Why Santa Claus still matters today

Every December, Santa Claus returns—in the malls, in school plays, in whispered hopes of children.

- PINKY CONCHA COLMENARES

Some argue that the old man in red has outlived his purpose in a world obsessed with realism and efficiency. But perhaps that’s precisely why Santa’s presence remains so essential. He is more than a Christmas mascot; he is a keeper of wonder, a symbol of generosity, and a gentle guide through childhood’s most formative lessons.When I was still a reporter decades ago, I had the rare chance to meet the “real Santa Claus”—a gentle visitor from Lapland who even carried a passport bearing the name Santa Claus. He was in Manila on a goodwill visit as a guest of a hotel and mall chain. He radiated the same warmth and patience you might imagine from the mythical figure himself. I sat with him long after the interview ended because to me then, and I still remember now, he brought me the joy of childhood Christmas.

Curious, I asked him which child’s wish had touched his heart the most. He paused, the playfulness in his eyes softening, and told me about a small boy who had climbed onto his knee—not to ask for toys, but to plead for his mother to get well from a serious illness. That simple, selfless wish stayed with him, he said, as a reminder of what truly matters to children when the world grows frightening.