Edgar ''Bobot'' Mortiz (Instagram)

For decades, audiences have known Edgar Mortiz — fondly called Bobot Mortiz — as a beloved actor, director, and television personality. But before the acclaimed projects, before becoming a household name in Philippine entertainment, there was music.

Now at 71, the veteran filmmaker is returning to where it all began.

In an exclusive interview with Manila Bulletin Entertainment on May 26, Mortiz opened up about his upcoming concert, "Going Standard", a deeply personal musical journey that reconnects him with the songs and memories that defined his youth.

“Actually, I really started as a singer. Not many people know that because I was only 13 years old when I began,” Mortiz shared. “I started as a singer, and I just want to revisit that part of my life. I’m already 71, and I want to experience singing again — to perform the songs that became part of my life.”

Director Bobot Mortiz during the rehearsals with Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (Carissa Alcantara)

Long before he became one of local television’s most recognizable directors, Mortiz first found the spotlight through music, even winning the iconic amateur singing competition "Tawag ng Tanghalan". That early passion eventually led him to film and television stardom, where he became a matinee idol and part of one of the era’s most memorable loveteams.

But despite decades spent behind the camera and under studio lights, the pull of music never truly faded.

Inspired by the timeless sounds of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, Mortiz revealed that "Going Standard"will feature classic ballads and love songs from his generation.

“That’s why we decided to do this concert,” he explained. “The songs are all standards — ballads, love songs.”

For Mortiz, the concert is more than a performance. It is a heartfelt tribute to an era when songs were meant to be felt deeply and shared personally.

“Music has changed so much now,” he reflected. “Today’s singers are powerful and impressive, and that’s beautiful too. But sometimes it feels like people forget the kind of songs you would sing to your girlfriend, or to your mother — songs where you simply want to listen to the story and emotion behind the lyrics.”

He continued, “I want to revisit the simpler times because I grew up with standard music — kundiman, rock and roll. Today there are so many genres. This concert is like a trip down memory lane, and I hope younger singers can also rediscover and sing this kind of music again.”

With "Going Standard", Mortiz is not only revisiting his roots but also preserving a musical tradition that shaped generations of Filipino listeners. It is a rare and intimate glimpse into the man behind the camera.