the mother, the wife & the public servant

As enliv celebrates the Women's Month, we invite you to take a peak at the life of a woman who tops the list among most well-respected and admired women in Bohol . Enliv features an inspiring figure for today's Boholano women.

Life begins at forty. At 42 years old, Ms. Anne Mariquit “Kit” Derikito-Oppus finds life's fulfillment in the love of her family with husband P/Supt. Louie Tiroy Oppus and three lovely kids Marie Louise (15 years old), Daniel Thaddeus (10) and Gabrielle Mirin (5). And of course, her noble career in public service being the chief of staff of Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera is an effective outlet of her passion for service.

The mother

“Well she's a woman with strength. Not like any ordinary mom, we call her super mom. Since my father works in Cebu , she takes care of us all the time. She may look like your typical, ordinary mom but once she wants something for her kids, she tries her best to have it. Life is not always the way we want it, but for nanay, she makes the most out of it. She's the best mom ever!” Kits eldest daughter Marie Louise fondly quipped.

Enliv (E): How do you spend quality time with your children?

Kit (K): “We make sure we have it doing an activity they (the children) love to do. Usually at the beach or at home – talking a lot!”

E: Aside from giving birth, what do you believe is the greatest thing you ever did for your children?

K: “Breast-feeding them and being their first tutor.”

E: What values and/or virtues you instill to your children?

K: “Family, respect for the truth, practicing what one preaches and prayer.”

E: What is the greatest lesson you learned as a mother?

K: “That I was a child, like my own children are today, and that I have to look back at what it was then to truly and better understand them now.”

The wife

According to her husband, to describe Kit as a wife can be summed up in one word: “Loving”

E: What is it like being a wife of a military man?

K: “Quite frankly, I believe it's like being anybody's wife. The career of my husband does not describe my role as his spouse. From the beginning, we had a clear understanding of both our roles as husband and wife, not ‘ifs', no ‘buts', no ‘titles.”

E: What was the challenge you encountered as a wife? How do you cope?

K: “How to continually cope with his needs despite the varied needs of three growing kids, and my own. Coping with it—time management, proper diet and exercise.”

E: How do you spend quality time with your husband?

K: “Come to think of it—I can't describe it. Maybe that's how Good it is that words cannot describe the same.”

E: What was the most unforgettable wedding anniversary?

K: “My wedding anniversary happens to be my birthday—and I treasure each and every such occasion. Usually delayed when not a weekend, but my husband makes sure to make it unforgettable. How? That a family secret (hehehe).”

E: How do you say I love you to your husband?

K: “Many different ways really—small things that matter most to him.”

E: What is the greatest lesson you learned as a wife?

K: “That a husband's/man's needs remain the same, from courtship up to the present.”

The public servant

As the chief of staff of the vice governor's office. Kit's guiding principle at work remains to be ‘Leadership by example.' “I don't set principles or a vision or mission I cannot, myself, reach. I am Quite strict in a ‘loving' manner because I always consider each person's limitations. I love to ‘move' people, always letting them know and feel they have a role to play and that teamwork is always the key. Quite frankly, I manage the office pretty much the same as I manage the Home. I believe that the true test of my leadership remains to be: When I am gone or when I leave, those left can pretty much deliver as if I wasn't gone / or like I never left.”

E: What do you think is the advantage of having women in the public service?

K: “A lot of advantages: a woman's knack for details; women are more receptive and passionate; women give a ‘heart' to public service; and, women are better financial managers.”

E: What is the greatest lesson you learned as a public servant?

K: “Sadly, that there are only a handful/few real ‘public servants' in the real sense of the word. To be one nowadays entails a lot of sacrifice, courage and perseverance. But gladly though, it is the most gratifying and fulfilling.

Being simply a woman

“While still in the private sector, and now in government, I have been working ‘amongst' men. Maybe the best thing I've ever done as a woman is having worked with men, not minding by gender. I haven't considered gender a hindrance to any of my past, and present endeavors” Kit quipped.

E: What is the essence of a woman?

K: “Being a man's ‘better-half''and motherhood.”

E: What stereotype about women do you disagree the most? Why?

K: “That women are Bad Drivers. I've been since the age of 18 and honestly, I've seen and dealt with even worse men-drivers (sorry).”

E: What do you think is the greatest challenge the women of today are facing? Why?

K: “It should be being able to balance one's career with a woman's primary role—that of being a wife and mother.”

Truly, being a woman is both a gift and a challenge. For a woman like Kit, she extends her gratefulness to her parents, brothers and sisters, husband and even her kids who believed and trusted her and in what she I can do. “That, to me, has been my source of inspiration. To them, all I can say is: Thank you and I love you very much!”