Philippine Rabbit
Encyclopedia
Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines, Inc. (PRBL) is considered one of the pioneering bus companies in the Philippines. It was founded in 1946.
The company's area of coverage extends from Metro Manila to northern provinces of Pampanga
, Bataan
, Zambales
Tarlac
, Pangasinan
, La Union
, Benguet
, Quezon
, Ilocos Sur
, Ilocos Norte
, and Abra
. Its main terminal in Metro Manila
is in Avenida Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Trivia), and to urban legend, the name Philippine Rabbit was coined by accident, when the first of its buses were mistakenly painted Philippine Rabbit instead of the intended Philippine Rapid.
However, Mr. Ricardo L. Paras, the GM as the employees fondly call him, explains that the Company was named PHILIPPINE RABBIT was actually in reference to the animal pet RABBIT because of its speed and agility, and not to mention how fast they pro-create. Secondly, the first acquisition of buses by the company then showed that the main body feature of the bus was shaped like the Rabbit. The Company was known then as PHILIPPINE RABBIT BUS COMPANY in 1948 until it was incorporated in August 1958 as the PHILIPPINE RABBIT BUS LINES, INCORPORATED or simply PRBL.
, Philippine Rabbit operates to and from the Metro Manila
and northern provinces along strategic routes.
They started with the familiar Isuzu
buses with red livery with a yellowish-brown stripe, illuminated destination indicator and illuminated company logo on the bus' front, bus numbers prominently displayed on strategic areas (including the roof), and route codes on its bumpers (the hallmark of a Philippine Rabbit bus). Some of the units then featured panoramic windows and are painted white with red stripe in the middle and red lettering (dubbed as the "White Rabbits," which served as tourist buses for Rabbitours) -- an upgrade of their earlier buses. These buses were unique from buses being operated by other bus companies, given that their rivet-studded bodies were mostly created and maintained by their own skilled mechanics.
During the early 90's, the company supplanted their fleet with the latest-model white air conditioned UD Nissan Diesel, Hino
and Mitsubishi Fuso buses, which, at the time, were the most modern in the country. The company then has employed a new livery for its recently-acquired bus units.
The company was on its darkest times in the late 90's and the first part of the following decade. Its workforce led a strike, which resulted to temporary suspension of the company's operations.
In order to regain losses after the strike, the company had to sell many of its assets, including bus units, franchises, and real properties. Its area of coverage was narrowed, since the company had to give up in favor of other players some of its routes.
Philippine Rabbit may have managed to survive from its crises, but is presently in its efforts to recover and regain its former status in the past. It continues to strive to be at par with leading bus companies in terms of number of buses and providing quality and reliable transport service to its patrons.
As of today, Philippine Rabbit is utilizing buses powered by engines built by Nissan, Hino
, Isuzu
, Hyundai
, KIA
and Daewoo
.
Buses in their fleet are mostly built by Del Monte Motors Corporation, while a number are from Santarosa Philippines and Pilipinas Hino. Aside from these, the company has recently acquired imported surplus units from Korea, which comprise of Hyundai
, Daewoo
, and Kia
buses.
The company's area of coverage extends from Metro Manila to northern provinces of Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
, Zambales
Zambales
Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of...
Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
, Pangasinan
Pangasinan
Pangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,...
, La Union
La Unión
La Union or La Unión may refer to:-Colombia:*La Unión, Antioquia*La Unión, Nariño*La Unión, Sucre*La Unión, Valle del Cauca-Peru:*La Unión Province, Peru...
, Benguet
Benguet
Benguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya....
, Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
, Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital...
, Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
, and Abra
Abra
- Places :* Abra, Burkina Faso* Abra, Côte d'Ivoire* Abra , a province of the Philippines* Abra River, in the Philippines* El Abra, an archaeological excavation site in Colombia* Abra, Lebanon, a municipality of Lebanon- Other uses :...
. Its main terminal in Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
is in Avenida Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Etymology
According to Bong Barrameda (through InquirerPhilippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
Trivia), and to urban legend, the name Philippine Rabbit was coined by accident, when the first of its buses were mistakenly painted Philippine Rabbit instead of the intended Philippine Rapid.
