The Philippines—once one of the harshest critics of Burma’s human rights record—on Thursday praised the country’s reforms over the past year. President Benigno Aquino III told Burma’s visiting top diplomat, Wunna Maung Lwin, that the Philippines was ready to help share lessons it has learned in its own difficult transition from dictatorship to democracy. The Philippines has sought to deepen its ties with the once-pariah nation in political cooperation, trade, investment, agriculture, tourism and air services. Human rights—once a taboo subject—was also in the agenda, said Filipino officials.