Eight life-size Santas beckon the crowd to check out their dig.

"House of Santa Claus” declares the signage outside the residence of Ms. Carmen Suva—something that would have caught anyone off-guard if not for the fact that the house lies in Policarpio St, the once tourist magnet in Mandaluyong City where every house used to be bedazzled with Christmas lights and décor. Now, only a few residents have soldiered on, keeping alive the tradition that has put their humble street on the map. Even the number of tourists has remarkably dwindled, relishing the few lighted houses which seem now to be more brilliant and beckoning, given the fact that the other houses are thrown into shadows.

I was fortunate to see Policarpio St. at the height of its holiday glory about three to four years ago. It was indeed a visual spectacle with the festive colors and atmosphere, complete with bazaars and food stalls. The enthusiasm of some of the homeowners was dampened when they saw the mess of the street escalate: plastic bags and food wrappers strewn everywhere and some of their properties damaged. Thus, the steady decline of Policarpio St. from a wonderland to just another block in the neighborhood took place.

Aside from nostalgia, another reason that led me recently to Policarpio St. and eventually to the door of Ms. Carmen (who, I would find out later, is the vice president for public relations of this paper) is the fact that I’m now a resident of the city. For a quick Christmas fix, I thought to myself, Policarpio St. was it. So imagine my disappointment when the street that greeted me was no longer wrapped with bright lights. Good thing is that Ms. Carmen’s house was there to welcome me and my friend, providing visitors with a postcard-worthy photo opportunity and the good feeling that their trip has been worth it.

Ms. Carmen’s house is unique in that it is the only Santa house in the street, or perhaps even in the country. Even without the signage, there’s no mistaking that it is indeed Santa’s home: eight life-size figures of Santa Claus are looking from the balcony, two of them gyrating their waists every now and then. Inside, however, is the full Santa effect: every nook and cranny of the house, every square inch of space has a Santa Claus.

“Since I was young,” Ms. Carmen narrated, “I already had the passion for collecting Santa Claus (figures and images). It was about 15 years ago that I realized that I had one too many so I decided to turn my residence into the house of Santa.”

The glass sliding door framed in hardwood readily reveals the receiving area with Ms. Carmen’s prized pieces—from hip-hop Santa (yes complete with the bling) to Barbie Santa. The throw pillows on the sofa also have the face of Santa. The dining area, lit by a low-hanging chandelier, is also adorned with Santa images, from the placemats to the utensils even to the table napkins.

With the help of at least three workers, Ms. Carmen starts decorating her house after All Saints’ Day. It is during the decorating time that she feels a rush of energy and vigor. She knows almost every piece by heart (about 2,000 of them) and where to place what. The Santa astride on a rainbow tail-end of a comet will be hung on the tree outside her house; the parachuting Santa will dangle from a light fixture; while her writing Santa (one of her favorite pieces) will be in the balcony, perhaps scribbling the wishes of children.

It is actually the children whom Ms. Carmen wants to delight with her collection. “’Pag may bata sa labas at narinig ko, ‘Ay, sayang patay na ang ilaw,’ babangon pa ako para pagbuksan ko sila,” she said. “Nagpapaligaya ka ng tao; malaking bagay na yun.”

Most of the kids who drop by outside the Santa house come from the depressed areas near Policarpio. The last time I was there, I saw a young girl—garbed in humble clothing—hugging the Santa near the main gate, laughing with delight. It’s scenes like this that you realize that more than anything else, the house is a place of joy and hope, inviting anyone to secretly utter a wish and believe that it will come true.