About
Welcome
Hello, and welcome to The CPA Herbalist.
My name is Rosafilipina Lazaro Burcer, a retired Certified Public Accountant from the Philippines who has become a lifelong student of herbal medicine, gardening, and nature.
This website is the meeting place of two very different worlds — accounting and the forest.
One taught me to value evidence, discipline, and careful observation.
The other taught me patience, stewardship, restoration, and a deeper appreciation for God’s creation.
Together, they shaped the person I am today.
My Journey: 9 Seasons of Learning
People often ask me, "What are you doing now that you've retired?"
My answer is simple: I never stopped learning.
For nearly fifteen years, I practiced accountancy. Numbers taught me discipline. Auditing taught me to seek evidence before reaching conclusions.
Later, I married a forester. Walking beside him introduced me to forests, reforestation projects, topographic maps, Indigenous communities, and the remarkable knowledge that people have passed down about Philippine medicinal plants.
The forest became a classroom unlike any I had ever known.
It taught me that restoration is possible — not only for damaged land, but also for people.
The 9 Seasons
Every stage of my life became another lesson. Here are the seasons that shaped me:
Season 1: From Spreadsheets to Stewardship
How accountancy led me to care for creation.
Season 2-Learning Restoration from What Was Discarded
I learned that discarded materials could be restored through recycled battery technology.
Season 3-Walking Besides a Forester
I learned that planting banana suckers could help improve the livelihood of Indigenous families.
Season 4-Beauty from Brokenness: When God Restored my Confidence
I learned that grief could become the beginning of a new purpose after the passing of my husband.
Season 5-From Timber to Stewardship
When I became a legal logger, and God said "wait" through a log ban.
I learned to communicate through the internet, discovering that online technology could connect people who shared a desire to continue learning.
Season 7-From Timber to a Garden of Herbs
I stopped counting board feet and started counting leaves under an Acacia tree.
Season 8-My Formal Herbal Studies
Most recently, I pursued formal studies in herbalism through Accredi-Pro University, where I graduated with Distinction and the academic honor of Cum Laude.
Formal education strengthened my understanding of herbal practice and complemented what I had already learned through years of observing nature.
Season 9-From Timber to Lifelong Student
Why I chose to share this journey online.
Today, I continue to study with humility because I believe learning never truly ends.
Why I Created This Blogsite
I created The CPA Herbalist to document my continuing journey.
This is not a website that promises miracle cures.
It is a place where I share:
Personal experiences from the forest and countryside
Practical gardening lessons
Evidence-informed information about Philippine medicinal plants
Reflections on faith, stewardship, and lifelong learning
Stories of restoration that continue to shape my life
If something I have learned encourages another person to plant a tree, grow a medicinal herb, care for the environment, or simply believe that it is never too late to begin again, then this website has fulfilled its purpose.
My Approach
My background as a Certified Public Accountant continues to influence the way I learn about herbs.
Accounting taught me discipline.
Auditing taught me to seek evidence.
The forest taught me humility.
Formal herbal education taught me to continue learning.
Together, these experiences remind me to appreciate both scientific research and the traditional knowledge that has been carefully preserved through generations.
A Gentle Disclaimer
I am a trained Herbalist Practitioner through formal study, but I believe responsible herbal practice requires humility and wisdom.
The information shared on this website is intended for educational purposes and to share my personal experiences.
It should never replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare professional before using medicinal herbs, especially if you have existing medical conditions, are pregnant, or are taking prescription medications.
I also encourage everyone to respect Philippine environmental laws, including regulations that protect our native plants and forests.
Come Walk With Me
This blogsite is more than a collection of articles.
It is the story of a retired CPA who discovered that God’s classroom extends far beyond the office.
It is the story of restoration.
From spreadsheets to stewardship.
From the boardroom to the forest.
From numbers to nature.
And through every season, I have discovered that we are never too old to learn, to serve, or to grow.
I invite you to walk with me —
Growing wisdom, one herb and one story at a time.