However, Mr. Ricardo L. Paras, the GM as the employees fondly call him, explains that the Company was named PHILIPPINE RABBIT was actually in reference to the animal pet RABBIT because of its speed and agility, and not to mention how fast they pro-create. Secondly, the first acquisition of buses by the company then showed that the main body feature of the bus was shaped like the Rabbit. The Company was known then as PHILIPPINE RABBIT BUS COMPANY in 1948 until it was incorporated in August 1958 as the PHILIPPINE RABBIT BUS LINES, INCORPORATED or simply PRBL.
History
Owned and operated by the clans of Paras and Nisce, natives of Tarlac CityTarlac City
The City of Tarlac is a 1st class city in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Tarlac provincial capitol building is shown on the back of the Philippines 500 peso note that features former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr...
, Philippine Rabbit operates to and from the Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
and northern provinces along strategic routes.
They started with the familiar Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
buses with red livery with a yellowish-brown stripe, illuminated destination indicator and illuminated company logo on the bus' front, bus numbers prominently displayed on strategic areas (including the roof), and route codes on its bumpers (the hallmark of a Philippine Rabbit bus). Some of the units then featured panoramic windows and are painted white with red stripe in the middle and red lettering (dubbed as the "White Rabbits," which served as tourist buses for Rabbitours) -- an upgrade of their earlier buses. These buses were unique from buses being operated by other bus companies, given that their rivet-studded bodies were mostly created and maintained by their own skilled mechanics.
During the early 90's, the company supplanted their fleet with the latest-model white air conditioned UD Nissan Diesel, Hino
Hino
Hino can mean:A Place:*Hino, Shiga*Hino, Tokyo*Hino, Tottori*Hino District, Tottori*Lake Hino in EstoniaA Company:*Hino Motors, Ltd.A Person*Rei Hino, a character on Sailor Moon*Hikari Hino, a Japanese porn star...
and Mitsubishi Fuso buses, which, at the time, were the most modern in the country. The company then has employed a new livery for its recently-acquired bus units.
The company was on its darkest times in the late 90's and the first part of the following decade. Its workforce led a strike, which resulted to temporary suspension of the company's operations.
In order to regain losses after the strike, the company had to sell many of its assets, including bus units, franchises, and real properties. Its area of coverage was narrowed, since the company had to give up in favor of other players some of its routes.
Philippine Rabbit may have managed to survive from its crises, but is presently in its efforts to recover and regain its former status in the past. It continues to strive to be at par with leading bus companies in terms of number of buses and providing quality and reliable transport service to its patrons.
Fleet
Philippine Rabbit is one of the bus companies who popularized the Philippine Euro Bus, which was a joint project of the defunct Nissan Diesel Philippines Corp. and VDL Jonckheere. Some of these buses are still running nowadays.As of today, Philippine Rabbit is utilizing buses powered by engines built by Nissan, Hino
Hino Motors
-External links:Global* * * Overseas offices****.*.***.*.* - Philippines**...
, Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
, Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
, KIA
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
and Daewoo
Daewoo Bus
Daewoo Bus Corporation is a manufacturer of buses. headquartered in Busan, South Korea, established in 2002. These buses are primarily used for public transportation. Daewoo Bus is South Korea's second-largest bus manufacturer, and has been in parnership with GM Daewoo since 2006...
.
Buses in their fleet are mostly built by Del Monte Motors Corporation, while a number are from Santarosa Philippines and Pilipinas Hino. Aside from these, the company has recently acquired imported surplus units from Korea, which comprise of Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
, Daewoo
Daewoo
Daewoo or the Daewoo Group was a major South Korean chaebol . It was founded on 22 March 1967 as Daewoo Industrial and was dismantled by the Korean government in 1999...
, and Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
buses.
Destinations
- Metro Manila
- Avenida, ManilaSanta Cruz, ManilaSanta Cruz is located on the right bank of the Pasig River, on the northern portion of the City of Manila, near the mouth of the river, in between the districts of Tondo and Quiapo...
- BalintawakBalintawakBalintawak, also known as Balintawak Eskrima or Balintawak Arnis, is a style of Filipino martial art developed by Venancio Bacon in the 1950s from earlier tutelage of Lorenzo Saavedra. It is named after Cebu City's Balintawak Self Defense Club, where it was originally taught...
, Quezon CityQuezon CityQuezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
(defunct) - Caloocan CityCaloocan CityThe City of Caloocan is one of the cities and municipalities that comprises the Metro Manila region in the Philippines. It is a major residential area inside Metro Manila...
