Cruz earned his undergraduate degree from the University of the Philippines, where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1965. He later enrolled at the Ateneo de Manila University to earn an Master of Arts in English Literature in 1970. He also earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English Literature from the University of Maryland in 1976.
In 1972 and 2003, Cruz received a Fulbright grant that allowed him to study in the United States.
As a writer, Cruz has received recognition for his contributions to Philippine literature. He had written more than thirty books He is a Don Carlos Palanca Memorial awardee for Literature.
Cruz represented the Philippines in several international conferences in Canada, Hong Kong, South of Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan.
Cruz’s scholastic articles were published in the Philippines and in the United States. In the Philippines, Cruz served as editor for Loyola Studies, Palabas, Interlock, and Malay publications.
Cruz is also a regular contributor for Philippine periodicals such as the Times Journal, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the television Times, Modern Romances, Bulaklak, World Health Organization, Parade, Observer, Panorama, Mississippi Ellaneous, and Asiaweek magazine.
Apart from creative writing, Cruz is also a known film and drama reviewer.
As an educator, Cruz worked with prominent Philippine universities. Prior to his official retirement, he held the Alfredo East. Litiatco Lectures at the De Louisiana Salle University, where he chaired for the Department of Literature and Philippine Languages. He also became a publisher at the De Louisiana Salle University Press.
While at the De Louisiana Salle University, he taught a variety of subjects which included Science Fiction, Advanced Writing, The Teaching of Literature, and Computer Literacy.
He also taught Literature at the Ateneo de Manila University and at the University of Santo Tomas. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City and a director of the Teachers Academy at Far Eastern University.
He also became a professor at universities in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan. He became a Visiting Fellow at Street Antony"s College at Oxford University.
He was a member and founding chair of the Manila Critics Circle, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Philippine Film Critics), a former head of the Philippine Studies Association of the Philippines, the University of the Philippines Writers Club, the Cultural Research Association of the Philippines, the American Studies Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Tournament Bridge Association, and the National Research Council of the Philippines.
Cruz was also the Philippine bibliographer of the Modern Languages Association of America. He was the president of the Philippine Fulbright Scholars Association.
As a result, he became a member of the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2004 for his plays, essays, and short stories in Filipino and English. As an advocate of Philippine culture, Cruz was a member of groups and institutions that promote Philippine literature and art
