Robinsons Forum - Mandaluyong
Bus Spotting Before the Carousel
Howdee, fellow bus nuts, transport tragics and other random individuals who have somehow wandered in here.
Today we take a nostalgic trip back to the wonderful days of 2018, specifically those glorious weeks leading up to Christmas, before the less-than-thrilling concept known as the EDSA Carousel was inflicted upon the long-suffering travelling public.
For those of us who regularly stayed at the Go Hotel, the former Robinsons Forum Mall was pretty much our daily haunt. And, conveniently positioned out the front of the shopping centre, was an incredibly busy bus stop that, from a bus photographer's perspective, was absolute gold. In fact, compared with the rather regimented bus arrangements we have today, it was positively luxurious.
There was a wonderful assortment of operators passing through, producing a magnificent collection of buses in pretty much every colour imaginable. There was even Rainbow Express, meaning that the place quite literally had a bus company with Rainbow in its name. You couldn't ask for better planning than that. š
And unlike certain other forms of transport in the Philippines — cough, cough, railways — the people in the bus industry were generally an extremely friendly bunch. A few hours spent standing around photographing buses would usually leave us in considerably better spirits than when we arrived. There was always something different turning up, somebody happy to have a chat, and enough variety to keep even the most easily distracted bus enthusiast occupied.
Sadly, as is so often the case with places we photograph, progress has subsequently arrived with its usual bulldozer and complete disregard for nostalgia. Robinsons Forum, which by this stage was looking decidedly tired and in need of some serious attention, has since been demolished and the site is now undergoing redevelopment.
Eventually, another shopping centre will presumably rise from the rubble, because apparently mankind cannot survive without yet another shopping centre.
What is considerably less certain, however, is whether the buses will ever return to that wonderfully convenient stop directly outside the mall. Somehow I suspect they won't. Because naturally, if something is convenient, useful and works perfectly well, the obvious solution is to move it somewhere else and make everybody walk further.
Progress, apparently.
So, before the bulldozers, consultants, planners and assorted other experts in making simple things complicated completely erase the memory, let's have a look back at the buses of Robinsons Forum in 2018 — when catching a bus was relatively straightforward and photographing them was considerably more enjoyable.
Mayamy Trans - UZZ-202 - #7020
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Base/Operations:
Based in San Jose del Monte City and Norzagaray, Bulacan, operations connect these rapidly developing areas with a range of destinations throughout Metro Manila, including major transport hubs such as the ParaƱaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Baclaran and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Cher - RA-1770 - #52-245
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
CHER Transport:
CHER Transport was a well-known bus operator in Metro Manila, best remembered for its services connecting Pacita Complex with Navotas, as well as routes operating along the busy EDSA corridor. The company formed part of the colourful and often fiercely competitive Metro Manila bus scene for many years. In 2023, CHER Transport was taken over by JAC Liner, with its buses, operations and routes subsequently being incorporated into the wider Metro Manila Bus Company network.
DSN - ABE-1350 - #81042
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
DSN Transport:
DSN Transport is a Philippine bus operator providing public utility bus services between Cavite and Metro Manila. Its operations have included routes linking DasmariƱas, particularly the Pala-Pala area, with destinations such as Lawton and the ParaƱaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). Services make use of several of Metro Manila and Cavite's major arterial roads, including EDSA, providing an important public transport connection between the rapidly growing communities of Cavite and the capital.
Above and below.
Phil Tourister - TYU-664 - #516
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photos: Brad Peadon
Joannajesh
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Bigaa Buslink - KGU-720 - #44880
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Alabang Metrolink - WIJ-998 - #1423
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Baclaran Metrolink - ABG-3159 - #B501
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Baclaran Metrolink
Baclaran Metrolink is a Metro Manila bus operator serving routes between the southern and eastern portions of the metropolitan area. Its buses have been associated particularly with services from Baclaran/PITX towards Robinsons Antipolo, passing through major areas including Pasay, Makati, BGC and the C-5 corridor. The service provides an important cross-city connection, linking communities in the south with the rapidly developing areas around Taguig, Pasig and Antipolo.
Saint Rose Transit - AAU-7315 - #1125
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Starbus - KT-0513 - #836
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Starbus (Laguna Starbus Transportation Systems, Inc.)
Starbus, formally known as Laguna Starbus Transportation Systems, Inc., was a Metro Manila city-bus operator associated with the Five Star group. It became particularly familiar to enthusiasts through its air-conditioned buses working the Malanday–Alabang and Malanday–Baclaran corridors, with the latter operating along EDSA and continuing south towards Baclaran. The company operated a variety of buses over the years, including Golden Dragon-bodied vehicles, and became a familiar sight on the increasingly busy Metro Manila road network.
