The co-founders of Wearables PH started by bringing smart ring health tracking to Filipinos, but their venture has evolved into a passionate community all about wellness.
In a world that constantly demands more—more hustle, more performance, more output—five friends from Manila are asking a different question: What if doing more begins with knowing more about yourself?
Camille Villonco, Enzo Santos, Javi Macasaet, Merche Padilla, and Nikki Nuyda didn’t initially set out to become wellness entrepreneurs. But somewhere between their demanding careers and the relentless pace of modern Filipino life, they realized something was missing: a deeper understanding of their own bodies and well-being.
With this common mission, the five founded Wearables PH, bringing in the Ultrahuman Ring to Filipino consumers, a sleek wearable device that quietly tracks sleep, recovery, and heart rate variability. But what started as introducing innovative wellness technology was just the beginning.
“We want to build a relationship with health tech that feels less clinical and more human,” they share with Lifestyle Asia. “It’s not about obsessing over numbers—it’s about helping Filipinos understand themselves better.”
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Listening To The Body
For Enzo, the turning point came while training for a marathon. Using wearables offered insights that went far beyond pacing and distance—it showed early signs of illness from dips in HRV and spikes in skin temperature, nudging him to rest before burnout set in.
“It became my guide,” says Enzo. “Not just for training, but for staying on top of my overall health.”
That personal revelation sparked something bigger. In a culture where puyat, or sleep deprivation, is sometimes worn like a badge of honor and “bawi nalang bukas” (“we’ll make up for it tomorrow”) is a familiar refrain, Enzo and his friends saw an opportunity to offer a different perspective: one where rest is respected, recovery prioritized, and health isn’t something you earn, it’s maintained.
“We used to think eight hours in bed meant we were fine,” Camille adds in. “But we learned it’s not just about quantity—it’s about quality.”
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A Post-Pandemic Awakening
The rise of wearables like the Ultrahuman Ring isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s part of a larger global movement, one that’s seen a surge since the pandemic, when the fragility of health became personal for everyone.
“People are now more conscious about their well-being,” the Wearables PH team says. “There’s been a real shift toward prevention, toward staying ahead of feeling sick.”
Young Filipinos, in particular, began embracing everything from mindfulness and movement to newer wellness trends, including red light therapy and ice baths, showing an unprecedented openness to tools that support not just appearances but longevity and energy.
But cultural habits run deep. Many Filipinos still cling to the kaya pa mindset—the idea that resilience means pushing through, even when bodies are begging for rest.
“We’re hoping to shift that mindset from ‘tiis lang to check-in muna,” explains the Wearables PH team. “To make tuning in—through breathwork, journaling, and wearables—a normal part of the day, not an afterthought.”
From Data To Daily Decisions
The technology behind their mission may seem complicated with all the data it provides, but in the simplest terms, it helps people connect the dots. For instance, it might show how that extra glass of wine affects your sleep quality, how a stressful day impacts recovery, or how late-night scrolling disrupts rest. The device picks up signals that bodies have been giving all along—now, through data, those signals become harder to ignore.
“Wearables are helping people understand themselves better and build healthier routines,” the team shares. “It’s not about perfect—it’s about awareness.”
That shift in awareness is already changing lives. The founders share stories of users who’ve cut back on caffeine, started timing workouts around recovery scores, or finally understood why they’ve been waking up exhausted every morning.
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Building A Community, Not Just A Brand
One of the most surprising parts of this journey? The deeply engaged community that’s formed around their mission. At events, people don’t just ask about products; they share their personal transformations, discuss sleep patterns, and ask thoughtful questions about wellness.
“We knew there was a market gap,” the founders say, “but what we didn’t expect was to build such a thoughtful, curious, and committed community.”
That community is what keeps them going. Every message, every transformation, and every small shift toward better wellness is a reminder that what they’re doing is offering a better way to live.
The Future Of Health Tech
The five friends and founders see themselves as part of the larger wellness movement, with wearables soon as common as fitness apps or food delivery platforms. And they envision a future where health data doesn’t live in isolation but integrates seamlessly with healthcare providers, fitness coaches, and wellness practitioners.
“Imagine syncing your ring with your coach’s training plan,” they say. “Or your therapist is seeing how sleep patterns are affecting your mood. That’s the direction we’re heading toward.”
They all see AI playing a major role, turning raw data into personalized insights that can support lifestyle tweaks and even medical care. Already, the Ultrahuman Ring is building a fuller ecosystem: from monitoring your home environment to integrating lab tests directly into the app.
“We’re moving from lifestyle tool to essential health companion,” they add.
A Legacy Of Living Better
When asked what kind of legacy they hope to leave behind, the answer of the Wearables PH team is simple and profound: “We want to help Filipinos live not just longer, but better.”
That means small, sustainable changes. More intentional choices. A deeper connection to one’s body. And most importantly, the realization that health isn’t something you have to hustle for, it’s something you honor. In a culture that often glorifies the grind, these five friends are offering a quieter, more grounded approach to wellness. Wisdom lives in the data, and wellness begins with a single breath, a good night’s sleep, and the decision to listen.
