MANILA - Leren Mae Bautista, who capped off a great year for the Philippines in the world of pageantry after winning the title of Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International, is back home.

The 23-year-old Bautista arrived Saturday noon from Malaysia, where the pageant was held last December 31. She was welcomed by the local press, as well as some members of her family.

Bautista, who hails from Laguna, admitted that she still cannot believe that she took home the crown -- the country's sixth in the international pageant circuit in 2015.

She joins the ranks of fellow Filipina titlists Pia Wurtzbach (Miss Universe) Angelia Ong (Miss Earth), Ann Lorraine Colis (Miss Globe), Cindy Madumma (Miss Scuba International) and transgender Trixie Maristela (Miss International Queen).

"Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na nakuha ko 'yung last crown of the year. Sobrang saya ng feeling. Alam ko lahat ng Pilipino ay proud at para sa inyo lahat ito," Bautista said.

The marketing graduate thanked her family and her supporters for instilling in her the confidence she needed to bag the title, which was also won by Sherylle Santarin (1996) and Raquel Uy (1999).

Emotional, she told reporters: "Ginagawa ko naman ito para kay mommy, sa family ko po. Kasi sila lang naman po talaga ang nagmo-motivate sa akin kahit nahihirapan din po ako."

"Pero pag iniisip ko po ang sacrifices nila parang doon na lang po ako humuhugot ng lakas. Kasi ang gaganda po ng candidates, may kanya-kanya silang degree, kanya-kanyang ginagawa sa buhay nila. Kaya kahit minsan nado-down ako, pero pag ini-encourage ako ng mga family, friends, doon talaga ako humuhugot ng lakas ng loob."

"Tapos ngayon na nakuha ko na ang title, parang ang sobrang suwerte ko talaga kaya wala na talaga hihilingin pa," she added.

According to Bautista, she will spend 2016 promoting "charity, tourism, culture, and friendship" as the new Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International.

(IN PHOTOS: Meet the newest Miss Tourism Queen of the Year)