By AYL

IT’S beginning to look a lot like Christmas anywhere people go, but most especially in Casa Santa Museum.

Although Christmas usually begins in September, this museum welcomes everyone daily all year long. This is where you can visit Santa Claus.

In a three-hectare events place named Jardin de Marimar in Antipolo, Rizal, a Casa Santa Museum is set inside, giving visitors some one-of-a-kind Christmas feels. 

Where it all began

One of its caretakers, Eya, said that the concept began when owner, Edna del Rosario, received a Christmas tree as a gift from a good friend and later got inspired to collect more of it in 1994.

The 120-square-meter house has already been there since 1950s, but ever since Del Rosario got interested in Christmas decorations, she collected it and now it has over 3,700 Christmas decorations on it.

Casa Santa Museum began opening to the public on December 25, 2004, now a favorite-go-to museum of several families in the Metro and Rizal area.

Balay Belen

Aside from Santa’s house, there is also a Balay Belen connected to Casa Santa that showcases different mediums of how the Belen is made. 

It also shows how Christmas is being celebrated in various continents such as Asia, Africa, and Europe with molded clays.

Visiting hours

Throughout the year, this Santa house welcomes visitors daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm on weekdays and 2:00pm to 4:00pm on weekends.

For only 30 minutes to one-hour drive from the heart of Metro Manila, Casa Santa Museum provides that kind of Christmas experience.

In a delightful twist to the monotony of traffic congestion, the renowned Dancing Traffic Cop, Ramiro Hinojas, dons a Santa Claus costume and brings his lively dance routine to the streets of Pasay City. Commuters stuck along Macapagal Ave. were treated to a unique performance on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Known for his commitment to entertaining motorists, Hinojas seamlessly blends traffic management with impressive dance moves, regardless of weather. Whether it’s rain or shine, he ensures that drivers experience a moment of joy amid the daily grind, all while expertly directing traffic with animated hand signals.

Reflecting on his role, the Dancing Cop shared, “I know that rush hour can make a driver go crazy, but it gives me joy, and the motorists as well.”

(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)