They say that Santa Claus comes from the icy cold fringes of the North Pole, sailing the night skies on a sleigh being pulled by reindeers led by Rudolph of the glowing red nose fame. A foggy Christmas Eve, lists made checked out twice to find out who’s naughty or nice, etcetera, etcetera add to the chubby, plump, pot – bellied, bespectacled, bearded and mustachioed red – white mystique that is an icon of gift – giving for the Holidays. However, this “Santa” who did his act in Quezon Avenue Ibaba near the Poblacion Barangay 5 Hall at 2:30 in the afternoon last Christmas Day doesn’t fit that mould.

Andre’ Scherpenberg is originally from Delft, a historic and picturesque medieval city in the Netherlands famous for a blue type of fine glazed ceramic or porcelain ware. He is on his second ever Christmas holiday in town with his wife Millie, a native Sariayahin, and they live in Rijswijk, a small city near the Hague ( Den Haag ). Months before their vacation, they thought of putting a  twist and fanfare to the family Christmas gathering… bought a Santa Claus costume for the purpose and e mailed photos of Andre’ modeling it to hype up the planned production...

While attending to her pre arranged social commitments with friends and relations, Millie sold the idea which was enthusiastically received by the family. They pitched in cash in the form of Philippine peso coins, some of which came from loose change that cousins accumulated for transportation purposes. These were placed in a sack style bag with a drawing of the Dutch Christmas icon called “Sinter Klaas”, together with his curly haired, black – skinned ward named “Zwarte Piet”. Sinter Klaas is depicted as a bearded old man in red and white robe, topped with a Bishop style hat bearing a yellow cross design, and he carries a staff with a question mark – shaped handle on top. Zwarte Piet is a jolly - faced, page boy- like fellow with earrings and a fancy headdress, sporting a collar characteristic of the 16th century European wear of Ferdinand Magellan, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and King Felipe II of Spain, from where our country’s name came from. Sinter Klaas and Zwarte Piet are always depicted as arriving from Spain and are honored every December 5th, where they are paraded  in every Dutch City on horseback, to be greeted by multitudes of excited Dutch children.

 Back home, here in Sariaya on Christmas morning, children knocking at the gates shouting “Magandang Pasko po!” were told to return at 2 o’clock in the afternoon for an “Aguinaldo – giving” or as we call it hereabouts, a “Parapasko” of sorts. Two in the afternoon came and since only a handful of the children returned, a cousin Ate Vinya Alcala thought of transferring the venue of the supposed gift – giving to the streets. Eager family members then went out to Calle Argente corner Quezon Avenue, and called on the children milling around to wait for a Santa Claus  who came into town. Indeed, the kids became wide eyed with anticipation and trooped to the appointed area while Andre’ stepped into his Santa Claus costume and readied himself for his act, with the family members themselves getting even more excited than the children waiting outside.

Coming out on the street, sporting an “Almojadon” or throw pillow – enhanced tummy on his tall lean frame, and standing on red rubber shoes instead of a big black pair of boots, Andre’ carried two small sacks…one of  Philippine coins and the other of chocolates and candies from the Netherlands. Without the customary sleigh, he just walked briskly …..let out a “Hohoho! Maligayang Pasko!”, and started his one-of-a-kind “Alamusa” to the delight of the young and the not so young, waiting for him in wide – eyed anticipation.

They all eagerly jumped up and stooped to the alternating salvo of  coins, candies and chocolates coming their way, amid shouts and much excitement! Passersby stopped to look and stare in good natured amazement and amusement upon seeing a real white Santa in such brisk and crisp action  …some kids even joining the animated revelry. Tricycles even  stopped just as the family members encouraged kids inside to alight from them and partake of the unbridled fun, which they did with infinite gusto! Two insistent and over eager old women ignored the prerequisite chronology and convention, hamming their way in between the kids and almost harassing Santa Andre’ himself in the heat of it all!

Andre’s surprise Santa act took almost twenty minutes only but  everybody was very happy and had a wonderful time, as cameras clicked and video shots were taken for posterity. A young boy boasted of his P53 loot from the action – filled endeavor, while a girl who was asked if she liked the experience exclaimed “ Sana po sa taon ulit! ”, to which an amused family member quipped “E-eh, ay may kamahalang pagsa Santa Claus!”…obviously referring to the roundtrip plane ride, if ever.  Indeed, it’s quite a different experience from our locally popular Cerberus Club Christmas Eve Santa acts true to the “Santa Claus is coming to town” mold. Wasn’t it wacky and crazy to see this Dutch Santa doing his thing the Agawan Festival way? According to him, the hardest part was to keep the “Almojadon” tied to his tummy from falling down which all the more gave him the “Hohoho” amusement of it all!

Immediately after, inside the house, Santa Andre’ was given a warm “ Cheers! “ – filled toast with a sip and a swirl of red wine glasses for a job well done.  Yes! Only in Sariaya!