As the GIANTS prepare for their upcoming Cultural Heritage Series game on Saturday, the club used the opportunity to not only highlight the contributions of those within the club’s four walls but those within their wider networks.

Among them is Australian Associated Press (AAP) journalist Joanna Guelas whose Filipino heritage remains a significant part of her identity despite spending most of her life in Australia.

Guelas, a familiar face at GIANTS media opportunities and game days, was born in the Philippines before moving to Melbourne with her family in 2006.

Now based in Sydney, the AAP reporter covers sport across the country, with her work appearing in publications including AFL.com.au, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and on ABC platforms.

While her career has taken her across the world, Guelas remains deeply connected to her Filipino roots and the values that have stayed with her since childhood.

"The hospitality is probably what I'm most proud of," Guelas said.

"I've never met another Filipino person in Sydney that isn't so kind and welcoming. We love to joke around and it's just so easy to get along with people.”

The Filipino community continues to be one of Australia's fastest-growing multicultural groups, particularly in New South Wales, and Guelas understands why so many families have chosen to make Australia home.

"It's far away, but it's also not that far," she said.

"Sydney feels so much like Manila, especially during summer. We have some of the best beaches in the Philippines and Sydney's beaches are just as great."

Her own family's move to Australia was helped by relatives already living in Melbourne, with her grandparents having settled there before the rest of the family arrived.

For Guelas, the Cultural Heritage Series is an important opportunity to celebrate the diversity that exists throughout Australian sport and the wider community. As someone who regularly tells the stories of athletes and teams, she believes sport has a unique ability to bring people together and provide a platform to recognise the many cultures, backgrounds and experiences that help shape Australian sport.

"Sport is one of the greatest equalisers in our country," she said.

Despite now calling Sydney home, Guelas still returns to the Philippines regularly and says there is one destination she would recommend to any first-time visitor.

“We’re skipping Manila and heading straight to the islands,” she said.

"El Nido in Palawan is probably the best place to visit. The island hopping there is incredible."

Ahead of Saturday's Cultural Heritage Series clash, Guelas' story serves as a reminder of the many cultures and communities that contribute to the fabric of Australian football. Whether on the field, in the stands or helping tell the stories of the game, diversity continues to be one of the sport's greatest strengths.