Teddy Diaz

Former Eraserheads bassist, Buddy Zabala, describes Diaz's death as a "great loss, and after a band made a success out of creating homegrown music, other local bands started writing their own material. But it was Teddy who was the prime mover of The Dawn". In 2006, he was portrayed by actor Ping Medina.

As a composer, he co-wrote the band's first single "Enveloped Ideas" and their well-known hit "Salamat", which was released posthumously in 1989. He played guitar on the albums The Dawn (1986) and I Stand With You (1988). Aside from being a guitarist, he played keyboards as credited on The Dawn's 1986 debut album.

On 21 August 1988, The Dawn performed "Love (Will Set Us Free)" on Martin After Dark, a show hosted by Martin Nievera. After the performance, they left the GMA Network compound and went their separate ways. Diaz proceeded to his girlfriend's home in Agno Street, Tatalon, Quezon City. As he was approaching the gate to the dwelling, he was accosted by two drunken men. Diaz gave them his wallet containing Php 200.00, his share of the fee from the band's earlier performance. After taking the wallet, one of the men, who was armed with a knife, began stabbing Diaz. Wounds on Diaz's left arm indicated that he may have tried to parry the blows, but a knife thrust to his throat caused massive bleeding, eventually leading to his death. Drummer JB Leonor explained: "With his long hair, Teddy might have been mistaken for a woman, an easy prey. Teddy might have resisted at some point, and that's why they stabbed him. He was really a victim of circumstance. He just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time."

The first decision of the three surviving members and band's manager Martin Galan was to continue with the band; they also agreed that Diaz's replacement would not have to be his clone. In September 1988, Francis Reyes was asked to be one of the three guitarists who were to play Diaz's parts in the tribute concert "Salamat Teddy" at the Folk Arts Theater. Reyes talked about Diaz and said: "People continue to remember Teddy. He had star quality written all over him that registered very well even with those who didn't know him as a musician. He had a very strong personality that you just can't ignore."

In spite of his early demise, his influence is still felt among many guitarists in the Philippines today and he has become a legend among many Filipino musicians. The Dawn, and the Filipino music industry also consider Diaz to be the band's driving force until today. In memory of Diaz, The Dawn has recorded a song that pays tribute to him: "I Stand with You". Perfecto de Castro, former guitarist of Rivermaya, was inspired to study the guitar upon seeing Diaz perform with The Dawn at a concert in 1987. Former AfterImage guitarist and 6Cycle Mind's founding lead guitarist Chuck Isidro is also influenced by Diaz. He treasures a poster of Diaz kept in his room, which he got during his pre-teen years. In 2006, a photo, features Francis Reyes playing Diaz's last surviving Hofner guitar.

The guitars most associated with Diaz are his red Casio MG-510, his Hofner Committee archtop, and his black Maya Les Paul, which he prominently used in the Ultrastorm concert with a bow in 1987.

The Dawn was formed in 1985 and originally consisted of Diaz on guitar, JB Leonor on drums and Clay Luna on bass. The band's name was derived from a portrait of the Holy Spirit that symbolized the dawn of a new day (probably found in a book given by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit to Teddy Diaz, as well as a crucifix which Teddy also received from the same sisterhood), called The Dawning of the Holy Spirit. Diaz, Leonor and Luna initially wanted a female vocalist but in the course of their search, Jett Pangan auditioned, got the trio's unanimous nod and the quartet started performing in clubs. In 1987, he co-wrote The Dawn's debut single "Enveloped Ideas", as Orly Ilacad of Octo Arts gave them the necessary breakthrough by releasing their single and 12" EP of the single. "Radio", from their 2005 album A Brighter Day, was originally arranged by Diaz in 1987. The arrangement of the Filipino traditional folk song, "Magtanim Ay 'Di Biro" was also credited to Diaz. Other songs which Teddy wrote or co-wrote were "Dreams" and "The Moon". INTRoVOYS was mentored by Diaz.

At the height of his career and at the peak of The Dawn's popularity in the late 1980s, he was stabbed to death in front of his girlfriend's house by two bystanders who were allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Teodoro "Teddy" de Villa Diaz (1 April 1963 – 21 August 1988) was a Filipino musician and composer, best known as the founder and original guitarist of The Dawn.