Heart Evangelista remembers Miriam Defensor Santiago on the late senator's 76th birthday

Heart Evangelista took the time to remember Miriam Defensor Santiago on what would have been the late senator's 76th birthday.

On her Instagram stories, Tuesday, the Kapuso Queen of Creative Collaborations shared a selfie with her "mentor, angel and second mother."

"Happy birthday, Tita," she wrote. "Miss you always."

The late senator, dubbed the "Iron Lady of Asia," died on September 29, 2016 after battling lung cancer.

Photo: Heart Evangelista/IG

Sen. Miriam played a big role in Heart's life, having been the one who introduced Heart to her now-husband, Sorsogon governor and former senator Chiz Escudero.

In a previous interview, Heart also revealed that Sen. Miriam empowered her to come out of her shell.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News