Remembering Juanito Penequito
International YCW president 1983-87
We are sad to report the death of former International YCW president, Juanito Penequito, who died in Manila, Philippines after a short illness on 15 December 2025.
Juanito Penequito and his late wife Wenilou Pradel played a huge role in the Philippines YCW and the International YCW for many years.
We remember their commitment to the movement and to young workers. And we express our condolences to their son, Vincent, and all other family members and friends.
“I first met Juanito at the IYCW World Council in Madrid in 1983,” wrote Felix Ollarves, who succeeded Juanito as IYCW president in 1987.
“His name and his personality were very appealing; his commitment was beyond question and inspiring.
“We chose him as our most visible leader, marking the beginning of a new era for the International YCW after a very turbulent period.
“We shared four years of teamwork, during which he always gave his utmost effort and remained cheerful even in the most difficult moments, which were unprecedented.
“He lived his life completely devoted to what he believed in, as part of his commitment to building a new society. That was my perception, perhaps a fleeting one, of a life of activism that intertwined with my own.
“I remember when, symbolically, he passed on his commitment to me, when I succeeded him in the leadership role at the Brazil World Council in 1987. He pretended to transfer a burden; he didn’t speak Spanish. And yes, he entrusted me with a responsibility he was already taking on, to move on to others, and that’s how it always is when we make commitments; in a way, we take on a burden and carry it personally when it’s an integral part of who we are.
“That commitment and commitment is lifelong. And that’s how I feel Juanito lived it; he inspired us forever. A hug in eternity, Comrade.”
Original Spanish
Conocí a Juanito en 1983, durante el Consejo Mundial de la JOCI, en Madrid. Su nombre ya era muy simpático y, su personalidad, por su puesto; su compromiso incuestionable y motivador.
Lo elegimos como nuestro referente más visible, en lo que significaba el comienzo de una nueva etapa en la JOCI, después de un periodo tan turbulento. Compartimos cuatro años de Trabajo en equipo, donde siempre estuvo presente su esfuerzo al máximo, su jovialidad aún en los momentos más difíciles, que lo fueron, como nunca antes, los vivió como toda una vida que se entregaba integralmente a lo que creía, como parte de su compromiso por la construcción de una nueva sociedad. Así fue mi percepción, quizá muy efímera de una vida militante, que interactuó con la mía.
Recuerdo cuando, simbólicamente, me entregó su compromiso, cuando lo sucedi en la responsabilidad, en el consejo de Brasil (1987), simuló traspasar una carga, no hablaba español. Y, sí, me entregó una responsabilidad que asumía, para pasar a otras, y así es siempre que asumimos compromisos, de alguna manera tomamos una carga y la llevamos siempre de manera personal cuando es parte integral de lo que somos; esa militancia y compromiso es para toda la vida.
Y así siento que Juanito la vivió, nos inspiró por siempre. Un abrazo en la eternidad Compañero
Félix Ollarves.