21 March 2016 - Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Enrique A. Manalo was granted the Freedom of the City of London in a traditional ceremony at the 800-year old Guildhall in London last March 17.

The Freedom, which was first presented in 1237, was granted by the City of London to Ambassador Manalo in recognition of his dedication and exemplary contributions to Philippine-British diplomatic relations.

In recognition of Ambassador Manalo's status as the country's envoy to the Court of St. James', it was theCity of London Remembrancer Paul Double, in his capacity as the City's Chief of Protocol, who officiated the traditional ceremony at the Guildhall. The Clerk of the Chamberlain’s Court, Murray Craig, who usually presides at Freedom ceremonies, was also at hand and spoke on the history of the Freedom and the many distinguished personalities who have received it in the past.

From the Middle Ages and the Victorian era, the Freedom was the right to trade, enabling members of a Guild or Livery Company to carry out their trade or craft in the City of London. In 1835, the Freedom was widened to incorporate not just members of Livery Companies but also people living or working in the City or those with a strong London connection. The Honorary Freedom of the City of London is granted to persons of distinction, especially those who have made significant contributions to their fields of expertise. Its long list of recipients includes Winston Churchill, Jawaharlal Nehru, Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Judi Dench, Lee Kuan Yew, Morgan Freeman, Bill Gates, Nelson Mandela, and J.K. Rowling, among others.

The City of London is the oldest continuous municipal democracy in the world and predates the UK Parliament. It now occupies a unique and special position as the center of UK’s trading and financial services industries. It is administered by the City of London Corporation, headed by the Lord Mayor of London (not the same as the Mayor of London), who also acts as the global ambassador for UK-based financial and professional services industry. END