Belle Mariano receives the Listener’s Choice Award at Billboard Philippines' ‘Women in Music’ event. MJ Felipe, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA -- Fresh from receiving the Listener’s Choice Award from Billboard Philippines ‘Women in Music,’ actress-singer Belle Mariano is still stunned with this recent recognition of her music. 

Mariano's single "Bugambilya" is currently her biggest hit on the Spotify platform with more than 15 million streams and counting.

“To be honest, I never really expected. I used to dream about this,” a grateful Mariano said after attending the event.  “Even just entering there, surrounded by amazing women in music that I look up to in the music industry, grabe 'yung kilabot. Thank you so much to Billboard.”

Mariano told ABS-CBN News that she was inspired by the Disney family sitcom "Hannah Montana" which starred Miley Cyrus.

“Growing up, I used to watch ‘Hannah Montana.’ I wanna be like her one day. I wanna be able to make other people smile thru my music. And I never really expected to create music, to write songs and just be here. Oh my God! So, everyday it still amazes me. Everyday talaga ang dami kong natutunan,” she said, adding that she considers singing karaoke with her grandfather part of her musical training. 

Now, apart from being a primetime TV and movie actress, Mariano has fully embraced her talent for music.

“When I entered the music industry, and after wrote my very first song, the process I fell in love with it. So I can say, I am more inspired now to write more, to inspire more people with my music. Music is, somehow, for me I see it as art. Somehow like acting... With music, you can express so much, feel so many things by listening to music takes you to many different places,” she said.

While watching BINI’s performance of "Salamin Salamin," ABS-CBN’s Star Music head Roxy Liquigan revealed that Mariano just randomly started brainstorming for some elements on her next concert.  

“These past few weeks, I’ve been like really thinking of what I am doing in the concert, I’m really excited. I think this year, it will be different. All I can say is, may magiging part 'yung manonood sa concert,” she said.