24/08/2025
The what if's.
Teddy Diaz gone too soon
Teddy Diaz, founder of The Dawn and an icon of OPM, had a heart as big as his talent. At a time when INTRoVOYS was just a struggling young band rehearsing at G-Sounds in Quezon City, right beside Nepa Q-Mart, Teddy quietly stepped in as a mentor. Incognito, he would sit with the band, offering guidance and encouragement.
One unforgettable moment happened when Teddy joined INTRoVOYS at rehearsal. The band played Enveloped Ideas, and onlookers swore they were hearing Teddy Diaz himself on guitar. But when they entered the studio, all they saw was a scrawny kid in a white shirt, blue denims, a Marine cap, eyeglasses, and no makeup. He was seated the whole time, blending into the background. One spectator even whispered, “Grabe! Akala ko si Teddy Diaz kasi katunog niya.” Little did they know, it really was him.
Teddy didn’t just mentor the band in private, he showed up for them in public. At one of INTRoVOYS’ first underground gigs, Teddy attended quietly. During the set, he noticed the crowd wasn’t engaging. Without hesitation, he walked over to Paco Arespacochaga at the drums, looked at the setlist, and told him to play China by Red Rockers, then follow it with Melt With You. Paco followed, Jonathan Buencamino sang, and the band delivered. But the magic wasn’t just in the songs. Teddy himself got up, walked into the middle of the dance floor, and began to dance, inviting the shy audience to loosen up. Imagine the sight—Teddy Diaz, an OPM legend, dancing to hype the crowd for an unknown band. It was a gift, both to the audience and to INTRoVOYS.
What left the deepest mark wasn’t just Teddy’s talent, but his humility and generosity. He didn’t have to be there. He didn’t have to guide a band barely starting out. But he did, because that was who he was. Inspired by his example, the members of INTRoVOYS made a pledge: they, too, would pay it forward. It became one of their driving reasons for pursuing fame—not just for themselves, but to open doors for others, the way Teddy had done for them.
And in time, they did.
Today, as we remember Teddy Diaz on his death anniversary, we celebrate more than his music. We honor the spirit of mentorship, humility, and inspiration he embodied. Teddy’s legacy doesn’t end with The Dawn. It lives on in the countless musicians he influenced, in the bands he inspired, and in every moment when artists choose to lift others up.
Teddy Diaz is gone too soon, but his legacy will always live in our hearts.
