17 TIPS FOR VISITING THE PHILIPPINES

 

Hello! My name is Nicole Sunderland and I am full-time travel writer and social media influencer from Washington, D.C.

You can expect to find hotel reviews, tips and tricks, itineraries, cruise information, foodie guides, and travel inspiration here on my website.

Thanks for stopping by.

XO - Nicki

Samal Island

Visiting the Philippines is a place I highly recommend. After spending nearly 4 weeks island hopping and getting to know the country, I learned a thing or two that I wish I had known. The Philippines is made up of over 7,000+ islands for you to explore and I barely touched the surface on this journey.

While I was visiting the Philippines, I went to Manila, Bohol, El Nido, Samal, and Davao. Each island was so different and something amazing to offer its visitors. The one thing that remained consistent was the incredible hospitality and the food. You are going to be treated like family and fed well. I hope these tips help you in your plans for visiting the Philippines and if you have any questions, leave a comment.

VISITING THE PHILIPPINES: 17 TIPS:

1. Don’t leave the airport without the local currency, Pesos – I cannot stress how important this is. It took me 6 days to find an ATM that was international and would take my debit card. Normally I would get the local currency at my airport but they did not carry it. If you are heading to more remote islands, I would highly suggest to make this a top priority. It is very rare to find places that take credit card. Everyone wants cash.
   1. Tip: Some of the airports charge a fee of 100-200 pesos just to wait in the terminal for your flight. This is done by cash only.
   2. Tip 2: Make sure to set your debit card on a travel alert so you are not denied cash when you need it.
   3. Tip 3: You can check with your hotel before arrival and see if they have an international ATM, as some of them do. However, if you are taking a taxi from the airport, you will need local currency.  
      
2. Traffic can be overwhelming – this is not the same as Columbus, Ohio traffic jam in the afternoon leaving work. I’m saying it can take you 1 and a half hours to go 3 kilometers in traffic during their rush hours because a lot of people live here. It will literally be stop and go traffic for the duration of the trip, so prepare yourself for this while visiting the Philippines.
   1. Tip: Plan ahead if you need to get somewhere that is time sensitive, especially the airport.
   2. Bonus: Use Uber to get around. With their fixed rates you never have to guess what your fare will be. I paid about 200 pesos to take the hour and a half drive. To break that down, the exchange rate with U.S. dollars is 45 pesos to 1 USD. Not even $5 dollars for an Uber.
3. Try everything that is UBE – UBE is a purple yam and the Filipino culture loves it. They have created all kinds of amazing foods from it and it can be addicting! From gelato to jams, cakes to pastries – don’t miss this unique food.
   

   UBE jam is my favorite – hands down
4. Get a portable wifi hotspot – most lodging has wifi in the big cities and it works great. When you are roaming the cities it is nice to stay connected and not have to pay a fortune in international cell service. I use Skyroam when I travel and it’s as low as $8 dollars a day for a 24 hour connection.
   1. Bonus: Skyroam allows you to add up to 5 devices – this means you can run it on your phone and computer or even it share it with your travel companions.
   2. Double Bonus: Skyroam is very lightweight and can fit in your pocket or easily into your bag.
   3. Side note: Skyroam does not work in every country. Skyroam does work in over 100 countries but it is still adding new countries. Check before you purchase one to make sure it covers the areas you are going to.
5. Don’t drink the water – some people will tell you not to others will tell you it is ok. If it is from a faucet, I would suggest no. Stock up on water, even to brush your teeth. All the hotels I stayed in over my visit actually provided 2+ bottles per day as part of the room.
   1. Tip: there were a few times I was massively dehydrated and asked my hotels for more water and they provided it. Don’t be afraid to ask. Otherwise, you can purchase some and its very cheap.
6. Take in a sunset – No matter which island you find yourself on while visiting the Philippines, they are equally as magical! I was fortunate enough to see many sunsets during my trip and its very easy to fall in love.
   1. Tip: The sunsets were different around the islands from oranges to purples – but all just as lovely!
      

      Sunset in Manila
      

      Sunset in Bohol
7. It is hot in the Philippines – Located in Southeast Asia, the Philippines keep a warm wet climate year round. There is a lot of breeze to go around though – as it glides through the 7,000+ islands.
   

