Asst. Prof. Flordeliza G. Sillero
She’s among those who prove true that great things can come in small packages.
Asst. Prof. Flordeliza G. Sillero, a petite yet powerful figure from the Chemistry Department, is a real joy-giver whenever she belts out a song. Among the many timeless classics she can sing, her favorite is Karen Carpenter’s “Love me for who I am.”
Born and raised in Dumaguete, Flor enjoyed a childhood bursting with fun traditional Filipino outdoor games with her neighbors in Barangay Calindagan.
Her parents, who both worked in government, carried out a wonderful balance in raising her and her six other siblings. Her father, who was firm and a disciplinarian, complemented her caring and gentle mother.
As a student, Flor consistently made it to the list of honor students in elementary and high school. She was a member of the Honor Society but was also active in sports. In fact, she was a member of the volleyball team when she was in high school.
When asked what her top career choices were before entering college, she shared that as a child she had always fancied the thought of being a nun. It could have been the long white dress and veil, or the purity and tenderness of the vocation. But whatever it was that piqued her interest to join the monastery soon took a backseat in her teenage years.
Four years later, in 1980, Flor earned her degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Silliman University.
Getting employment after graduation did not seem like a problem for Flor. It was not long after graduation for her to be hired as a water analyst for a project of the then Philippine National Oil Company, now Energy Development Corporation, in Valencia, Negros Oriental.
A year later, she was recommended by one of her college professors to join Medina College in Ozamiz city where she taught Chemistry for three semesters and two summers. Later, she received an invitation to return to Dumaguete following a vacancy at the High School Department in Silliman. In 1982, she joined the University as a high school teacher in Chemistry.
While already teaching in Silliman, Flor challenged her to pursue another degree. In 1983, she enrolled in the College of Law and completed her Bachelor of Laws four years later. She was planning on taking the Bar but had to postpone it indefinitely after she grabbed the opportunity to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching major in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines-Diliman on yet another scholarship, the National Science and Technology Association Scholarship. She finished her graduate studies in 1989.
It was on her return to Dumaguete following her graduate studies in Manila when she crossed paths with Primo Sillero, a former suitor back in college. They met each other again after nine years of silence. This time, his former suitor was already a public school teacher and was bent on finally winning Flor over, never mind if his first try was unsuccessful. They picked up from where they left off and nurtured their friendship into what a year later would translate to wedding vows.
Flor and Primo are blessed with twin daughters: Ruthchell, a third year Education student, and Reitchell, a senior Nutrition and Dietetics student.
In 1999, after 17 years in the High School Department, Flor took on the challenge of teaching college students. She joined the Chemistry Department and was appointed its Chairperson a year later. During her chairmanship, the University partnered with the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, a Center of Excellence in Chemistry, on an off-shore graduate studies program that benefited seven faculty members in the form of master's degree in chemistry.
This year, 2015, marks Flor's 33 years of service to Silliman University.
Describe yourself in three words.
Compassionate. Approachable. Friendly.
What is your motto in life?
Life is what you make it.
What makes you laugh?
Recalling funny memories
What makes you cry?
Overwhelming anger and sympathy for those who are hurt and helpless.
What’s your favorite time of the day and why?
Late afternoons, just before sunset, because I like how the rays of the sun pierce through the clouds at that time.
What’s your favorite day of the week and why?
Sunday, because there’s less work and it’s also family day.
What do you love doing when you’re not working?
I enjoy sewing.
What is your favorite hangout plays in the University?
Instrumentation room at the Chemistry Department
What makes you blush?
Embarrassing experiences
If you were an actress, who would you be?
Helen Gamboa, because she reminds me of my mother.
Tell us a fact about yourself.
When I say “Yes” to a task, I mean it.
What’s your favorite game growing up?
Balay-balay, kayukok, tubig-tubig, piko, sud-sud
What’s your idea of a relaxing day?
Watching the waves of the sea kiss the shore as I belt out my favorite songs.
What one thing would people be interested to know about you?
As a child, I fancied the thought of being a nun.
What song best describes the YOU and the life you have now?
I can’t think of one right now, but my favorite song is “Love me for what I am” by The Carpenters.
What is the first thing you do right after waking up in the morning?
I check myself in the mirror and comb my hair.
What’s your idea of a family?
Parents constantly guiding their children.
