Meet Danilo Villanueva

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danilo Villanueva. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Danilo, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

Definitely from growing up at home under strict parenting and clear rules. There was no such thing as gentle parenting during my childhood — and I’m 100% grateful for that. My extracurricular activities were chosen for me for a reason, and I had no choice but to follow through. One of them was piano lessons, which taught invaluable lessons beyond just playing music: self-discipline, self-expression, the pursuit of perfection, and attention to detail. My parents not only preached their lessons but also led by example. They worked hard. They were thorough in everything they touched. And implicitly, they taught me that if you can’t do something well, then don’t do it at all. I have a toddler now, and I find myself replicating how I was raised with how I raise him today.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

For many years, I built TV commercials, online videos, billboards, and magazine ads for major automotive brands as a Creative Director in the advertising industry; a career that was both a passion and a dream job for me. After 15 years, I decided to take a one-year sabbatical, and that break opened up an entirely new and unfamiliar world, one that was more exciting, unpredictable, and directly fulfilling. That’s when MAKINA, a watch brand I founded, was born.

What began as a passion project and side pursuit has since evolved into something that defines much of who I am professionally and what I contribute. The independent watch industry has been thriving, with enthusiasts constantly seeking new brands that push design and technical boundaries. MAKINA has become part of that movement by offering bold alternatives in watch design, engaging closely with fans at major watch fairs across the U.S. this year including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Austin, through the Windup and Intersect Watch Shows.

Being a young brand, we’re still writing our history. Beyond the eight model lineups and 40-plus designs we’ve developed, commissions from organizations and companies like the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Freemasons, the Philippine Military, San Miguel Corporation, Megaworld International, Altria Group and more have helped shape our story over MAKINA’s eight-year journey. Each partnership reinforces our purpose — to create timepieces that merge industrial grit with quiet elegance, and to represent a bold, independent Filipino voice in watchmaking.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Know thyself – I don’t know how else to say this in a less clichéd way, but I don’t think anyone has put it better than the ancient Greeks. From my observation, it’s not an easy thing to do, especially for younger people. But the sooner someone understands who they really are and what their purpose is, the better. It usually comes down to a combination of what you’re good at and what you’re passionate about. These two don’t always align, but when they do, that intersection often reveals where you can contribute most meaningfully to the world.

Be comfortable with being uncomfortable – Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do; things that are hard, risky, or simply outside your comfort zone. I believe that embracing discomfort is what keeps people growing and moving forward. It’s a kind of resilience that’s slowly being lost, even though we all see that consistent hard work still leads to meaningful rewards. I don’t really have advice on how to do this other than training and pushing oneself to “just do it”.

Live in the present – It’s something many people forget to do. It’s good to carry values from the past and be ambitious about the future, but I think we also need to be fully present in whatever we’re doing now; whether it’s work, vacation, or a simple conversation. It sounds easy but it’s not. Even I can’t say I’m fully present all the time. But the more we can master this, the less stressed and more focused we become and that clarity has a real effect on the quality of our work and life in general.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Exposing me to different cultures. Because of my dad’s career, I had the opportunity to live and study in Manila, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Los Angeles during my younger years before starting my career. Those experiences gave me a broader understanding of people and how unique different parts of the world can think and operate. I learned early on that there’s never just one way to do things; every culture has its own strengths. Seeing this firsthand helped me recognize what each does best, and I’ve carried that perspective into everything I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.makinawatches.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makinawatches/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makinawatches
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danilo-villanueva/