They used to make tea out of wild turmeric and ate its leaves as rebels in the forests and mountains of the Zamboanga Peninsula region. Today, the former New People’s Army guerrillas are producing tea powder out of the plant for their livelihood.
Nabong, a former student activist from Misamis Oriental province, had led communist guerrilla forces in the Zamboanga Peninsula and had served as 1st deputy secretary of the WMRPC. His exploits were regarded as legendary in the rebel movement but these made him one of the most sought-after NPA leaders in Mindanao by the government.
Colonel Don Templonuevo, who was then the commander of the Army's 44th Infantry Battalion, lent them P40,000 so they would have start-up capital for their small business. Their product, named CIFAB-13 after their former NPA unit, is now all over the Imelda town public market, and the group is branching out to other areas in and out of Zamboanga Sibugay.