco assmebling the structural body. 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. 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, embarked on a "Nostalgia Ride" tour around several tourist spots in Baguio.

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 (cargo units)
 * Nissan Diesel JA450SSN Exfoh
 * Nissan Diesel PKB212N Exfoh
 * Nissan Diesel SP215NSB Exfoh (cargo units)


 * Zyle Daewoo Corporation


 * Daewoo FX120 Cruising Star
 * Daewoo FX212 Super Cruiser


 * Higer Bus
 * V91 KLQ6119QE3
 * 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 Aero Space 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 ZK6119HA
 * Yutong ZK6122HD9
 * Yutong ZK6128H
 * Yutong ZK6129H


 * Autodelta Coach Builders
 * Volvo B7R
 * Volvo B8R
 * Volvo B11R
 * 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
 * Euro
 * 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 UA
 * Nissan Diesel Space Arrow


 * 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


 * Autodelta Coach Builders
 * Guilin Daewoo GL6127HKC1

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
 * Royal Class: 1×1×1 double decker reclinable bed with a curtain in every suite (28 beds)

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

Metro Manila

 * Rizal Avenue Extension, Caloocan
 * EDSA Cubao, Quezon City
 * EDSA Kamias, Quezon City
 * EDSA Pasay
 * Earnshaw St., Sampaloc, Manila
 * Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, Parañaque

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:

Metro Manila

 * Monumento, Caloocan City
 * Cubao, Quezon City
 * Kamias, Quezon City
 * Earnshaw Sampaloc, Manila
 * EDSA, Pasay
 * Divisoria, Manila
 * Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, Parañaque

Provincial

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

Inter-Provincial Routes (vice versa)
Olongapo
 * Baguio (via SCTEX/TPLEX or San Fernando/Tarlac)
 * Balanga
 * Clark International Airport (via SCTEX)
 * Dau (via San Fernando)
 * Iba
 * Sta. Cruz

'''Sta. Cruz'''
 * Alaminos
 * Baguio (via Agoo)
 * Dagupan
 * Olongapo

Dagupan
 * Baguio (via Agoo or Manaoag)
 * Bolinao (via Agoo)
 * Clark International Airport
 * Roxas (via Cauayan)
 * Santiago
 * Sta. Cruz (via Agoo)
 * Tuguegarao

Baguio
 * Olongapo (via SCTEX/TPLEX or San Fernando/Tarlac)
 * Dagupan (via Agoo or Manaoag)
 * Sta. Cruz (via Agoo)
 * Bolinao (via Agoo)

Tuguegarao
 * Balanga (via Dau/San Fernando)
 * Dagupan
 * Dau
 * San Fernando

Former destinations

 * Gonzaga, Cagayan
 * Jones, Isabela
 * San Carlos, Pangasinan
 * Banaue, Ifugao
 * Santa Ana, Cagayan
 * Tayug, Pangasinan
 * Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija
 * Mariveles, Bataan

Subsidiaries

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