Dominion Bus Lines

Dominion Bus Lines is a Philippine bus transportation company associated with passenger and freight operations along the Ilocos corridor. Its services connect Metro Manila with destinations in northwestern Luzon, including locations in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and nearby areas. The company is described as operating around the clock and carrying both passengers and freight, with freight shipments handled through a waybill service. Dominion emerged from the assets and route network of Times Transit Transportation Co., a bus operator established in the 1960s by the Rondaris family. Times Transit was founded by Timoteo and Estelita Rondaris and later inherited and operated by their son Santiago Rondaris. The name “TIMES” was derived from the family’s names. The Rondarises also operated Shooting Star Freight Service, which addressed freight-transport requirements in Ilocos Sur and complemented Times Transit’s passenger business. Times Transit developed a recognizable presence in northern Philippine bus transportation. Its earlier fleet included International Harvester Loadstar and S-Series buses, as well as Loadstar wreckers. Many vehicles used white, green, and red paintwork, while some carried a green-and-white scheme. The company also operated distinctive express buses built on International Harvester platforms with Superior Coach bodies manufactured under license by Manila Motor Works. Later, the operator introduced air-conditioned buses, including Hino vehicles using the Grandtheater configuration. This placed Times Transit among a relatively small group of northern operators using that configuration at the time. The former Times network extended from Laoag City in Ilocos Norte to Manila, with additional services to Bangued in Abra and Baguio. Its principal northern terminal in Vigan became especially recognizable because of its unusual terminal architecture and prominent illuminated sign. Other facilities included a terminal, refueling stop, employee dormitory, and garages in Bantay and Vigan. Several former Times properties later changed use after the original operation ended, with portions of the Vigan terminal leased to commercial establishments and other transport operators. A labor dispute between management and the employees’ union contributed to the collapse of Times Transit during the 1990s. Approximately a year later, MENCORP acquired some of the company’s assets, including newer air-conditioned Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso, and Mercedes-Benz buses, and established Dominion Bus Lines. Dominion retained most of the predecessor’s routes, although the Baguio service was discontinued during the transition. Dominion’s fleet has included buses from manufacturers such as Golden Dragon, Daewoo, Yutong, and Higer. Its service classes have included Standard Airconditioned and VIP offerings divided into Deluxe, Super Deluxe, and Pathfinder categories. The company’s vehicle-numbering conventions distinguish ordinary and Pathfinder VIP units by prefixes beginning with 80 and 88 respectively. Dominion’s identity therefore combines the route heritage of Times Transit with a successor fleet and operating structure focused on long-distance services between Manila and the Ilocos region.

Dominion Bus Lines traces its operating heritage to Times Transit Transportation Co., a bus company established in the Philippines during the 1960s. Times Transit was created by Timoteo and Estelita Rondaris and was subsequently inherited and operated by their son, Santiago Rondaris. The company’s name was associated with the names of the original Rondaris founders. The family also operated Shooting Star Freight Service in Ilocos Sur, providing freight-moving capacity alongside the passenger routes. In its early period, Times Transit used International Harvester Loadstar and S-Series buses, together with Loadstar wreckers. Its buses commonly carried a white, green, and red livery, although some vehicles used green and white. The operator was also known for express buses based on International Harvester platforms and fitted with Superior Coach bodies built under license by Manila Motor Works. These buses gave the company a distinctive fleet identity in northern Luzon. Times Transit later modernized parts of its fleet with air-conditioned buses. Among these were Hino vehicles using the Grandtheater configuration, a format also used by a limited number of other bus companies operating in northern Luzon. The company’s service network extended between Manila and Laoag City, with routes or associated services reaching Bangued in Abra and Baguio. Its terminal in Vigan, located along Quezon Avenue, became notable for its unusual design and highly visible sign. Times also operated facilities in Bantay, including a terminal-related refueling point, employee dormitory, and garages. The company eventually encountered a labor dispute involving management and its employees’ union. The dispute contributed to Times Transit’s collapse in the 1990s. Around a year after the shutdown, MENCORP acquired selected Times assets and formed Dominion Bus Lines. The acquired assets included newer air-conditioned buses from Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso, and Mercedes-Benz, including Hino Grandtheater units. Dominion continued most of the predecessor’s route structure, but the Baguio route was not retained. The transition changed the use of several former Times properties. The Vigan terminal became smaller than its original footprint as sections were leased to commercial businesses, including a gasoline station and a private school, and later to Viron Transit. A former garage behind Mira Hills in Vigan was also used by Viron Transit. In Bantay, the former Times refueling and garage complex ceased operating as a bus facility and portions were subsequently occupied by food businesses and other commercial uses. Another Bantay garage near Quirino Stadium remained standing and was later occupied by a soft-drink distributor. Dominion developed a fleet that included Golden Dragon, Daewoo, Yutong, and Higer models. Its published service categories included Standard Airconditioned, VIP Deluxe, VIP Super Deluxe, and VIP Pathfinder. The company used a numbering convention in which many units carried numbers beginning with 80, while Pathfinder VIP vehicles used numbers beginning with 88. Its business remains centered on passenger and freight movement between Metro Manila and northwestern Luzon, preserving the corridor associated with its Times Transit predecessor while operating under the Dominion name.

