Atty. Manalo received his Bachelor of Laws from Ateneo de Manila University in 1981. He earlier graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Bachelor of Arts.
He was an International Maritime Organization (IMO) Goodwill Maritime Ambassador representing the Republic of the Philippines. He likewise was a member of the Road Board and a director of the Bases Conversion Development Authority. He still further was a Member of the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019 representing the maritime sector.
As a legislator, Atty. Manalo is known for having institutionalized at least four landmark maritime bills into laws, namely R.A. 10635, or the “Single Maritime Administration Law”. R.A. 10668, or the “Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act”, R.A. 10698, otherwise known as the “Naval Architecture Modernization Law”, and R.A. 10706, or the “Seafarers Protection Act”. He was the principal author of HB 4815 and 4903, the legislative measures on the reduction of the Estate Tax and Donor’s Tax, which were later incorporated in R.A. 10963. He also co-authored R.A. 11299, or the “Act Establishing the Office for Social Welfare Attache”.
He retired as a partner of the Firm in 2025.