MANILA, March 1 -- Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi, Medical Director of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) became the first Filipino to be officially inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine, as the Philippines’ national vaccination program started today, March 1, 2021. Dr. Legaspi was inoculated with CoronaVac, the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech—a donation from the government of China. The first inoculator for the Philippines is UP-PGH nurse Sherlock Santos.“Makasaysayan po ang araw na ito dahil sinimulan na po natin ang ating pagbabakuna,” said Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr, in a press briefing at the UP-PGH on March 1, 2021. The Palace official said that the arrival of the Sinovac vaccine yesterday, February 28, 2021, can also be considered historical for the country.