Victory Liner Bus

Most of my life has been spent for Victory Liner Inc. and I can very well say that a proud heritage binds us here in the VLI family. I speak for the driver who maintains a safe, constant speed; the conductor who helps carry the baggage for the elderly passenger; the maintenance and service personnel who make the buses run like the well-oiled machines that they are; and the thousands of men and women – passengers, office and field personnel, staff, creditors, consultants, etc. – who went on board in our relentless pursuit of excellence in the transport service. On this 65th year, I can gratefully say, we have driven ourselves to do our best.

Like a driver behind the wheel, I know that there are still many challenges ahead. When my father passed on the helm of VLI, he taught me to take care of the passengers like they were my family. He said that we must make sure that they get to their destinations in the best and safest conditions possible. As a metaphor, he told me to have both hands on the wheel for stability, both feet alert on the pedals (not too fast and know when to stop), both eyes on the road so I may see where I am going and remember where I’ve been; and most importantly to be whole-hearted in my job and promote industrial peace.

Technology gives us buses but the people – mechanics, drivers, conductors, inspectors, dispatchers, staff and administration, even our bankers, suppliers, and the media and local governments – together make it happen. With the loyal support of the Board of Directors, my family, and the VLI family this company hurdled many challenges to the Philippine economy - the massive 1990 Luzon earthquake, the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the 1992 pull-out of the American bases in Olongapo, and the 1997 Asian financial crisis - and survived.

As the driving force of VLI, my parents also passed on to my generation the value of research and taking things to the next level. In these six decades, VLI has pioneered in the local transport industry: in the 1960s, importation of a completely built-up bus, conversion of the front-engine to rear-engine buses, use of steel-bodied buses and diesel engines; in the 1970s, air-conditioned provincial bus service and queuing systems; by the 1980s, radio communications, automatic transmission and “video-on-board” for buses. During the 1990s VLI enhanced its management information systems and launched intensive human resource training and development, including on-the-job training for the next generation. In the third millenium, we welcomed the public to our modern Passenger Center in Baguio City, the summer capital, using corporate video footage and providing direct access to the fastest growing business hotel franchise in the country.

The Hernandez Family, in turn, committed a Family Council to mobilize the next generation for the Family Charter and Family Vision.