In the middle of a dense intersection in Manila (Philippines), a Santa Claus wiggles his hips and waves his arms in the air to guide vehicles. Behind the beard and the red suit hides the traffic policeman Ramiro Hinojas.
Hinojas says he performs in his Santa suit to stay fit and “relieve people’s boredom” while waiting in traffic.
“I have a lot of colleagues who died, they were still standing here, not moving, and they got sick. I don’t get sick because I exercise here,” he says.
And from the point of view of road users? “It’s good, I’m happy, it takes away my stress. He knows how to navigate traffic,” judges Manuel Delangpan, a bus driver.
“We are happy to see him dancing when we visit. He seems like someone who doesn’t have any problems. He makes people happy,” adds Jeremy JImenez, a motorcyclist.