In 30 years of living in Juneau, I have had some interaction with the Filipino community. I've watched the lively, colorful dances in the Fourth of July parade. Chicken adobo and pancit are some of my favorite foods anywhere. And who can forget Mike Zamora, across from the old ferry terminal, preparing Filipino foods between card games at 3 in the morning for wayward bar-hoppers?

On the first evening of the festivities, walking through the front door of the Filipino Community Hall, I was greeted by two women who smiled sweetly and ushered me to the food table. As everyone ate, we listened to an impassioned rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner," performed by Filipino-American singer Rona May Borja, who sang another song in Tagalog.

A performance by the Wah-Wah-Wee Senior Dancers was a highlight for me. The women were dressed in colorful skirts of blue, turquoise, burgundy, black and orange - each with an ornate sequined design sewn onto her blouse. They danced on the floor with arms outstretched, fingers and hands pointing up, heads held high with grace and flair. Hands down, their sophistication and maturity, coupled with their confidence and pride, made them the most charismatic performers of the evening.

Throughout the week, the community displayed foods, crafts, photos and artifacts from different regions of the Philippines. The weekend also included a community picnic at Sandy Beach and a formal gala at Centennial Hall.

The gala featured a program of Filipino songs and dances - performed by the Alitaptap dance group - dating back to precolonization times.

The first dancers wore leaf coverings and performed ritualistic moves to the beating of drums. A series of women dressed in hand-embroidered dresses performed elaborate line dances with bells on their feet that jingled when they stepped. The precision and symmetry of their formations was virtuosic and entrancing.

Other dances featured more European-influenced motives and costumes - long dresses on the women, trousers and short-sleeved shirts on the men, guitar and orchestral music - representing the influence of the Spanish colonizers.

Bernardo Bernardo, a famous Filipino singer who visits Juneau regularly, performed popular songs from the Philippines between dance acts. He sang passionately, holding out his notes with vibrato and elegance while the women in the audience swooned.

As I was leaving the gala, several people smiled and thanked me for coming. I walked away having learned so much about the Filipino community and feeling truly welcomed as a co-member of the Juneau community.

When I returned home, I read a quote from the program, which stated clearly what I had experienced. The purpose of Filipino Community Inc. is "to foster better and harmonious relationships, understanding and brotherhood among ourselves and with other ethnic groups, and to keep alive our Filipino heritage, culture, customs and traditions."

What could be a more welcoming, friendly way to be?