Heart Evangelista in tears as she says goodbye to her ‘fairy godmother’

Heart Evangelista broke down in tears as she delivered her eulogy for the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Saturday night.

"You are my fairy godmother, my protector, my hero, my mother, my best friend," Evangelista said in between sobs during the necrological service for the late senator.

The late senator was the one who introduced Evangelista to her husband, Sen. Francis Escudero.

The actress also thanked the husband and family of the late senator in her eulogy.

"Thank you. Thank you so much for sharing her with me. I shall treasure, our shared memories together," she said.

The late senator's best friend, Zenaida Lazaro, and "favorite" brother Benjamin Defensor, also delivered their eulogies.

Before the eulogies, members of the Senate presented to Santiago's husband, Jun, an official recognition for the veteran senator.

In a statement issued by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, he said Santiago "always stood on the side of what was moral, what was legal, what was constitutional, and ultimately what was good for the Filipino people."

"She was the best president our nation never had," Pimentel said.

Hundreds of supporters of the senator lined up at the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Quezon City to pay their last respects.

The public viewing for the late senator was temporarily halted, but resumed after the necrological service at past 10 p.m.

It will again be halted from midnight to 7 a.m. on Sunday.

The former senator will be buried at the Loyola Memorial Park on Sunday.