SINCE 1945, Victory Liner buses have been made the icons of the road, bringing people and goods faster, safer from their points of origin to their destinations.
It all started with Don Jose Hernandez, of Macabebe, Pampanga and Quezon City, who was supposed to be making a delivery van for his family‘s rice-corn-vegetables-laundry soap business when in a twist of events, made a vehicle that can carry people as passengers instead.
Don Jose was an entrepreneur with a propensity for mechanics.
After the war, he collected surplus engines and spare parts of M-38 military jeeps and Chevy trucks that were abandoned by the United States military after their presence in the Philippines.
A Chinese by the name of Po Chuan made the design but Don Jose has decided that the lowly bus would be best if used for transporting people and not merchandize.
Soon, buses transporting passengers along with their goods were seen plying the Olongapo-Carriedo (Manila) route, one of the Victory Liner Inc. (VLI) oldest franchised route.
Through the years, VLI has experienced many challenges, setbacks and financial difficulties.
It has suffered the country’s and the world’s financial difficulties, economic crises, stiff competition among the transport sector and others such as the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo with several years of lahar onslaught as the aftermath, the 1990 Luzon earthquake, the pull-out of the US military naval base in Olongapo City, among others.
Despite such, it managed to endure and remain standing, serving the public for seven decades now.
It is even regularly expanding and improving its services such as annual re-fleeting of their buses which total to almost a thousand now.
Annually, VLI adds about a hundred new buses to their fleet.
Regularly, it conducts driving safety training to its drivers including other matters such as driving on speed limits, giving utmost courtesy and assistance to passengers and how to handle and safe keep their belongings.
Many of VLI’s buses are equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, assuring the riding public of their safety while traveling to their destinations. Of course, there are videos on board on these vehicles that provide entertainment to the people while on the bus.
There are luxury buses of the VLI for long trips which are equipped with comfort rooms and are complemented with stewardesses to provide assistance, comfort and convenience to travelers.
Normally, VLI buses adheres to the no-standing policy but sometimes, insistent passengers who are in a hurry on their travel during rush hours and peak gets in the way. With their modern, spacious buses however, the ease and accessibility of bus riders are still assured.
Around 80 percent of VLI buses offer free Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity). This gives techie people their opportunity to communicate or simply browse on their internet and smart phones while en route to the places they will be going. This is an added feature that some VLI competitors do not have.
Honestly, taking the bus is more convenient than driving myself to the place where I am going to. I can be assured of easy and comfortable travel especially if it’s a Victory Liner bus that I am riding on. Saving on fuel and energy if stuck in traffic are a bonus for a frequent traveler like me.
Having a fast, safe and convenient land travel, is more than a victory for me while traveling on a bus named after the word victory the people are chanting after the American and Filipino soldiers won against the Japanese invaders.
This month, Victory Liner is celebrating its 70th year anniversary. It won’t stay that long in the bus industry if not for its safe and quality transport services it provides to the public.
Congratulations and may it continuously grow further, to the great satisfaction of travelers.
r***
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