After twelve long years of planning and developing the USLS Granada Campus, the Ecological Park has finally been inaugurated last Dec. 8.

With its inauguration and blessing recently, USLS opens the ten- hectare Center to students and teachers, families, NGOs, professional societies, civic organizations and corporations which they can utilize for different occasions and purposes.

The Granada Ecological Park offers services such as day retreats and recollections, family and community picnics, group tours and outings, leadership training camps, field trips, and other special events.

A worth visiting site for family and friends is the Vaugirard which has cabanas, picnic huts, swimming pools for children and adults, a fishing lagoon, camping and picnic grounds, and campfire ring for recreation and leisure.

There is also the Butterfly Park, a notable spot which beholds over 20 different species of butterflies.
The Ecopark is suited not only for wellness, recreation and leisure. It is also a venue that offers facilities intended for environmental education as well as for field laboratory research.

Among the many facilities that are intended for education and research include the Ecopark Center, which has a library, two laboratories, a lecture, an exhibit hall, and the Rainforest Exhibit;  the Acacia Hall which has a lecture room for 100 students and a camping hall for overnight fieldtrips.

With all the facilities of the Center, Ecopark coordinator Lilibeth Cordova believes that the Center is a landmark for the City of Bacolod and the whole province.

The Granada Ecological Park will be fully operational on February 2010.

by: Mark Christopher Dueñas, www.usls.edu.ph

Jojo’s Christmas Cottage (above) celebrates Christmas 365 days a year. This 3-storey Victorian building is home to Precious Moments, one of the world’s most recognized lifestyle brands. Precious Moments bisque figurines, dolls and other items are found on the ground floor. The second floor houses other souvenir items and products from companies being supported by JCC in terms of product development, design and marketing. Santa’s Workshop is on the third floor where some of the items are created, mostly part-time student workers. Jojo’s Christmas Cottage is open from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Also at Jojo’s Christmas Cottage, is a Ford Model T, circa 1918 model. This rare vehicle, prized by serious collectors wordwide for its historical value, was a gift to Sir Sam (The owner and founder of Precious Momments) from his children.

The SJB Mansion is the retirement house of Sam Butcher. This Thai Inspired two-story edifice houses Sam Butcher’s personal collection of antiques and orientalia. Some of the most notable items on display are a rare Japanese doll collection (authentic Ningyo), glass-encased gossamer silk embroideries, cabinets and dividers inlaid with mother of pearl, a Spanish escritoire that dates back to the 14th century, a 350 year old opium bed, two grand pianos and several Swarovski crystal chandeliers, among a host of other very interesting assortment of bric-a-bracs. Inorder for them to preserved their priceless collection by maintaining cleanliness, the visitors should leave their shoes/slippers outside when they enter the Mansion. The SJB Mansion is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.

Oriental Flavors is a fine dining restaurant at a cheap price, it serves as a fusion of Asian delicacies, primarily Thai and Chinese. The Interiors are decorated in a tasteful mix of ornaments: jars and porcelain vessels, larger than life statuary, silk flowers and crystal chandeliers. The tables and chairs were designed and created exclusively for Oriental Flavors. The Oriental Flavors Fine Dinning Restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Located inside Sammy’s Snowboat is Sammy’s Library and Interactive Center for children. It is a haven for children who love to discover and learn. Books, films, story telling and other fun activities like coloring and games make Sammy’s Library and Interactive Center for Children a wonderful seaport of opportunities.

Source: Sampaguita Garden Resort (Brochure)

More photos of Sampaguita Garden.

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