Silvestre Sarmiento is the son of former Bohol Provincial Auditor Nicanor Cabagnot Sarmiento of Taloto and Genoveva Dominado, former school teacher from Dumangas, Iloilo. He attended public schools, and graduated with honors at the Capiz High School. At the outbreak of war, he was inducted at 16 years of age into the USAFFE. He received several US military awards for services rendered. He left the military service to join the Philippine Civil Service. He became a CPA and a lawyer. He also earned a Master of Science in Public Administration at the Ohio State University as a Fullbright-Smith/Mundt scholar.

Marcos appointed him to additional designations: Finance Officer, Metro Manila Commission, Chairman of the Board of Accountancy, and in 1979, as the first Commissioner, Commission on Audit. He retired with distinction and with unblemished record after a total of 45 years of government service. He left for the United States in 1986 to join as a partner of a Chicago consultancy firm. Later, he was appointed US auditor at the Northrop/Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, California. Silver met his dream girl, Florlinda Soto of Cabanatuan City and blessed with five children, all grownup professionals now. With his family, Silver undertakes quietly charity and church works. He also supports/funds projects of a younger sister Guadalupe/Sister Cornelie de Marie of the St. Paul of Chartres order, now assigned at Maria Regina hospital, Cagayan de Oro City. A recent beneficiary of their attention is the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church in Taloto, Tagbilaran City, where his father Nicanor was born and raised another generation ago. Silver often quotes: God gave us gift of life what we do with it, is our own gift to God.