CamSur, Philippines' Dear Deers with Santa

Hundreds of cheerful deers frolic on the rolling foothills of Mt. Isarog in the rustic town of Ocampo, Camarines Sur. It is a sight seen only in the rolling plains and savannah of New Zealand or Australia. Watching the deers run and prance in the wide grassland with the majestic Mt. Isarog as a background gives you that sense of freedom and calm.

The Day the Deers Came

One early morning sometime in 1996, the villagers in the town of Ocampo were roused by the arrival of 60 wide-eyed deers from Australia. It was the first time that the townsfolk have seen a deer crowned with splendid antlers. Similarly, it was also the first time that the deers have seen folks with brown skin.

The villagers being hospitable and the deers being inherently friendly, It took no time for both to be fond of each other. The deers have grown to love their new home by the mountain where the grass is always green and the air always smell of new mown hay. Their numbers have now multiplied by the hundreds.

Santa Came to Town

Years later, the villagers got another huge surprise when the majestic man in the red suit with a long white beard - Santa Claus himself arrived in Ocampo. The deers were just as surprised and glad to see dear Santa again. Santa was so happy to see his deers again, he painted the whole town in red on that day.

Santa thanked the townsfolk of Ocampo and promised never to part ways with his deers again. He decided to stay on the windy and green foothills of Mt. Isarog to live happily ever after with his dear deers.

Visit Santa and his Deers

The deers never leave their homey enclave, you will always see them running about, leaping from fallen tree branches, and munching grass. If you’re lucky you’ll see Santa Claus himself playing and feeding his deers.