Belle S. Owens

Belle Santos-Owens
President of Katipunan, Fil-Am Association
of Maryland

Belle Santos-Owens is the youngest of four children, of the late
Atty. Fabian Santiago-Santos and the former Bella Dalmacio, of
Marilao, Bulacan. She attended the University of the Philippines
at Los Banos for a BS in Zoology (pre-med) for three years until
she realized this is not for her. She then completed Interior
Designs at the Philippine School of Interior Design in Makati,
Philippines.

After moving to the US in 1987, she started her career in the
graphics field with local companies as a graphic artist. She
joined Chess Communications Group in 1992, a local advertising
agency, and quickly became a member of the company’s
management team. She soon became the Creative Director.

The accounts she handled included: Bally’s Casinos, Isle of Capri Casinos, Best Western Hotel,
Procter and Gamble, Citifinancial, 76ers, and Ryland Homes, among others. In May of 2004, Bella
left Chess to open her own business, Bellart Graphics Communications – a marketing and
graphics company. Her clients include state and local government agencies, private and public
corporations and non-profit organizations such as Defend Life and Coalition to End Childhood
Lead Poisoning.

Belle is now Communications Director for the City of Baltimore Employees and Elected Officials’
Retirement System.

Belle became a member of the Katipunan, Philippine-American Association of Maryland, in 2002
and volunteered to spearhead the annual June Philippine Fiesta, that has become one of the
largest and well-planned Festivals in the Delmarva area. Her enthusiasm and task-oriented
approach draws the attention of both government and private sectors which permits her to
advance the Filipino agenda.

Belle currently serves on the following:
•   President, Katipunan, Philippine-American Association of Maryland
•   Secretary, Foundation for Aid to the Philippines, Inc.
•   Commissioner, Baltimore County Commission on Women, appointed by Jim Smith, County
Executive
•   Advisory Board, Filipino Conservative Club
•   Advisory Board, International Festival of the City of Baltimore

She has also served as:
•   Editor, Foundation for Aid to the Philippines, Inc. (FAPI) Magazine
•   Facilitator, US Bone and Joint Decade Fit to a T Program
•   Vice President, Katipunan, Philippine-American Association of Maryland
•   Public Relations Officer, Katipunan, Philippine-American Association of Maryland
•   Editor, Katipunan, Philippine-American Association of Maryland Newsletter
•   Designer, Cathedral of Mary Our Queen Capital Campaign Fund
•   Editor, Mt. Washington Elementary School Newsletter

Belle and her husband, Floyd, currently reside in Towson, Maryland. They have two children:
Michael, a freshman at the University of Maryland at College Park (Engineering) and Ayana, a
junior at the Notre Dame Preparatory School. She has still two brothers, Edgar Santos of Marilao,
currently serving as RTC Judge in Quezon City, and Fabius Santos of Baltimore.

You need Java to see this applet.

ADs of
Belle S. Owens