"Noel Bonilla, a 40-year-old taxi driver from Lima, has carried the spirit of Christmas with him since childhood. While most people know him simply as Noel, his official documents tell a different story. There, his name appears as Papanoel, the result of a long-ago misunderstanding during his registration. The mistake happened when his father went to the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec) to register his son as Noel. A warm, colloquial way of speaking in the area led the official to hear something different and write down Papanoel - a small detail that went unnoticed for years. "I didn't notice the name. I went back to pick up my ID, and I found out my name, and I was surprised. 'Papa Noel Bonilla' appears on my ID. That is when I find out my name," Bonilla recalled. At first, the name brought mockery and difficult moments. At one point, he even avoided attending his son's school meetings, afraid he would have to show his ID and face embarrassment. "When I found out, it did make me sad and uncomfortable," Bonilla admitted. "I couldn't believe it. I kept thinking about it." Although he wanted to change his name through legal channels, Bonilla said the process must go through the courts and involves a cost he cannot afford. However, what once was a source of discomfort has now become a source of strength. Through TikTok, where Bonilla runs the account 'The Peruvian Papa Noel,' he receives messages of support that encourage him to embrace his identity and keep moving forward. "Before, they bullied me, but now people love me," Bonilla said with a smile. Thanks to that support, he has decided not to change his name - for now, at least. "I'm very happy that people help me and stand by me," he continued. "It makes me feel valued. I am happy, and I am content with who I am." Today, the taxi driver says he feels proud of his name and the affection it brings him. He even jokes about his origins in the snowy heights of Cerro de Pasco and says he 'left his sleigh' there. His dream, he adds, is to one day return to his hometown officially as the Peruvian Papa Noel, bringing gifts and joy to the children of the area."