(defunct)
- Avenida, Manila
- Provincial Destinations
- Alaminos CityAlaminos CityAlaminos City is a 4th class city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 79,788 people in 15,527 households...
, PangasinanPangasinanPangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,... - Angeles CityAngeles CityThe City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...
, PampangaPampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast... - Baguio CityBaguio CityThe City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
, BenguetBenguetBenguet is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is La Trinidad and borders, clockwise from the south, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya.... - Bangued, AbraAbra- Places :* Abra, Burkina Faso* Abra, Côte d'Ivoire* Abra , a province of the Philippines* Abra River, in the Philippines* El Abra, an archaeological excavation site in Colombia* Abra, Lebanon, a municipality of Lebanon- Other uses :...
(either from Manila or Baguio City) - Camiling, TarlacTarlacTarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
- ConcepcionConcepcion, TarlacConcepcion is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 135,213 people in 20,851 households. The 2007 Municipal Survey counted Concepcion with 133,011 of Population....
, TarlacTarlacTarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west... - Tarlac CityTarlac CityThe City of Tarlac is a 1st class city in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. Tarlac provincial capitol building is shown on the back of the Philippines 500 peso note that features former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr...
, TarlacTarlacTarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
- Alaminos City
- Former Destinations
- Aparri, CagayanCagayanCagayan , the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. The province borders Ilocos Norte...
- Balanga CityBalanga CityBalanga City is a second class city in the province of Bataan, Region III - Central Luzon, Philippines. It is the capital city of Bataan. According to the latest census, it has a population of 84,105 people in 14,065 households. Its citizens are called Balangueños.Balanga City is primarily a...
, BataanBataanBataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north... - BolinaoBolinaoBolinao or Bolinaon may refer to:*Bolinao, Pangasinan*Bolinao language*The Philippine Anchovy , which is known in Cebuano as bolinao....
, PangasinanPangasinanPangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,... - Dagupan CityDagupan CityThe City of Dagupan is a 1st class city in the Philippines. It is an independent component city of the province of Pangasinan. According to the latest census, Dagupan City has a population of 149,554 people in 25,921 households. Located on Lingayen Gulf on the island of Luzon, Dagupan is the...
, PangasinanPangasinanPangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,... - IbaIBA-Iba:People*Clarence Iba , American basketball coach*Erol Iba , Indonesian footballer*Henry Iba , American basketball coach*Moe Iba , American basketball coach*Itsuki Iba, a fictional characterPlaces...
, ZambalesZambalesZambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of... - Laoag CityLaoag CityThe City of Laoag is a 1st class city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is the capital city of Ilocos Norte, and the province's political, commercial, and industrial hub. It is the location of the Ilocos region's only commercial airport...
, Ilocos NorteIlocos NorteIlocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
(from Quezon City/Caloocan) - Malolos CityMalolos CityCity of Malolos is a 3rd class urban component city in the Republic of the Philippines. Malolos is considered as the 115th city in the country. It is the capital city of the province of Bulacan as the seat of the provincial government...
, BulacanBulacanBulacan , officially called the Province of Bulacan or simply Bulacan Province, is a first class province of the Republic of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Region in the island of Luzon, north of Manila , and part of the Metro... - MarivelesMarivelesMariveles may refer to:* Mariveles, Bataan * Mariveles Mountains...
, BataanBataanBataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north... - San Fernando City, La UnionLa UniónLa Union or La Unión may refer to:-Colombia:*La Unión, Antioquia*La Unión, Nariño*La Unión, Sucre*La Unión, Valle del Cauca-Peru:*La Unión Province, Peru...
- Santa Cruz, ZambalesSanta Cruz, ZambalesSanta Cruz is a 2nd class municipality located on the northern edge of the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 52,202 people in 9,754 households....
(either via San Fernando. Pampanga or Alaminos, Pangasinan) - City of San Fernando, PampangaPampangaPampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
- VictoriaVictoria, TarlacVictoria is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 57,085 people in 10,535 households....
, TarlacTarlacTarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west... - Vigan CityVigan CityThe City of Vigan is a 5th class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur...
, Ilocos SurIlocos SurIlocos Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Vigan City, located on the mouth of the Mestizo River is the provincial capital...
- Aparri, Cagayan