MALTC - UVS-981 - #1003
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
HM Transport INC - ABG-6915 - #A-8011
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Mersan - UWN-6965 - #276505
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Kellen - NBC-7674 - #471820
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Earth Star - TYU-872
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
LLI - UYD-274 - #1837
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Baclaran Metrolink - ABG-3160 - #???
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Starbus - UWN-940 - #815
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
BSC - TXU-760 - #88051
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
I don't much like modern buses, but these are quite an exception.
Gold Star - 11512
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Kingsam - TXR-939 - #4032
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Kingsam Express is a Philippine bus operator associated with long cross-city services in Metro Manila. Its principal listed route has been Malanday–Alabang/Baclaran, linking the northern Valenzuela area with destinations in the south of the metropolitan region. Kingsam has also been associated with JMA Transport and McArthur Express operations, forming part of the network of operators serving the busy north–south corridors of Metro Manila.
Shanine & Pauline - UWM-294 - #399
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Rainbox Express - TXL-280 - #GB6320
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Rainbow Express
Rainbow Express, Inc. was a Metro Manila bus operator particularly associated with the Sapang Palay/San Jose del Monte–Baclaran corridor. Its buses travelled through Quirino Highway, Commonwealth Avenue and EDSA, providing a lengthy north–south service between Bulacan and southern Metro Manila. The company operated buses, including Santarosa-bodied Nissan Diesel vehicles, and was a familiar sight in the northern suburbs. Rainbow Express also received considerable media attention in 2017 following an incident involving one of its buses travelling against traffic in Quezon City, after which the LTFRB ordered the operator and driver to explain the incident.
NAIA Metrolink - ACA-3357 - #15015
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
NAIA Metro Link Corporation was a Metro Manila bus operator established around services linking Ninoy Aquino International Airport with the northern suburbs. Its operations included routes from NAIA to SM Fairview and Malanday, providing a lengthy north–south connection through the metropolitan area and making the airport accessible from a large part of northern Metro Manila. The company was also among the established NCR bus operators recognised by the Department of Labor and Employment.
V1 Bus Line - 137708 - #904
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
V-1 Bus Line was a Philippine bus operator based in the Bulacan area, with its business operations centred around the San Jose area. It appears in listings of Philippine and Metro Manila bus operators, although comparatively little reliable historical information is available online concerning its specific routes and fleet. The company is documented as operating in the urban and suburban passenger transport sector, making it another of the smaller operators serving the communities north of Metro Manila.
V-1 Bus Line was a Philippine bus operator based in the Bulacan area, with its business operations centred around the San Jose area. It appears in listings of Philippine and Metro Manila bus operators, although comparatively little reliable historical information is available online concerning its specific routes and fleet. The company is documented as operating in the urban and suburban passenger transport sector, making it another of the smaller operators serving the communities north of Metro Manila.
MALTC - UVS-973 - #1000
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Marikina Autoline
Marikina Auto Line Transport Corporation, commonly known as MALTC, was a Metro Manila operator whose services connected the eastern suburbs with Baclaran and other parts of the metropolis. Its routes included Montalban–Baclaran via EDSA, Ayala and Aurora Boulevard, as well as services from San Mateo and Navotas towards Baclaran. The company was therefore particularly useful for passengers travelling from the Marikina/Rizal side of the metropolitan area to the southern part of Manila. Available records indicate that its operations had become inactive, or at least substantially curtailed, by June 2025
Marikina Autoline
Marikina Auto Line Transport Corporation, commonly known as MALTC, was a Metro Manila operator whose services connected the eastern suburbs with Baclaran and other parts of the metropolis. Its routes included Montalban–Baclaran via EDSA, Ayala and Aurora Boulevard, as well as services from San Mateo and Navotas towards Baclaran. The company was therefore particularly useful for passengers travelling from the Marikina/Rizal side of the metropolitan area to the southern part of Manila. Available records indicate that its operations had become inactive, or at least substantially curtailed, by June 2025
Uni Silver - UVN-263 - #3001
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Uni Silver
I’m a little more cautious with Uni Silver, as reliable information on the bus operator itself is surprisingly scarce online and the name is easily confused with the much better-known Philippine jewellery retailer of the same name. It appears in enthusiast and transport references as a former Metro Manila bus operator, but I would not recommend putting specific routes, fleet details or dates into a historical description without checking against photographs or LTFRB records.
Can anyone help?
Above and below
St Martin - UVE-459
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photos: Brad Peadon
St. Martin of Tours Trailways Inc. was a Metro Manila bus operator and a sister company of Pamana Transport Services Inc. It formed part of the large collection of privately operated bus companies serving the metropolitan area, although considerably less detailed information about its individual routes and fleet survives in readily available sources than for some of the larger operators. The company is listed among Metro Manila bus operators, with its operations described as following routes associated with its sister company.
