Filipina in Abu Dhabi captures UAE pride in heartfelt race poem

Abu Dhabi-based Filipina expat Alona Castillo-Ramos with her husband after completing the Run for the Nation race in Abu Dhabi on April 18, 2026. SUPPLIED

For Alona Castillo-Ramos, crossing the finish line of a 5km race in Abu Dhabi was more than just a personal milestone. It became a moment worth putting into words. The Filipina nurse, who has been living in the UAE for eight years, shared a heartfelt poem with Expat Media after taking part in the recent Run for the Nation event in the capital. Her verses reflect not just the run, but her life journey as an Overseas Filipino Worker, a wife, and a mother building a future far from home. Through her poem, Castillo-Ramos offers glimpses of her story. She writes about wearing “eight-year-old running shoes,” a quiet symbol of perseverance, and running side by side with her husband of 17 years. Together, they have built a life in the UAE, raising their daughter Julia, who was born in the country they now call their second home. Her words also reflect gratitude for stability and opportunity, mentioning the security of a golden visa and the support she felt during difficult times, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

A race that brought thousands together

Castillo-Ramos was among more than 25,000 participants who joined the “Run for the Nation” event on Saturday (April 18), a large-scale community run organised in Abu Dhabi. The event, held under the theme “Hassantak Ya Watan,” started at Wahat Al Karama and ended at Erth Abu Dhabi Hotel, drawing runners from across the UAE. Organisers described the run as a celebration of unity, inclusivity, and shared responsibility, with participants ranging from families and young people to senior citizens and People of Determination. For Castillo-Ramos, the experience was deeply personal. Running alongside her husband, she described the moment as a return to their younger days, when it was “just me and you.” Her poem captures that emotion, blending love, gratitude, and identity into a tribute to the UAE, a country she now calls home. Read it below:

Run for the UAE

Today I run for the nation, With hope and dedication, With my eight-year-old running shoes, Chasing dreams I cannot lose. Beside me runs my love so true, Seventeen years we’ve made it through, Hand in hand, our dreams in view, Building life in the UAE, too. Eight years here as a second home, No longer lost, no need to roam, A place where grateful hearts can stay, And brighter dreams are born each day. I raise the flag with pride so high, Red, green, white, and black in the sky, A symbol strong, a guiding light, Filling my soul with pure delight. Here, is where my dreams took flight, Turned my struggles into light, A place I call my second land, A life we built with heart in hand. With my husband, side by side, We faced the world with hopeful pride, And Julia, our shining star, Was born right here, just where we are. Oh UAE! I cherish you, For all the love and all you do, A golden visa, security strong, A place where we truly belong. Through every trial, through fear and pain, Through Covid days and distant strain, Your strength and care have kept us safe, A guiding force and a steady faith. No place compares, none stands so tall, You’ve given us a life, our call, For all I am and all I do, I owe a part of it….to you! We reached the 5km finish line, With medals earned, a moment so fine, Thousands gathered and hearts aligned, All the way from Al Ain, one of a kind. Thank you to our Mars and Pars, For all your love and who you are, You held our child with care so true, Giving us time to be just “two.” While me and my husband joined this race, We found again that youthful place, Just like before, when love was new, Just us again—only ME and YOU. So here I run, with heart so free, Forever grateful to UAE With love that grows eternally, My home, my pride, my destiny.

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