   Pearl Farm Beach Resort
   1. Tip: Even if the sky is dark grey during the day, wear sunscreen. That dark sky still has a sun and it is going to burn your skin if you don’t take precautions. I made the big mistake of not using sunscreen because it looked stormy – and then I spent the next four days in bed burnt to a crisp. Don’t let something you can prevent ruin your trip.
   2. Tip 2: If you are burnt, stay inside. The sun and heat will make it worse than it is. I left my hotel for supplies the day after I got sunburn and it felt like my skin was melting. Cool showers, aloe and sleeping in a cool bed with little to no clothing so it doesn’t irritate your skin – this will do wonders.
   3. Bonus: there are places you can get an aloe massage for your burn and it’s not very expensive. I would highly recommend this.
8. If you plan to visit more than one island, try to pack everything into a carry-on – there are many local air carriers that allow you a carry-on up to a certain weight free of charge. They charge for extra weight and for checked luggage. Keeping a carry-on allows you to move through the airports quickly and not to over pack. As an added bonus, you save money by not having to check your luggage .
   1. Tip: The weather is pretty warm so you won’t need winter gear to visit. Think light clothes, bathing suit and 2 pairs of shoes: 1 flip flop and 1 tennis shoe or dress shoe, depending on your plans.
   2. Bonus: laundry is unbelievably cheap to do. Maybe $2-3 USD for a good amount.
9. Pack flip flops, they are essential – it does rain and the streets hold the water for a little while – having flip flops you can wash off helps in not ruining your shoes. I would suggest rubber flip flops since leather ones will get wet and then stink. I was caught in the rain several times and I am so glad I had shoes that could withstand the flooded streets and not fall on my face. You’ll be glad you packed these.
   1. Tip: if you forget to pack them, no worries. Everywhere sells them. You’ll be able to secure a pair in no time.
10. The Philippines is more than just beaches – the beaches are beautiful and offer different color sands, but there is also jungles and mountains. Get out there and explore! You won’t regret taking in more of the countries beauty.
11. The Philippines can be done on a backpacker budget or a luxury budget: Southeast Asia is reputable for being a backpacker and budget travel area. However, after staying in luxury properties for most of my trip, I can assure you there is plenty of luxury to go around. The islands offer something for everyone: you can go as cheap as $10 a night in some hostels to $1000+ a night in villas over the water. It’s all about how you want to tailor your trip.
    1. Bonus: no matter what your travel style, the Filipino culture is extremely hospitable and offers top notch service.
12. Bring common medications with you: I did get sick a few times and I needed Imodium, was severely dehydrated and had a cold. You know what medications work best for you – pack some back-ups just in case you find yourself sick. Sometimes it can be hard to find things you know and are used to using in foreign countries. It never hurts to be prepared when visiting the Philippines.
    1. Tip: It wouldn’t hurt to bring a mini first aid kit. I needed band-aids a few times from cutting my foot on some coral..and guess who didn’t have anything? Yep-me.
13. Everyone I met spoke perfect English and it is wildly popular throughout the country – this was a huge bonus for me. Being able to communicate in full sentences really helps the transition. This isn’t a make or break deal for travel for me nor should it be for anyone else, but it is comforting knowing you will be able to talk to people and get where you are going or whatever you need. The culture loves tourists and they will engage you and get to know you.
    1. Bonus: Don’t be surprised when you have a flood of new friends – the culture is very friendly!
14. Definitely visit more than one of the islands – since the Philippines are made up of over 7,000+ islands .. you might as well visit more than one. Deciding on which island to visit is going to depend on what your interests are. If you want to swim with whale sharks (seasonal) then you will want to go to Cebu. If you want to island hop and see the most famous islands and lagoons, then El Nido will be your destination.
    1. Tip: getting between the islands is not very expensive. Book in advance and save a little money on your tickets and/or ferry or bus fares.
       

       Island hopping in El Nido
       

       River cruise in Bohol
15. Pack bug spray and use it – if you are visiting the Philippines, bring bug spray! Zika has sort of died out, so that isn’t such a big worry, but there are still bugs. It may be easier to just take the precaution. There are a lot of mosquito’s, so even if they aren’t carrying Zika, they are still going to bug you.
16. Eat your food Kamayan – which means with your hands. It’s traditional to eat food without utensils and to bond with others in the Filipino culture. I was able to do this once on my trip and it really brought the table together – versus everyone being on their cell phones. This was a great cultural experience I had while visiting the Philippines. 
    
