COURTESY OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR / JANUARY 2006 Provincial and city officials, Gov. Linda Lingle and state Rep. Felipe Jun Abinsay unveil a statue dedicated to sakadas at Port Salumague, Ilocos Sur, Philippines.

Arroyo’s visit to coincide with UH’s season opener

Roads will be closed in the afternoon for the president's motorcade

Traffic could be heavy on Sept. 16 when Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visits Oahu the same day the University of Hawaii plays the University of Nevada-Las Vegas at Aloha Stadium.

Secret Service Agent in Charge Al Joaquin said the freeway and other surface streets will be closed as Arroyo's motorcade passes, just as they were in 2002 when she last visited.

However, he said the timing and travel routes have not yet been set.

"Whether it's going to conflict with the game, at this point I couldn't tell you," Joaquin said.

"Oh my gawd," said Aloha Stadium spokesman Patrick Leonard when asked about the possibility of shutting down the freeway Saturday afternoon before the game, which is the Warriors' season opener at home.

Leonard quickly added that the stadium would work with police and other authorities to help minimize traffic delays. Peak traffic for Aloha Stadium on game day is just before 2 p.m., when the stadium gates open, and just before kickoff at 6:05 p.m., Leonard said.

After her arrival, Arroyo has two public events Saturday afternoon that will take her between the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu, said Philippine Consul Susie Natividad.

Arroyo's visit is to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Filipino immigration to Hawaii.

At 4 p.m. she will dedicate a marker at Punchbowl commemorating 60 years of friendship between the United States and the Philippines, Natividad said. She will help unveil a statue at the Filipino Community Center to mark the Filipino centennial at 5:30 p.m.

Arroyo will overnight in Waikiki before leaving Sunday, Natividad said. The consulate is also making contingency plans in case of a strike by hotel workers, many of whom are Filipino.

Joaquin said the Secret Service will be coordinating with police and other agencies to minimize traffic delays.

He said the road closures should not last long because streets and the freeway will close just before the motorcade and open just after it passes.

"We try to move through with as little disruption as possible," he added.

Because the visit is on a Saturday, traffic delays should be minimal, Joaquin said.

Geminiano "Toy" Arre, executive director of the Filcom Center, said the event at the center will be by invitation only, but he expects crowds will gather outside the center to catch a glimpse of Arroyo.

Arroyo might also meet with people inside one of the ballrooms. Arre said a wrestling match is scheduled in the evening in the ballroom, and the center is considering using the wrestling ring as a platform for news media covering her visit.

The 1,100-pound sakada statue that Arroyo will dedicate is being flown to Hawaii and should arrive next week, Arre said.

It is a duplicate of a statue that Gov. Linda Lingle dedicated at Port Salamague in Ilocos Sur during her visit to the Philippines in January.

Port Salamague was the departure point for many of the Filipino plantation workers who immigrated to Hawaii.