Atty. Mary Joanne M. Manalo is a private practitioner with areas of practice including criminal and civil litigation. Presently, she is an of counsel at Sarangaya Law Offices, where she was also a former Junior Partner. She is presently a consultant at CLDG Law Office and at H.E. Arceo Law Office. She currently serves as the company lawyer of Jofame Enterprises and Airconditioning Services, CPN Rentals, OPC and Freymera Trading & Marketing, OPC. Moreover, she is a Guest Lecturer at Bulacan State University, teaching different law subjects including Criminal Law, Persons and Family Relations, and Civil Procedure, among others. Atty. Manalo currently chairs the mentoring program for first and second year law students in the same university. Likewise, she is a Guest Lecturer at the Philippine Christian University, teaching Criminal Law 1. She was a former Associate Lawyer at Hermin E. Arceo Law Office and at Principe and Associates Law Firm and had previously served as the Legal Consultant at Plaridel Water District. 

Atty. Manalo became a full-fledged lawyer at the age of twenty-five (25). Fondly called “Joanne” by her colleagues, she finds public speaking and debating very interesting. She obtained her Juris Doctor Degree from Bulacan State University, where she graduated as the Class Valedictorian and as an Academic Scholar. 

She also obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Legal Management Degree from the same university, where she graduated as Magna Cum Laude. During college, she maintained her Dean’s Lister status for all the semesters and received awards such as Best in Specialization, Academic Excellence Award, and was also recognized as a Regional Finalist and Winner at the Search for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. 

She graduated from Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School as the Valedictorian (B.E.C. Curriculum) and as the recipient of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Excellence Award and of the Senator Manny Villar Academic Excellence Award. She finished her Elementary education at Sto. Niño Elementary School, Plaridel, Bulacan, as an Honorable Mention.