17. Get a window seat on the plane – You don’t want to miss being able to see the beautiful water and the islands coming to, moving among or leaving when visiting the Philippines. Even when it is gloomy out you can see the magical colors of the water around the islands.
    

    Views leaving Bohol, Philippines
    
    
    
    
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Philippine Street Foods

Filipino street food is humble, cheap, bad for your body, and good for your soul. It’s what a lot of childhood memories and friendships revolved around. It’s what your foreign friend needs to eat…

Mindestens 17 Tote durch "Phanfone" auf den Philippinen

Durch den Taifun "Phanfone" sind auf den Philippinen mindestens 17 Menschen ums Leben gekommen. Das teilten Mitarbeiter der Bergungsdienste mit. Der Tropensturm war am Dienstag im Zentrum des Inselstaats auf Land getroffen. Er richtete schwere Schäden an, mehrere Ortschaften wurden überschwemmt. Die Behörden ordneten Zwangsevakuierungen für mehr als 58.000 Menschen in Küstengebieten an. Nach Angaben der Wetterdienste erreichte der Taifun Windgeschwindigkeiten von bis zu 195 Stundenkilometern. Inzwischen hat "Phanfone" die Philippinen verlassen und bewegt sich westwärts.

Mehrere Tote durch gepanschten Alkohol auf den Philippinen

Mindestens neun Menschen sind auf den Philippinen gestorben, nachdem sie gepanschten Kokoslikör getrunken hatten. Hunderte weitere befinden sich in Krankenhäusern, einige schweben in Lebensgefahr. Die Menschen hatten in der Stadt Rizal südöstlich der Hauptstadt Manila gefeiert und nach dem Verzehr des Likörs über Bauchschmerzen geklagt. Behörden gehen davon aus, dass er mit Methanol gepanscht wurde. Der Kokoslikör "Lambanog" ist auf den Philippinen besonders um die Weihnachtszeit beliebt. Im vergangenen Jahr waren bei einem ähnlichen Vorfall mit gepanschtem Likör zehn Menschen gestorben.

(C) DW

Philippines to experience 2019's longest night on December 22

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MANILA - The Philippines will experience this year's longest night on December 22, with peak darkness slated around midnight, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

"Philippine nights will be longer than the daytime" as the winter solstice begins, PAGASA said in its annual astronomical diary.

"This marks the time when the sun lies at its farthest point south of the equator," it said.

"It signals the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere," it said.

Countries that do not have winter season, like the Philippines, will only experience cooler temperatures and longer nights during the winter solstice.

A Complete Travel Guide for Visiting the Philippines for the First Time

 By Katherine Cortes   Posted in Philippines

 Last updated on October 5, 2019

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Are you traveling to the Philippines for the first time? Here’s a short Philippines travel guide that covers a little bit of everything you need to know about this archipelago in Southeast Asia, also known as the Pearl of the Orient Seas, including a few personal tips from a local — yours truly!

What you need to know

Currency

The Philippines uses Philippine peso as its currency. Currently, exchange rates are about $1 to P50. This is good news for Western tourists. However, compared to other Southeast Asian countries, you need to be more strategic in budget planning since it almost always requires local flights to transfer from one place to another.

When is the best time to visit the Philippines

As I live here, I can tell you that the weather in the Philippines is just plain crazy. That aside, December to February are the coolest months and experience few rainfalls, so it’s best to book within this period.

March to May comprises the summer months, so you’re guaranteed good weather all throughout, though you also have to deal with summer crowds and higher markups. June to November are the rainy months.

I like traveling during off-season because rates can be haggled down and there are few tourists. In fact, not only once did we explore beaches where there were literally no one else but us! But of course there’s always the risk of getting stranded due to weather disturbances.

How much does it cost to travel around the Philippines

Budget depends on where you’re going and what you’re planning to do. When we travel around the country, it typically costs us anywhere from P700 to P1500 a day (including budget accommodation, food and tours).

How to plan your stay in each province

In general, I suggest staying about 5 days in one province. But then again, it depends. For example, Siquijor and Dumaguete can be explored in a 3-day trip. Palawan has a couple of destinations that deserve at least 5 days each. So in the end it depends on where you’re going and what you plan to do.

To get a good sense of what the Philippines is like, I suggest staying in the country for 3-4 weeks at least. Here’s a sample 3-week itinerary to the Philippines, covering provinces in Luzon and Visayas.

