SAN PEDRO, Laguna?Word that water in Laguna de Bay was rising drove people out of their homes in the still-flooded streets here Friday, with each person carrying anything, from TV sets to computer tables, mattresses, washing machines and other appliances, even poultry cages.

Everyone was hurrying to flee for safety after the municipal government ordered on Friday morning the preemptive evacuation in the lakeshore village of Landayan here.

"They said the water is rising by two meters this afternoon (because) there is another storm coming and some dams are releasing water," said a woman, who appeared baffled with what was happening around her.

"We found another apartment somewhere else and that's where we are moving," she said while keeping an eye on a refrigerator tied to her sofa.

Since Saturday, Grace Macasinag, 20, and her family were staying at the evacuation center at the San Pedro Central school.

They only came back Friday to retrieve their appliances for fear that the water would rise further.

"I pity them, they might die in the flood," she said of her pet goldfish in a plastic container, as she waited for her parents to return with a truck.

"This was the first time this happened here," she said.

On the other hand, Sandy Canyo, brought nothing with her but her lovebirds in a cage.

"We left everything there. It would be harder to leave if you have loads of stuff with you. Bahala na 'yun doon (Never mind those things)," she said, sounding hopeless.

Canyo said they were going to stay in a relative's house in Bulacan, despite fears that the typhoon might hit that province, too.

"Parang dagat na tinaniman ng mga bahay (Like a sea garden planted with houses)," was how she described the neighborhood they were leaving behind.

The preemptive evacuation was ordered at around 9 a.m. after the municipal government received an advice from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services about the coming storm, said village councilor
Gary Remoquillo.

The electric power supply was also turned off Friday morning.

"The flood has not receded. If it rains and the lake swells, thousands will be killed," he said.

The subdivisions of South Fairway and Maryland that house about 4,000 families are located along the coasts of the Laguna lake.

"We were advised that Silang (Cavite) is releasing water but that is only if the water there rises," he said, however, he did not elaborate.

Following the onslaught of tropical storm Ondoy, about 4,000 families in San Pedro were evacuated.

"People are pouring in again today. So far we have around 2,000 families in this center alone. That's both the evacuees since Saturday and those coming in today," said Gregoria Ranilo of the municipal social welfare development office on Friday.

Josefina Mancio, 77, was looking at the flooded street right behind the Landayan village hall that was also turned into an evacuation center.

When asked what she was waiting for she said, "nothing. I'm just checking the water."

Mancio was wearing a blouse and shorts from the relief goods as she recalled how she and her family escaped the rising flood last Saturday.

"The water was first this high (to her waist) and in minutes grew to my neck. It was scary. I was praying to Lolo Uweng to spare us," she said.

Lolo Uweng was how devotees refer to the image of the dead Christ in Landayan.

Mancio's husband was bedridden after suffering from stroke.

"The neighbors helped us to a boat that brought him out of the flood. But it was raining hard. And the water was cold that I myself was chilling," she said.

Now with another typhoon coming, "evacuation seemed to be unending here," she said.