His bags are packed and he is ready to go.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who is turning 73 on November 17, is optimistic that his third request in six years for an early retirement will finally be granted.

“I was told to wait and stay until further notice,” Cruz said in an interview with The PUNCH.

He explained that “stay until further notice” in the Catholic hierarchy’s jargon signifies approval.

The instruction is contained in a letter from the Pope through the Papal Nuncio in the country, Edward Joseph Adams, in response to Cruz’s third request for retirement.

His first and second requests were flatly denied.

Cruz was ordained in 1962, became bishop in 1967 and in 1968 as archbishop in Pampanga. He served as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and assigned as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan since 1991.

Cruz, a staunch critic of former President Joseph Estrada and President Gloria Arroyo, has been one of the most vocals members of the clergy on political affairs.

He is also chairman of the Krusada ng Bayan Laban sa Jueteng (People’s Crusade Against Jueteng), a post that he will be turning over Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas.

But Cruz said he will remain active in the anti-jueteng crusade, which he said has been successful if only for spreading the word on the evils of illegal gambling, the exploitation of the poor and the corruption involved.

He said he takes pride in knowing that he is leaving the ranks of the Church with his integrity intact.

Not a few rich, influential yet notorious personalities (including jueteng lords) tried to “gift” him with cash “in the guise of helping my church projects”.

He recalled rejecting a P7-million check given as a gift from one political aspirant because he knew the money came from illegal sources and it was evident that such cash gifts were intended to “persuade” him to be less critical.

“The green light for my retirement will be a good birthday gift,” he said again laughing, noting it was a gift most awaited.

He considers himself a strict taskmaster to the priests in his diocese but he felt it was necessary that he was one.

“One can take it easy because he has accomplished the minimum. But if one  wants to have more meaning in the priesthood and more meaning to your life, then you have to do more than what is required of you,” he said.

Upon retirement, Cruz plans on devoting his time to planting, raising farm animals, and continue writing books. #