Sarah Geronimo Kicks Off A New Era With Historic Win At The 2024 Billboard Women In Music Awards: “This has given me motivation to evolve as an artist.”

“This great news came and I was so inspired, it gave me a brand new hope, inspiration… and motivation as an artist.”

Sarah Geronimo courtesy of Billboard.

For the last couple of years, Sarah Geronimo has been working on starting a new era — from taking creative control of her music to embarking down uncharted paths. Today (March 7, Philippine time), the pop star’s newest chapter officially begins with her making history.

The Pop Royalty just became the first-ever homegrown Filipina to accept an award at Billboard’s prestigious Women In Music Awards, held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, California. Honored alongside the likes of Karol G, Charli XCX, NewJeans, and more, Geronimo — with the help of Billboard Philippines — is spearheading the global recognition of Filipino music.

While accepting the Global Force Award and being recognized internationally comes as a tremendous honor, to Geronimo, her goal has always been set on connecting with fellow Filipinos first.

“Ako hindi ko na masyadong pinang gigilan that I want to go international, I want to be known globally, hindi naman eh. Ang importante sakin is dito, maka-connect lang ako sa mga kababayan ko diba,” she tells Billboard Philippines. 

(“It’s not a big goal of mine to go international, that I want to be known globally. What’s important to me is to connect with my fellow Filipinos.”)

For over two decades, Geronimo has grown to be one of the most influential figures in Filipino music. She’s a household name, revered and praised for her vocal excellence and incomparable command of a stage.

She’s never been afraid to challenge herself and test the bounds of her artistry. You see it most notably in the latest era of her music, one that was initially inspired by fear and doubt.

“I took a break and then I released new songs and then I felt like people weren’t appreciating the materials I was releasing. Tapos may [nakita akong spelling ng] Sarah pa na wala nang H so sabi ko, ‘Hindi na nila ako kilala so parang paano ba to, should I continue? Should I adapt?’ Halimbawa TikTok is the gauge [whether] a song is a hit or not, so should I adjust? Should I tailor… create a song that’s fit for TikTok?” she shares, adding that receiving the news of her Billboard Women In Music award inspired her to keep going.

(“I took a break and then I released new songs and then I felt like parang people weren’t appreciating the materials I was releasing. And then, I saw people spell Sarah without the H and I thought, ‘They don’t know who I am anymore, what should I do? Should I continue? Should I adapt?’ For example, TikTok is the gauge whether a song is a hit or not, so should I adjust? Should I tailor… create a song that’s fit for TikTok?”)

“This great news came at sobrang ako na-inspire, it gave me a brand new hope, inspiration… and motivation as an artist,” she says. “To be recognized, to be given the honor to represent your country, parang hindi ko yan aatrasan eh so sabi ko, ‘Yes, go, I want to do it.’ Just the experience alone to be there, kasama mo such amazing artists that you look up to and get to represent the country, dapat I should not let it pass. I should value it.”

(“This great news came and I was so inspired, it gave me a brand new hope, inspiration… and motivation as an artist,” she says. “To be recognized, to be given the honor to represent your country, it’s not something I should back out on so I said, ‘Yes, go, I want to do it.’ Just the experience alone to be there, with such amazing artists that you look up to and get to represent the country, I should not let it pass. I should value it.”)