[ Also Read: Things to know before visiting the Philippines ]

Travel tips

Plan your trip ahead and be ready to reserve/online book for accommodations and local flights in advance. Believe me, this will save you a significant amount of money in the long run and will make your trips easier.

Finding places to stay

In our experience, in non-touristy locations, we can simply walk in or do pencil reservation (we simply inform thru text or FB messaging that we will be arriving). This is especially true for small businesses. However, for mainstream tourist attractions, especially during summer, it’s better to properly book ahead to get a spot on budget accommodations such as hotels or homestays.

Booking local flights

Since the Philippines is an archipelagic country, most likely you’ll need to take local flights to go to different provinces. Direct sea or land travel isn’t always an option or may take too long. Local flights can be expensive so what we do is book months in advance (sometimes even a year early) or wait for promos. A ticket from Manila to Puerto Princesa can cost P7000 above if bought on the same day, whereas a promo ticket costs only about P200-1000.

Check for online promos from budget airlines such as Airasia or Cebu Pacific. Websites such as Traveloka also offer good rates for flights and accommodations.

Best tourist attractions in the Philippines

There are 81 provinces in the Philippines, so there’s actually a lot of places you can go to. Being an archipelago made up of 7000+ islands, this country naturally has a lot of great beaches, as well as snorkeling, diving and surfing spots. The most obvious thing you should do here is island hop!

That saying, there are also various mountains, waterfalls and lakes in the country. Provinces far from Manila have retained more of its local culture. You can see farming communities, rice terraces beside roads or on mountains, and residents living in traditional nipa huts.

So with all these options, where do you start exploring?

Main tourist attractions

Most likely, you’ll arrive in the airport of Manila, the country’s capital. From here, you can take a tour in Manila or proceed to connecting flights to other provinces. Manila has a bit of cultural sights, but because of its horrendous traffic and pollution, most people suggest — as I would — to spend the rest of your time in other provinces in the country.

View deck in Kayangan Lake, Coron. (Photo by Xiao)

If you’re going to visit the Philippines, you shouldn’t miss Palawan (El Nido, Coron, Puerto Princesa, Port Barton and a few low-key places). It’s a must-visit for its exotic lagoons, beaches and lakes as well as limestone rock formations. If you’re on a limited schedule, I personally recommend choosing Coron over the others.

Another must-see is Siargao in Surigao del Norte, for its virgin islands and lagoons. If you want to see greens and lush islets, head over here. As of this update (2017), we’d been here twice and it still remains as splendid as our first visit. Siargao is also known as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines and is often visited by surfers from all over the world.

Also, while you’re in Siargao, don’t forget to drop by Bucas Grande and see its amazing waterway jungle.

Beach in Boracay. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Boracay is a world-class island. Pretty much like other famous places, Boracay is a love-it or hate-it type. Boracay has beautiful tropical beaches and is considered a party summer destination. Go here if you’re the type who are into like pub crawls and nightlife. To be fair though, it also has many watersport activities that are not easily available in other places, from snorkeling and diving to unusual ones such as mermaid swimming lessons.

Bohol is a classic tourist spot. It features the famous Chocolate Hills you always see in postcards and is home to the endemic tarsier (Carmen, Bohol). It also has some amazing quiet beaches (Panglao, Bohol).

Bohol’s nearby province Cebu is also a good choice. You can do canyoneering and visit waterfalls in Oslob, beach bum in Bantayan Island, and dive & snorkel in Malaspacua and Moalboal where you can see various wildlife such as sardine run, thresher sharks and more.

Perfect-shaped Mayon Volcano. (Photo credit to Hali Navarro)

Albay in the Bicol province has the world’s perfect-shaped volcano, Mount Mayon. You can stay in a luxurious resort overlooking the mountain or do other activities such as ATV rides around the mountain.

Most foreign travelers plan their Philippine travel around these provinces, but I encourage you to also explore some off-the-beaten destinations in the Philippines. As a developing country, there’s still much more to see than listed here. (If you’d been a long-time reader of our blog, you’ll know that we mostly blog about off-beat destinations in the country! So go ahead and explore.)

[ Also Read: Best Places to Visit in the Philippines ]

Off-the-beaten destinations

Tikling Island, Sorsogon. (Photo by Hali)

Here’s a secret: there’s a lot of off-beat locations in the Philippines… but at the same time, local tourism is also growing that it may look very different a few years from now. The challenge is to know where to look and having the resources and effort to actually get there.

