The Mandaue City Santa House at the city’s plaza. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
A WEEK after it was launched, the Mandaue city government decided to limit the entry of visitors to its red and white Santa Claus house in front of City Hall.
“We set a limit. After 10 p.m. we have to close the house to visitors because there are fragile items inside,” said Engr. Marivic Cabiags, head of the General Services Office.
The house sustained some damage caused by visitors who would come in to take selfies and souvenir photos inside.
Cabigas designed the 16-by-18-foot house, an imaginary version of Santa Claus’ house in the North Pole, with a a small fireplace and a chimney.
One GSO worker guards the house from night till dawn.
People are still welcome to come in and take photos.
If they’re lucky, they can stay beyond 10 p.m. as long as the guard is present to assist them, she said.
Cabigas said they had to replace the series of Christmas lights twice since the house opened on Dec. 15 due to vandalism.
The Christmas decor at the plaza will be on display until January 13.
After that date, it will be changed to suit the fiesta theme of the annual Sinulog festival.