• 2013

  Viron Transit begins using part of the former Vigan terminal

  [1]Dominion Bus Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Beginning May 20, 2013, Viron Transit uses part of the former Times terminal in Vigan.

• 1990

  Labor dispute contributes to Times Transit’s collapse

  [1]Dominion Bus Linesen.wikipedia.org

  A dispute between management and the employees’ union contributes to the shutdown of Times Transit.

• 1960

  Times Transit Transportation Co. is established

  [1]Dominion Bus Linesen.wikipedia.org

  The Rondaris family establishes Times Transit, the predecessor organization from which Dominion Bus Lines later emerged.

• Times Transit expands its northern Luzon network

  [1]Dominion Bus Linesen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor operates routes linking Manila with Laoag and services associated with Bangued and Baguio, while also developing facilities in Vigan and Bantay.

• Times Transit introduces newer air-conditioned buses

  [1]Dominion Bus Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Hino buses, including vehicles using the Grandtheater configuration, join the predecessor’s fleet alongside existing International Harvester-based vehicles.

• MENCORP forms Dominion Bus Lines

  [1]Dominion Bus Linesen.wikipedia.org

  MENCORP acquires selected Times Transit assets and establishes Dominion Bus Lines, retaining most of the predecessor’s routes but ending the Baguio service.

A regional, long-distance bus operator serving the Manila–Ilocos corridor, with both standard air-conditioned transportation and differentiated VIP service classes.

• Passenger bus service

  Standard Airconditioned

  The company’s standard air-conditioned intercity service for passengers traveling along its Metro Manila–northwestern Luzon network. This category represents the conventional long-distance offering inherited in broad route terms from the Times Transit operating tradition.

• Premium passenger bus service

  VIP Deluxe

  A premium service class positioned above standard air-conditioned transportation. The available reference identifies Deluxe as one of Dominion’s VIP categories but does not specify detailed seat, amenity, timetable, or fare features.

• Premium passenger bus service

  VIP Super Deluxe

  A higher-tier VIP service within Dominion’s class structure. It is presented as distinct from Deluxe and Pathfinder, although the available material does not document its precise onboard amenities or operating schedule.

• Premium passenger bus service

  VIP Pathfinder

  Dominion’s Pathfinder-branded VIP category. Pathfinder vehicles are associated with a separate numbering convention beginning with 88, distinguishing them from buses using the company’s broader 80-series numbering pattern.

• Freight transportation

  Waybill freight service

  A freight-shipping service carried alongside passenger operations. Shipments are referred to as waybills, allowing goods to move between the company’s served locations along the Manila and Ilocos corridor.

• Formation of Dominion from Times Transit assetsStrategy

  Background

  Times Transit collapsed after a labor dispute during the 1990s, leaving assets and an established northern Luzon route network available for acquisition.

  Action taken

  MENCORP acquired selected buses and other assets and created Dominion Bus Lines. Most Times Transit routes were maintained, while the Baguio route was discontinued.

  Aftermath

  Dominion became the successor operator associated with the Manila–Ilocos corridor, using a newer inherited air-conditioned fleet and a revised corporate identity.

  Source

1. 1Dominion Bus Linesen.wikipedia.org