That aside, here are some of our recommendations for locations that are less touristy, but with at least basic infrastructure for travelers.

My favorites are Sorsogon and Catanduanes. I am especially endeared with the first, and here you’ll find a lot of activities including exploring pinkish-sand beaches and a marine sanctuary, kayaking in the lake of Mount Bulusan, surfing in Gubat and many others.

Siquijor and Negros Oriental are other good options for some quiet, quality time. I know that a lot of foreign tourists like Siquijor because of its many waterfalls and general quiet tourist scene.

Aside from these, Camiguin in the south also has wonderful features — hot springs, falls and islands. It’s visited less and again seems to be a favorite of laid-back foreign travelers.

There are also areas in Palawan that are, as of this writing, undeveloped and visited less. There’s Linapacan Island (dubbed as having the world’s clearest waters by a website), Balabac islands in the southern tip of the island province and Port Barton.

Our personal suggestions

As for my personal recommendations, it would be Palawan (Coron in particular shouldn’t be missed), Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Surigao del Norte (specifically Siargao and Bucas Grande) and Negros Oriental (specifically Apo Island). If you like adventure, you should definitely include Cebu in your visit.

I’m also endeared to Dinagat Islands, with its raw islands that might be comparable, if not better, than those in Palawan.

Unique sights and cultural experiences

Centipede – a traditional tribal tattoo, done by Apo Whang-od. (Photo by Hali Navarro)

Here’s a short list of places with some unique culturally experiences or sights you can find in the Philippines. This is especially helpful if you’re the type who wants more than island hopping.

• See the rice terraces in Banaue or, even better, Batad; Maligcong also has majestic rice terraces
• Meet the oldest mambabatok and have a traditional tribal tattoo in Kalinga
• Enjoy a kawa hot bath in Tibiao, Antique
• Visit historic churches in Bohol
• Immerse in the T’boli community residing in Lake Holon, South Cotabato
• See the old stone houses and preserved culture of the Ivatan tribe in Batanes

For another resource on what to do and where to go, read this article by Guide to the Philippines.

What Filipino foods to try

Filipino food isn’t the most popular in Southeast Asia, but we do have remarkable dishes as well.

Some must-try’s include sinigang (soup with sampaloc or other sour fruit), sisig (grilled pork face), kare-kare (stew with peanut sauce), dinuguan (soup with pig’s blood), kilawin (fresh fish marinated in vinegar) and laing (gabi leaves in coconut milk).

For desserts, halo-halo is a must try.

For the street food, try kwek-kwek, various inihaw (grilled food such as chicken intenstine) or the infamous balut (boiled duck embryo). Here’s a sample video of Filipino street food found in Cebu.

[ Also Read: Must-try foods in the Philippines ]

Each province has its own specialties as well, so don’t forget to ask locals for recommendations.

Enjoy fresh seafood in Bilay Makadawi. Lobsters for P500 per kilo.

Whether you’re a fan of any of these or not, here’s one thing you need to try: buying seafood! This is one of the things I personally love about going to provinces out of Manila. Crabs, shrimps, squid and fishes are cheap in seaside communities. You can buy fresh catch from fishermen themselves early in the morning or in the market. For instance, lobsters can go as cheap as P50 each ($1) and scallops for P1 each ($0.05).

If you’re staying in the city though, you can still feast on seafood by going to seafood dampa.

Hi there! I’m Katherine Cortes. I’m a writer, editor and software engineer. Along with my boyfriend Hali, I like traveling to off-beaten locations, beaches, beaches and beaches and having nice staycations where I can read and daydream.

Welcome to my blog, Tara Lets Anywhere! Tara lets is how you say “let’s go” in Filipino.

You can follow me in social media (Facebook, Instagram). Read more about me here.

Davao De Oro recognizes heroism among volunteers in the "Bayanihan Sa Paaralan 2019"

Davao De Oro--- Davao De Oro Province celebrates “Volunteer’s Holiday” on December 13, 2019 at the Magnaga Beach Resort, Pantukan, Davao De Oro. With more or less 1,200 volunteers, it was a fun and memorable day as the provincial government spearheaded a day of thanksgiving for their selfless commitment as they give their time and effort to help those children have better quality of education through the provision of a classroom building.

