The eradication of buses mostly the routes going to Dagupan City from other towns like Pozorrubio, Binalonan, San Nicolas, and Urdaneta City is abruptly noticeable. Buses dominated the province for decades. But before they were pushed away by the most lean and comfortable vans, once upon a time there was a name which controlled the roads not only in Pangasinan but the whole northern Luzon.
Pantranco was the most popular bus company in northern Luzon. At the high peak of its speed in highways, it even surpasses what the Victory Liner is of today. It was not only in along the roads where Pantranco ruled but the prestigious and wide terminals it once have had which are bigger than malls were the evidence of being the “king of buses”. Almost all the towns of Northern Luzon were covered by Pantranco.
It’s been nearly two decades when all the terminals were closed but until now they call these places “Pantranco”. In Manila the routes are still called: Cubao-Pantranco, Munoz-Pantranco, UP-Pantranco, and Lagro-Pantranco.
Ten years ago we passed those defected and rotten buses on our way from Bonuan Beach going to San Fabian. Also I always looked at the area along the stop light in downtown Dagupan that was the terminal of Pantranco which is now utilized as bus, jepneeys, and vans station.
It is really interesting for me because just recently I’d found out that the meaning of Pantranco is Pangasinan Transit Company. One of the fact that instigate me to write about it.
What happened to Pantranco? I don’t have the accurate answer but the it is commonplace to hear, “It was owned by the Marcos cronies; when Marcos was gone so did the Pantranco”.
9 responses so far ↓
Anonymous // Dec 26, 2006 at 8:43 pm
I am from Pangasinan, but grew up in the US. When I went home (Pangasinan) in 1989 for the first time, I noticed that Pantranco is gone. I asked my cousin who was a Patranco driver, and he told me that it went BK. The government tried to save it because of its name, but failed due to corrouption. I do not know, if this is true or not, but I hope it helps.
Anonymous // Jan 8, 2007 at 8:38 am
I missed riding the Pantranco…also the drivers and conductors..hilig nila sa chicks..lahat ng destino nila..may chicks sila..anyways. miss ko yong pwede kang magpadala sa mga drivers ng mga sulat o padala sa manila, tapos puntahan mo na lang sa west ave station.. kasi mga drivers at conductors mga kapitbahay..
sana may mag-dare na mag revive!it is still a piece of history..
Anonymous // Jan 12, 2007 at 3:04 am
I grew up in Lingayen, Pangasinan and really missed seeing those red color with yellow band buses known as PANTRANCO.I can recall those early buses wherein it is open on the right side and the conductor has to cling to the side going to the rows of passenger seats to give the tickets and collect fares. One prominent safety motto marked infront on top of driver side reads like this “LESS TALK MORE PRECAUTION”.
Anonymous // Feb 1, 2007 at 1:31 am
i could still remember the time,when my late father would carry me to enter one of the windows of a pantranco bus,to get an edge from the other passengers to save our family seats.specially during peak season/holidays.
Anonymous // Feb 28, 2007 at 3:18 pm
“What happened to PANTRANCO?” - it you trace the history why this known bus company submerged to this dismal condition. Pakitanong lang si OCA ORBOS ng dating Secretary ng DOTC sa panahon ng Aquino Administration. It is the result of power-play, greed and corruption.
Anonymous // Mar 1, 2007 at 3:35 am
sinabi mo!….bulls-eye na bull-eye amigo. Mahirap magsalita. yong uncle ko na sa audit noong araw, wow daming yumaman sa pantraco sabi niya.kaya lang tikom ang bibig . anong history-history, pag pera na bale wala yan basta magkamal lang.
Anonymous // Mar 10, 2007 at 4:09 am
Ayaw ni Manong Oca yong intriga sa kanya ah?…Saka hindi naman tumatakbo sa election kaya OK lang…
Anonymous // Mar 10, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Ang balita sa araw na ito, si manong Oca Orbos , balak ata tumakbo na pagka-gobernador ng Pangasinan. At suportado ng CBCP.
Anonymous // Apr 4, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Umatras na si pareng OCA sa pagkandidato ng gobernador…Sayang, mas matino pa naman ito kompara sa ibang kandidato…Mabuhay ka pareng OCA, may araw din ang pagtakbo mo para sa ikakaunlad ng probinsiya natin!