Victory Liner, Inc., one of the largest and pioneer bus companies in the country today, is a “product” of the ruins of the Japanese occupation .

Mr. Jose I. Hernandez Sr. - Founder

          Mr. Jose I. Hernandez Sr. was 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 from scratch a delivery truck 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.

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.

“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.

1960’s

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

1970’s

          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.

1980’s

          Victory Liner was the first to use the automatic transmission (the GM-Allison 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.

1990’s – 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 US 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.

          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.

          Thus Victory Liner strives to move people better…safer… for many more years to come.

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