This follows with the success of the Bayanihan sa Paaralan 2019 on five different sites: Danawan in Brgy. Manurigao, New Bataan, Side-4 in Brgy. Mangayon, Compostela; Sitio Sapang-lubog in Pantukan; Sitio-Bongloy in Pagsabangan and Panansalan in Compostela. Not only a 1 unit, 2 classroom buildings were built but also a teachers’ cottage, Kusina ng Kalinga (kitchen) and a Gulayan sa Paaralan (vegetable garden) were provided during the week-long build.  

“Ni-volunteer gyud mi kay ang tumong ug tinguha nga ang among mga anak maka dawat gyud ug saktong edukasyon. Nangunay gyud mi ug lihok ug nagpasalamat pod mi sa uban ng taga LGU ug lungsod nga nagvolunteer ug nitabang sa amuang dapit.” said Margonio Jacinto, the purok-chairman who donated the space in Panansalan where classrooms and teacher’s cottage were built.

“No wonder sa tanan natung kalisod, challenges sa kinabuhi, dili lang sa atung sarili kung dili sa atung kumunidad maskin unsa ka bug-at nga mga problema, ang mga taga Davao De Oro makalampos ug makabarog gyud tungod kana sa paggawas sa kultura sa bayanihan sa atung mga sarili.” said Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy. 

The provincial government of Davao De Oro initiated the celebration for all volunteers who served as “living heroes” paving the way to rack up an aspiration. Each team received a cash prize worth Php 30, 000 from the provincial government as a reward for a job well done.

“We will not stop nga maghimo ug proyekto ug programa pinaagi sa Bayanihan. Through the Bayanihan, we can do everything. Kahit gaano kahirap, kaya nating abutin basta’t nagkakaisa tayo” said Senior Board Member Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, who has since been look up to as the father of the Bayanihan in the province. He was the one who steered “bayanihan” during his stint as the governor in the later Compostela Valley.  

 (Jasteen Abella, ID Davao DE Oro)

Tote bei Erdbeben auf Philippinen-Insel Mindanao

Bei einer Erdbebenserie auf der philippinischen Insel Mindanao sind mindestens vier Menschen ums Leben gekommen. Das heftigste Beben hatte die Stärke 6,8 und ereignete sich in der Davao-Region. Anschließend kam es zu etlichen Nachbeben. Im Ort Padada stürzte ein mehrstöckiges Supermarkt-Gebäude ein. Dabei starben nach Feuerwehr-Angaben mindestens drei Menschen. Eine unbekannte Zahl von Menschen wurde noch in den Trümmern vermutet. In Matanao starb nach Angaben von Bürgermeister Vincent Fernandez ein sechsjähriges Mädchen, als eine Betonwand umstürzte.

(C) DW

Climate Change and Major Emitters

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro Times

By KLAUS DORING

 December 12, 2019

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WHILE all of us already experience what climate change is all about, delegates from developing countries have reacted angrily to what they see as attempts to block progress at the COP25 meeting in Madrid. Yes, I get already big problems remaining patient while watching live stream news from Madrid.

One negotiator told the BBC that the talks had failed to find agreement on a range of issues because of the blocking actions of some large emitters. Carlos Fuller from Belize said that Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India and China were "part of the problem".

Other observers said there was a serious risk of failure at the talks.

Daily headlines let me feel bad. Greenland ice melt 'is accelerating'. Amazon oil boom under fire at UN climate talks. And so on and so on ... I am writing this while living in the Philippines -  a country hit most by climate change.

Ministers from all over the world have arrived in Madrid for the high-end negotiations that will determine the final outcome of this conference. Despite a huge climate demonstration on the streets of the Spanish capital last Friday, hopes of an ambitious declaration at COP25 have smacked straight into the realities of politics and entrenched positions.

I am afraid, also "Madrid" won't help anymore. There's an effort right now to block the words 'climate urgency' in text from Brazil and Saudi Arabia, saying we haven't used these words before in the UN, so we can't use them now," said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International.

"This gap between what's happening on the outside and what's happening in the science, and this 'UN speak' that won't react and drive something is very frustrating."

One issue that has caused a good deal of anger are the attempts by Brazil, China, India and Saudi Arabia to have the actions that were due to be completed before 2020 by richer nations, re-examined as part of the overall deal here in Madrid.

Distressing ... .