Metro Manila and some areas in Luzon were spared from being hit by strong winds and heavy rains as Severe Tropical Storm ''Opong'' changed its track and moved west westward after it made its first landfall in Eastern Samar on Thursday night.

Benison Estareja, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecaster. explained that because of the west westward movement of Opong, it was able to avoid the high pressure area in the Northern Philippine Sea.

"Its track went down compared to what we expected two to three days ago. So big areas of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and northern part of Bicol Region were spared from strong winds and heavy rains," he said.

Metro Manila, which was under tropical cyclone wind signal number two Thursday night, is now under signal number one.

''Opong''. with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gusts of up to 135 kph, was last spotted over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro while moving west northwest at the speed of 35kph.

Tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 was raised over Occidental Mindoro and Calamian Islands; signal number 2 in areas of The southern portion of Cavite (Magallanes, Mendez, Ternate, Amadeo, Naic, Maragondon, Alfonso, Tagaytay City, Trece Martires City, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Indang, Silang), Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, the western portion of Romblon (San Jose, Odiongan, San Andres, Calatrava, San Agustin, Alcantara, Santa Fe, Santa Maria, Concepcion, Looc, Ferrol, Banton, Corcuera), Cuyo Islands, and the extreme northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli) in Luzon and Caluya Island in Visayas.

Pangasinan, the southern portion of Aurora (Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis), Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, the rest of Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, the rest of Romblon, and the northern portion of mainland Palawan (Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas)in Luzon as well as Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, the northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Talisay, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, City of Escalante, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, Hinigaran), and Bantayan Islands in Visayas were placed under signal number 1.

''Opong'' is heading towards the West Philippine Sea and is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Saturday afternoon.

It may re-intensify into a typhoon within the next 12 hours as it moves over the West Philippine Sea. Robina Asido/DMS