Bernardo Briceño’s early life was marked by isolation and neglect. He vividly remembered shaking in the dim light of the orphanage, crawling out of a creaky cot as a toddler. The atmosphere was one of fear and hunger, with distant voices debating his worth. In a world where children should be surrounded by love, Bernardo’s existence was defined by strict discipline and indifference.
The nuns sometimes ejected him from the only place where gentle music and laughter could be heard. The harsh cry of a woman echoed: “Enough of this, we have to get rid of that brat!” He learned early that he was unwanted, and these traumatic experiences would shape his future and fortitude.
Despite the harsh environment of the orphanage, Bernardo held onto shards of hope—that one day, he would be loved, not seen as a burden. In addition to his difficult upbringing, there were rumors that his birth parents, former members of a wealthy commune, had set up a trust fund for him. His wealth, however, didn’t spare him from abandonment.
The name “Bernardo,” given after a relative he never met, symbolized the inconsistencies of his life: a legacy overshadowed by desertion. His years at the orphanage were filled with routines and loneliness, making affection a rare luxury. Although the nuns were occasionally kind, he quickly learned that in an environment where survival was all that mattered, love was scarce.
As he grew, the rumors of his hidden fortune continued, fueling both hope and resentment. Bernardo began to focus on creating designs that honored community and human connection, inspired by the love he never had. The legacy he would one day inherit became a reminder of both the neglect he suffered and his desire to make a difference, not just for himself, but for others as well.
