[3] The town's name derives from the indigenous term lubo which means low or sunken, reflective of the area's muddy and flooded characteristics.

[7][9] According to Governor-General Francisco de Sande, Lubao was the site of a major river in Pampanga, which helped the settlement produce large amounts of rice.

[8][10] After the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Bangkusay on June 3, 1571 between the Spanish and Visayan mercenary forces of Legazpi and the combined Kapampangan-Tagalog fleet under Rajah Sulayman and Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe, Betis and Lubao remained defiant to Spanish rule, forcing the Spaniards to launch an invasion against them.

[5][7] In 1583, Kapampangans were forced to work in the goldmines of Ilocos and not allowed to return in time for the planting season, causing a severe food shortage and eventual famine in Lubao, leading to the deaths of 1,000 people in the town by 1584.

[8] Due to this aforementioned disaster and the abuses by encomenderos, a mass uprising occurred in Lubao in 1585 and other Kapampangan settlements, but were suppressed afterwards.

[7] In 1589, Philip III of Spain ordered Governor-General Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas in the construction of a fort in Lubao after the recent raids by Sambals from the nearby Zambales region.

[9] In 1591, Lubao was described to be an encomienda along with Betis under the Spanish crown, which housed 5,000 tributes which amounted to 20,000 inhabitants, with four Augustinian convents and an alcalde mayor with a deputy.

[7] On November 17, 1896, the people of Bataan invited the locals of Lubao to join in the attack against the Spanish church in Hermosa.

[12][13] During the month of January, Silvestre Liwanag reported the presence of armed groups of the Aguman ding Maldang Talapagobra stationed in the nearby mountains carrying homemade guns and stolen rifles from hacienderos in defiance to Japanese rule in Lubao, in which Liwanag would later join the group.

[14] Located in the south-western part of Pampanga, Lubao is bounded by the municipalities of Sasmuan on the east, Guagua on the north-east, Floridablanca on the north and Hermosa, Bataan, on the south.

As the first Augustinian missionary center in Central and Northern Luzon, majority of the residents in Lubao are Roman Catholics.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church that has 1,100 members is also a remarkable distinct denomination for giving community services and free livelihood seminar to the town all the year round.Poverty incidence of Lubao Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] The Parish of Saint Augustine celebrated its 440th Founding Anniversary on May 5, 2012, with the launching of the 1st Sampaguita Festival; participated by the six parishes of Lubao.

It was organized by Pilipinas International Balloon Festival, Inc. (PIBF) in cooperation with the Arts, Culture and Tourism Office of Pampanga (ACTO) with the theme "It's More Than Just Hot Air" The 2nd Lubao International Balloon Festival was held on March 26 to 29, 2015 in Pradera Verde, Prado Siongco, Lubao, Pampanga.

For the 4th year in a row, 35 balloons showered the skies of Lubao, Pampanga with their magnificent design and beautiful colors while wonderful music from international artists (Alex Aiono and Redfoo) and local artists (Sponge Cola, Gloc 9, Parokya ni Edgar, Moonstar88, Yeng Constantino and Bamboo) graced the event.

The Lubao Institute is in front of the Diosdado Macapagal Museum and Library which is at the back of his Bahay Kubo birthplace.

[28] In the Baybay Ilog, Bye-bye Basura project,[29] officials and volunteers gathered at the Banqueruan Port in San Nicolas 1st, Lubao where the clean-up drive started.

With this project coinciding with the anniversary of the said volcanic eruption and our country's independence day celebration, the people from Lubao and Sasmuan are looking at it as a liberation from the dreaded effects of the said natural disaster which, through tourism, will pave the way for the rise to progress of the said communities.

The symbolic river clean-up dubbed as “Baybay-Ilog, Bye-bye Basura”, is the first step in preparing the people in 17 identified Barangays that will benefit from the Pampanga bayou river cruise project spearheaded by the local government units of Sasmuan and Lubao in cooperation with the Provincial government of Pampanga and the second district congressional office of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

With the support of the Local Government Units of Sasmuan and Lubao, Community Volunteers and Social Preparation Group of Pampanga Bayou Development Project, this was really an astounding success.