By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Mrs. Silencino with her classmates from left Mrs. Dagohoy, Mrs. Dais, Mrs. Faulan, and Mrs. Romarate.
Central Philippine University community mourns the passing of Felina Yap-Silencino, a distinguished alumna, preacher of the Gospel, woman of prayer, and a Christian minister. Her journey, which began on June 1, 1930, in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, concluded on February 8, 2024, at the age of 93 in Brgy. Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo.
Felina Yap-Silencino’s legacy is deeply rooted in her commitment to Christian ministry. After completing her Bachelor in Theology from the Baptist Missionary Training School (BMTS) of Central Philippine University in 1956, she embarked on a journey of faith and service. Supported by the La Carlota Evangelical Church and an American Baptist Foreign Mission Society (ABFMS) scholarship, she was mentored by American Baptist missionaries, shaping her into an exemplary figure in Christian ministry.
Post her college education, she and her late Pastor-Missionary husband, Rev. Vicente Silencino (2016), pioneered the Faith Baptist Church in Quezon City before relocating to Davao, Mindanao. Her pioneering spirit continued as she ministered and blessed numerous congregations throughout her lifetime.
Felina Yap-Silencino’s impact extended beyond the pulpit as she served in various institutions, including the Iloilo Baptist Women’s Missionary Society, the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches Ministers’ Wives (as President), World Vision (as a Board Member), and the Central Philippine University College of Theology Alumni Association (as Vice-President). She also contributed as an instructor at Convention Baptist Bible College in Bacolod City and served as Secretary of the YWCA in Bacolod City.
The list of congregations she ministered to and institutions she served reflects the widespread influence of her dedication and service:
Congregations:
- La Carlota Evangelical Church, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental
- Araneta Memorial Baptist Church, Bago City, Negros Occidental
- Leon Baptist Church
- Banate Baptist Church
- Guiwanon Baptist Church, Escalante City, Negros Occidental
- Cosmopolitan Evangelical Church, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
- Guimbal Baptist Church, Iloilo
- Buluangan Baptist Church
- New Testament Baptist Church, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
- Emmanuel Riverside Mission (ERM) Baptist Church, Ajuy, Iloilo
Institutions:
- Iloilo Baptist Women’s Missionary Society (Provincial Missionary)
- Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches Ministers’ Wives (President)
- World Vision (Board Member)
- Central Philippine University College of Theology Alumni Association (Vice-President)
- Convention Baptist Bible College, Bakyas, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental (Instructor)
- YWCA in Bacolod City (Secretary)
Felina Yap-Silencino is survived by her six children, all Centralians – Mary Lou, Ruth Fe, Orpha Vic, Magda Lynn, Vince, and Hannah Joy – along with their respective families.
Her life was guided by the inspirational words of Stephen Grellet: “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
The Central Philippine University community extends its deepest condolences to the Yap-Silencino family and celebrates the impactful life of Felina Yap-Silencino, a true Centralian and devoted servant of the Gospel.