St. Martin of Tours Trailways Inc. was a Metro Manila bus operator and a sister company of Pamana Transport Services Inc. It formed part of the large collection of privately operated bus companies serving the metropolitan area, although considerably less detailed information about its individual routes and fleet survives in readily available sources than for some of the larger operators. The company is listed among Metro Manila bus operators, with its operations described as following routes associated with its sister company.
A rather sexy looking livery IMHO.
Valisno Express - TXF-444 - #226142
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Valisno Express Liner was a Philippine bus operator established by Rosalinda Valisno and operating as a separate company from its sister operator, Gasat Express. The company operated both Metro Manila and provincial services, with its provincial operation notably including the Cubao–Iloilo City route. Valisno Express was also associated with a range of conventional provincial buses, including Santarosa-bodied Daewoo BF106 vehicles, and became a recognisable name among Philippine bus enthusiasts during the 2010s.
Valisno Express Liner was a Philippine bus operator established by Rosalinda Valisno and operating as a separate company from its sister operator, Gasat Express. The company operated both Metro Manila and provincial services, with its provincial operation notably including the Cubao–Iloilo City route. Valisno Express was also associated with a range of conventional provincial buses, including Santarosa-bodied Daewoo BF106 vehicles, and became a recognisable name among Philippine bus enthusiasts during the 2010s.
JRMS Goldensky - AKA-2562 - #8807
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
JRMS Goldensky Transport
JRMS Goldensky Transport Inc. was a Metro Manila bus operator best associated with the Malanday–Alabang route. Services connected Valenzuela in the north with Alabang in Muntinlupa, using EDSA and continuing south through the Bicutan and Sucat areas, with some services also making use of the Skyway. The company was one of a large number of operators providing long cross-city bus services, giving passengers a direct alternative to the various combinations of jeepneys and rail services required for such journeys.
Baclaran Metrolink - ACC-9707 - #B630
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
NAIA Metrolink - ACA-3357 - #15015
Robinsons Forum, Mandaluyong (Metro Manila)
Photo: Brad Peadon
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Marikina Autoline (MALTC)
Until I started putting this post together I had no idea that my favourite Metro Manila bus operator had ceased operation. Quite sad.
I had initially became interested in the company back when they were operating their old Nissans around the capital.
A search for further information found this on Reddit.
Credit: keso_de_bola917
June 2025
Just a few days ago, it has been circulating from the residence of the areas these buses ply through and the Philippine Bus Enthusiasts Community as a whole that Marikina Auto Lines Transport, Corp. (MALTC) has ceased operations and has served the last trips of its route last June 13, 2025. Way back, they are pretty known for operating these boxy buses which has been designed and manufactured way back in the late 80's and early 90's.
Along with Marikina Auto Lines, other bus companies like EJRC, KAT Lines, Fides Express, & MAC Lines ran the route which passes Montalban (currently Rodriguez), San Mateo, and Marikina having different route endpoints anywhere from Ayala, Baclaran, and Divisoria. As time went by, EJRC, KAT Lines, Fides Express, & MAC Lines has one-by-one ceased operations, with MAC Lines last seen operating in the early 2010's. After their disappearance, Marikina Auto Lines, which at some point was acquired by G-Liner, soldiered on and has become the sole "Marikina Bus" plying around the roads serving routes from Rodriguez to either Ayala or Baclaran via Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City and via Cubao Aurora. The company has persisted in these routes and have been able to procure more various models of modern buses by the early 2010's. However, ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the EDSA Carousel exclusive BRT-style bus way, the routes which Marikina Auto Lines served was amended to Rodriguez - PITX (Pasay) and vice versa. However, there are various reasons and information circulating around which prevent them from doing so, but bottom-line was they weren't able to serve the entirety of the route and has just traversed along Rodriguez to Centris Mall in Quezon City until their last day of operations. Since they only go up to Centris Mall in Quezon City which is just a few minutes away from PhilCOA (a popular bus stop near Quezon Memorial Circle), the bus company have so much stiff competition especially with the prominence of the modern PUVs or modern jeepneys, which are basically just smaller-sized air-conditioned mini-buses which could have cut the bus company's revenue.
As of this writing, there is no information yet whether management will change hands or indeed if they are planned to return operations. For now, thank you for the years of service! Marikina Auto Lines will surely be missed by Philippine Bus Enthusiasts and patrons alike.
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Videos: Buses along EDSA in Manila.
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Bing Reyes, Nhing Nhings, MrX and whoever else was with me each time.
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