What began as one man’s journey of personal sacrifice has become a powerful tech success story and a beacon of community empowerment. Michael Sta. Maria, founder and CEO of Northeast Business Solutions, Inc. (NBSI), turned years of working away from his hometown of Norzagaray, Bulacan into motivation to build a homegrown software company that now provides timekeeping, HR, and payroll solutions to businesses across the Philippines.
Founded in 2016, NBSI grew from a simple payroll solution into a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) software company, serving both SMEs and large corporations. But for Sta. Maria, success has always been about more than technology—it’s about reclaiming time for himself and creating opportunities for his community. “Our employees are truly our ambassadors,” he says, emphasizing the value of empowering a local tech workforce.
A key partner in NBSI’s growth is PLDT Enterprise, whose digital infrastructure has enabled the company to scale efficiently. With zero internet downtime via PLDT iGate, NBSI improved productivity by over 15 percent and expanded its client base while reducing total working hours—a testament to how digital connectivity can drive real business outcomes.
“Thanks to PLDT Enterprise, our service delivery became more seamless, helping us support time-sensitive operations of our clients,” says Sta. Maria. The company now looks to further growth with support from PLDT’s Smart 5G and broadband upgrades.
PLDT Enterprise, through its podcast ROI’d to Success in partnership with Hustleshare, featured Sta. Maria’s journey to inspire other MSMEs to adopt digital tools and fuel their own success.
“Stories like NBSI’s show how empowering local businesses through technology leads to real progress,” said Jay Lagdameo, VP and Head of Enterprise Revenue Group at PLDT Enterprise. “We’re proud to be a part of their journey.”