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it." — Genesis 2:15
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." — Galatians 5:22-23
Welcome
Hello, and welcome to The CPA Herbalist.
My name is Rosafilipina Lazaro Burcer, a retired Certified Public Accountant from the Philippines who has become a lifelong student of herbal medicine, gardening, and nature.
This website is the meeting place of two very different worlds — accounting and the forest.
One taught me to value evidence, discipline, and careful observation.
The other taught me patience, stewardship, restoration, and a deeper appreciation for God’s creation.
Together, they shaped the person I am today.
My Journey: 9 Seasons of Learning
People often ask me, "What are you doing now that you've retired?"
My answer is simple: I never stopped learning.
For nearly fifteen years, I practiced accountancy. Numbers taught me discipline. Auditing taught me to seek evidence before reaching conclusions.
Later, I married a forester. Walking beside him introduced me to forests, reforestation projects, topographic maps, Indigenous communities, and the remarkable knowledge that people have passed down about Philippine medicinal plants.
The forest became a classroom unlike any I had ever known.
It taught me that restoration is possible — not only for damaged land, but also for people.
The 9 Seasons
Every stage of my life became another lesson. Here are the seasons that shaped me:
Season 1: From Spreadsheets to Stewardship
How accountancy led me to care for creation.
Season 2-Learning Restoration from What Was Discarded
I learned that discarded materials could be restored through recycled battery technology.
Season 3-Walking Besides a Forester
I learned that planting banana suckers could help improve the livelihood of Indigenous families.
Season 4-Beauty from Brokenness: When God Restored my Confidence
I learned that grief could become the beginning of a new purpose after the passing of my husband.
Season 5-From Timber to Stewardship
When I became a legal logger, and God said "wait" through a log ban.
I learned to communicate through the internet, discovering that online technology could connect people who shared a desire to continue learning.
Season 7-From Timber to a Garden of Herbs
I stopped counting board feet and started counting leaves under an Acacia tree.
Season 8-My Formal Herbal Studies
Most recently, I pursued formal studies in herbalism through Accredi-Pro University, where I graduated with Distinction and the academic honor of Cum Laude.
Formal education strengthened my understanding of herbal practice and complemented what I had already learned through years of observing nature.
Season 9-From Timber to Lifelong Student
Why I chose to share this journey online.
Today, I continue to study with humility because I believe learning never truly ends.
Why I Created This Blogsite
I created The CPA Herbalist to document my continuing journey.
This is not a website that promises miracle cures.
It is a place where I share:
Personal experiences from the forest and countryside
Practical gardening lessons
Evidence-informed information about Philippine medicinal plants
Reflections on faith, stewardship, and lifelong learning
Stories of restoration that continue to shape my life
If something I have learned encourages another person to plant a tree, grow a medicinal herb, care for the environment, or simply believe that it is never too late to begin again, then this website has fulfilled its purpose.
My Approach
My background as a Certified Public Accountant continues to influence the way I learn about herbs.
Accounting taught me discipline.
Auditing taught me to seek evidence.
The forest taught me humility.
Formal herbal education taught me to continue learning.
Together, these experiences remind me to appreciate both scientific research and the traditional knowledge that has been carefully preserved through generations.
A Gentle Disclaimer
I am a trained Herbalist Practitioner through formal study, but I believe responsible herbal practice requires humility and wisdom.
The information shared on this website is intended for educational purposes and to share my personal experiences.
It should never replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare professional before using medicinal herbs, especially if you have existing medical conditions, are pregnant, or are taking prescription medications.
I also encourage everyone to respect Philippine environmental laws, including regulations that protect our native plants and forests.
Come Walk With Me
This blogsite is more than a collection of articles.
It is the story of a retired CPA who discovered that God’s classroom extends far beyond the office.
It is the story of restoration.
From spreadsheets to stewardship.
From the boardroom to the forest.
From numbers to nature.
And through every season, I have discovered that we are never too old to learn, to serve, or to grow.
I invite you to walk with me —
Growing wisdom, one herb and one story at a time.
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it." — Genesis 2:15
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." — Galatians 5:22-23