Hi everyone! I’d like to share with you the new blog I created called Diwa de Leon: Composer.

This blog is for my clients, serious musicians and enthusiasts. I share my experiences as a composer and arranger including some details about the celebrities I’ve worked with. I also give tips for all kinds of musicians on how to enhance their craft. Of course, I also share samples of my music.

I will be focusing on that blog for the meantime. Hope you can drop by and leave a comment. See you soon!

Earlier today, the Philippine online gaming community went in turmoil because of a public statement of one of our respected congresswomen, Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquiel. In an article published by Hackenslash, the congresswoman was quoted saying that:

“DOTA, or any role-playing game for that matter, may be fun, but it won’t be able to teach you the skills you need for your first job, or for higher education.”

This was the message of AKYBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel during the commencement exercises of the University of the Philippines Cebu College, a copy of which was sent to media.

Hontiveros-Baraquel said that online games should be treated as an addictive game and should be played in moderation.

“You may protest and extol the virtues of being Mogul the Axe for five hours, but unless you are in the brink of developing gaming software and needs the game to test your theories, then play DOTA or any RPG in moderation,” she said.

Hontiveros-Baraquel spoke against online games during a part where she told graduates about the skills necessary to find jobs, as well as the means to survive the current economic situation.

Instead, she stressed the need for the graduates to take up a sport to remain physically fit.

As a retired veteran online gamer, this is what I have to say. I agree with her stand on this. Yes. Why? Read more after the jump!

Hello to all my readers! The Gamer Girls are back after a short hiatus. Leading the new batch of Gamer Girls is the former Philippine RAN Online community manager and now back to being a normal gamer. She also recently joined the cosplay world with a bang, winning the Best Female title from the recently concluded E-Games Domination 2009.

Meet Jes! See more of her and read her interview after the jump! Read more after the jump!

This is really a delayed announcement but I’d like you all to know that I’ve recently re-launched my business site and online portfolio of my compositions and arrangements, www.diwadeleon.com.

The site focuses on what matters most: my music. It features compositions and arrangements I’ve done from various past projects, most of which have ready-to-play samplers so clients can listen to them right off the bat. You can also find my updated biography as well as contact information in the website. I designed and encoded it myself.

Feel free to post your comments and suggestions.

April 2009 marks the 1st year anniversary of Playboy Magazine Philippines. They celebrate this with a bang by putting together all their Playmates from past issues into a single cover for their April Issue.

I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Playboy Philippines for making it this far. Congratulations guys and gals! Thank you for making the Filipino men (and some women) happy! May you stick around for a very, very long time. Cheers! Now take the jump for more pictures. Read more after the jump!

Last March 20, Playboy Magazine Philippines organized an exclusive party for bloggers. There were more than a hundred bloggers invited and I was lucky to be included in the list. It was actually a welcome respite since I was so swamped with work in the weeks before. New friends were made and pictures were taken, LOTS of pictures thanks to my friend Carl. We were treated to free booze and back issues of Playboy were given as raffle prizes.

But of course, no Playboy event will be complete without the Playmates and the Bunnies. I took the time to hang out and take photos with them. I also can’t help but smile when one of the Playmates, Jessie Medina told me that she visited my blog to read my feature about her. I was like “Wow, Playboy models give a damn about blogs! Hooray!”. Anyway, enough talk! Here are more pictures after the jump! Read more after the jump!

I’m now a regular attendee of monthly issue launch press conferences by Playboy Magazine Philippines. For the month of March they are featuring Sara Polverini as the covergirl and Jesse Medina as Playmate of the month.

Master Diwa and Sara Polverini

Here’s some more pictures after the jump! Read more after the jump!

My very first connection with “Ang Kiri” was through my new found friend, actress Mara Marasigan. I never knew her personally but I know that we both came from Philippine High School for the Arts. Sometime last January 2009, I got a surprise call from Mara and she told me that her theatre group Dulaang UP was looking for a music arranger.

Ang Kiri’s lead role, Nathasia Garrucha as Sesang. Photography by Jojit Lorenzo

At first I was like, “Ok, another racket for me.” However, things are not always what they seem. Read more after the jump!

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I made a post. I haven’t had the time to blog because of recent projects. Currently I’m working on simultaneous projects including 1 full stage musical, a full length indie film soundtrack, an animation short a-la fantasia, and 2 student film scores. But there are certain events that must be blogged about no matter what the situation. Such as when I’m featured on Maxim magazine’s February 2009 issue.

The reason why I haven’t blogged about my “Legend of Zelda” Youtube video is that because I let the other sites blog about it first. Now if you’re new in my site or new to the internet then I request that you please watch my video. I worked hard for it! Watch it after the jump! Read more after the jump!

As is tradition, I’ve been invited once again at an exclusive Playboy Magazine Press Conference and given a chance to interview January 2009’s covergirl international model, and TV host Saffi Karina. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and is of Spanish-Cuban blood but she has Filipina descent as well thanks to her Visayan mom.

Anyway, you can watch my video interview and see more pics of Saffi after the jump! Read more after the jump!