As the board of directors and part of the family of the crew “Los que faltaban”, we would like to explain why we believe that Carlos, or rather “el Chichetas mayor”, is the ideal person for this nomination.
We say would like because it is difficult to put into words the feeling and commitment that Carlos “Chichetas” has always shown toward the San Roque festivities and our crew.
It is hard to define the exact moment when he became part of the crew “Los que faltaban”, but very few people, regardless of which crew they belong to, would disagree—if they know him—that he has belonged to it since before he was born. His uncles and father were founders and presidents of the crew, and it is clear that the “Chichetas” family has green running through their veins.
In 1989, at the age of eight, he joined the crew “el Desbarajuste”, where he remained for two years. But as the saying goes, home is where the heart is, and his green blood and passion for “Los que faltaban” led him to join this crew at the age of ten.
Even before that, he was already helping his family with the assembly of the crew headquarters, and that is something that has never changed. Since then, he has never missed the preparations for the festivities. In fact, his dedication has only grown stronger. After all, what would we do without the “Chichetas” crane transporting all the equipment, containers, metal sheets, and other materials needed for the setup? And, naturally, Carlos and his brother Javier have made green their corporate color. They are always willing to lend a hand not only to “Los que faltaban”, but to any crew that needs help. San Roque is San Roque.
In 1999, as soon as he turned eighteen, he joined the board of directors of the crew as a board member, under the presidency of Sofía Sánchez. Just three years later, in 2002, he took over the leadership of the crew. That responsibility is always easier when you are surrounded by your own people—trusted friends, companions, and individuals who have always stood by your side and who share the same passion for the green colors.
During those years, the crew experienced significant improvements, the natural result of doing things with enthusiasm and genuine dedication. “Los que faltaban” reached a number of crew members not seen since the 1980s. A major effort was also made to bring in better-known musical groups, giving greater prestige both to the crew and to the San Roque festivities. In 2004, under his presidency, his board nominated his father, Juan José Navarro, as Peñista del Año, an honor that was awarded to him, making him the last Peñista del Año from the crew “Los que faltaban” to date.
In 2003, shortly before the festivities began, Efrén Navarro, then president of the Inter-Crew Federation, resigned, forcing the presidents of the different crews to form a temporary management committee.
Javier García chaired this committee, while “Chiche” served as one of its board members due to his young age. Nevertheless, this did not prevent him from playing an active role within the Inter-Crew Federation, where he also built lasting friendships with committee members and directors from many other crews. Carlos still maintains close friendships with the people he met during those years, demonstrating his true San Roque spirit. No matter which crew someone belongs to, Carlos has irreplaceable friendships with crew members of every color.
The temporary management committee ensured that, throughout its five years of existence, the San Roque festivities continued to be held normally and without interruption. In 2004, he also became the Inter-Crew Federation representative on the Security Committee, whose purpose was to coordinate safety inside the crew headquarters.
In addition to his involvement with the crew and the Inter-Crew Federation, “Chichetas” has, of course, been a member of the Brotherhood of San Roque since birth, where everyone also knows exactly who he is. He has always taken an active role, helping with whatever was needed, from maintenance work and cleaning to serving hot chocolate during the early hours of August 16th—a tradition Carlos never missed in his younger years.
He and his family have never lost their enthusiasm for serving as Preboste, a role he had the privilege of sharing with his father in 2018. It was an experience that brought deep emotions throughout the entire year, especially during the festivities. Carlos hopes that one day he, one of his children, or his wife will have the honor of assuming that role. In any case, he would be proud to welcome and safeguard the image of San Roque with all the honor and responsibility it represents.
There are countless stories that could be told about Carlos “el Chichetas” during our festivities, both within our own crew and alongside members of many others. He is friendly, cheerful, generous, humble, honest, optimistic, charismatic... and the list of positive qualities could go on. Few people would disagree, as he is someone who is genuinely appreciated throughout Calatayud.
Today, Carlos is no longer formally part of the board of directors of the crew, but, as mentioned before, he continues to help whenever needed, especially with the assembly work and the logistics of “Los que faltaban”, as well as assisting other crews during the days before and after the festivities.
As could not be otherwise, Carlos and his wife Lara have passed on their passion for the San Roque festivities and their unconditional love for the crew “Los que faltaban” to everyone around them, especially to their three children. Of course, this is hardly surprising considering the strong family tradition that has always existed. It is common to see the three generations of the “Chichetas” family enjoying every aspect of the festivities in Calatayud: sharing a vermouth with friends, following the brass band through the streets, taking part in children's activities, or even traveling together to Teruel during the Vaquilla celebrations for their traditional breakfast.
To us, “el Chichetas” is one of the defining personalities of “Los que faltaban”, an exemplary crew member with a remarkable family tradition and an unwavering commitment, without whom we believe the festivities would not be what they are today. We firmly believe that Carlos “Chichetas” is one of those people who have made our festivities better through everything described above and much more. For his tireless dedication to the San Roque festivities, his deep sense of belonging, and the pride he has always shown for his crew, we believe he fully deserves to be nominated for the distinction of Peñista.
